ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 95-134

Decision

Ottawa, 7 April 1995

Decision CRTC 95-134

Télé-Métropole Inc.

Rimouski and Gaspé Nord, Quebec - 940684400

Licence renewal for CFER-TV and its transmitter CFER-TV-2

Following a Public Hearing in Montréal beginning on 11 October 1994, the Commission renews the broadcasting licence for the television programming undertaking consisting of CFER-TV Rimouski and its transmitter CFER-TV-2 Gaspé Nord, from 1 September 1995 to 31 August 1997, subject to the conditions in effect under the current licence, as well as to those conditions specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued.

The licence term granted herein, while less than the maximum of seven years permitted by the Broadcasting Act, is not reflective of any Commission concern regarding the licensee's performance. It will rather enable the Commission to consider the next licence renewal of this undertaking at the same time as that of the private sector French-language television networks as well as that of most of the individual stations whose licences were renewed in 1992. More specifically, the Commission will evaluate at that time the impact of the economic situation and technological change on the performance of French-language broadcasters across Quebec.

The Commission notes that the licensee has adhered to its condition of licence requiring it to produce a weekly half-hour program on public affairs.

The Commission notes that the licensee also honoured its commitment to broadcast 2 hours 59 minutes per week of local news during the current licence term. For the new term, the licensee is committed to broadcast 3 hours 10 minutes of local news programming each week. The Commission expects the licensee to adhere to this commitment during the new licence term. The Commission reminds the licensee, however, that the broadcast time of this programming will be calculated on a weekly basis, and not annually as the licensee proposed.

The Commission further expects CFER-TV's programming to continue to address the needs and concerns of the communities it serves.

Regarding the captioning of local programs for the hearing impaired, the licensee's Promise of Performance included a commitment to install a new computerized system by August 1995. The Commission expects the licensee to submit a report confirming that the new system has been installed by the target date indicated.

It is a condition of licence that the licensee adhere to the guidelines on gender portrayal set out in the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) "Sex-Role Portrayal Code for Television and Radio Programming", as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission. The application of the foregoing condition of licence will be suspended as long as the licensee remains a member in good standing of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC).

It is a condition of licence that the licensee adhere to the guidelines on the depiction of violence in television programming set out in the CAB's "Voluntary Code Regarding Violence in Television Programming", as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission. The application of the foregoing condition of licence will be suspended as long as the licensee remains a member in good standing of the CBSC.

It is a condition of licence that the licensee adhere to the provisions of the CAB's "Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children", as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.

In Public Notice CRTC 1992-59 dated 1 September 1992 and entitled "Implementation of an Employment Equity Policy", the Commission announced that the employment equity practices of broadcasters would be subject to examination by the Commission. In this regard, the Commission encourages the licensee to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.

The Commission acknowledges some 50 interventions filed in support of this renewal application.

Allan J. Darling
Secretary General