ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 95-9

Decision

Ottawa, 13 January 1995

Decision CRTC 95-9

La Coopérative du Courrier de Portneuf, on behalf of a company to be incorporated

Donnacona and Sainte-Croix-de-Lotbinière, Quebec - 940185200

New radio programming undertaking

Following a Public Hearing in Montréal beginning on 11 October 1994, the Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence for a French-language FM radio programming undertaking (Group I) consisting of an originating station at Donnacona, on the frequency 100.9 MHz (channel 265B) with an effective radiated power of 3,100 watts and a transmitter at Sainte-Croix-de-Lotbinière on the frequency 105.5 MHz (channel 288LP) with an effective radiated power of 18 watts.

The Department of Industry, Science and Technology (DIST) has advised that the originating station will have an effective radiated power of 3,100 watts rather than 3,200 watts and that the channel will be 265B instead of 265A, as had been indicated in CRTC Notice of Public
Hearing 1994-13 dated 12 August 1994.

The Commission will issue a licence expiring 31 August 1999, subject to the 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 under the Broadcasting Act, will enable the Commission to consider the renewal of this licence in accordance with the Commission's regional plan and to better distribute the workload within the Commission.

This authority will only be effective and the licence will only be issued when the Commission receives documentation establishing that an eligible Canadian corporation has been incorporated and that it may be issued a licence.

The applicant has indicated that its application was intended to provide a local radio service to Portneuf. The applicant indicated that, while Quebec City stations are received in Portneuf, they
cannot be deemed to provide a truly local service.

The Commission notes that the applicant wishes to operate a transmitter at Sainte-Croix-de-Lotbinière aimed at the north shore solely for the purpose of delivering a good quality signal to certain areas of the Portneuf region where the reception quality of the signal originating from the main transmitter is poor to non-existent because of the region's topography.

La Coopérative du Courrier de Portneuf also owns the weekly newspaper "Le Courrier de Portneuf". The applicant informed the Commission that the news departments of the newspaper and the station will be separate entities. Each undertaking will have its own news director, and each newsroom will operate independently. An advisory board comprised of four members of the Coopérative, three representatives from the public, one from the board of education and one from the Société régionale de développement (regional development corporation), will be responsible for providing opinions and recommendations to help the station to ensure that its programming reflects the interests of its audience.

The applicant will broadcast a minimum of 42 hours of local programming per week consisting of news and public affairs as well as community service programming.

The Commission reaffirms the particular importance it attaches to the development of Canadian talent and is satisfied with the annual budgets and the initiatives proposed by the applicant in this respect. It encourages the licensee, during the licence term, to continue its efforts towards the support, development and on-air exposure of local and regional talent.

The Commission received an intervention from Télémédia Communications Inc. stating that the core market of Quebec City cannot support a new commercial radio station. In reply, the applicant said it was prepared to agree to a condition of licence restricting its advertising solicitation to the Portneuf area. Accordingly, it is a condition of licence that the applicant not solicit advertising outside the Portneuf area.

Further, it is a condition of licence that the applicant 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.

It is also 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.

This approval is subject to the requirement that construction of the undertaking be completed
and that it be in operation within twelve months of the date of this decision, or where the applicant applies to the Commission within this period and satisfies the Commission that it cannot complete construction and commence operations before the expiry of this period and that an extension is in the public interest, within such further periods of time as are approved in writing by the Commission.

Should construction not be completed within the period stipulated in this decision or, should the Commission refuse to approve an extension of time requested by the licensee, the authority granted shall lapse and become null and void upon expiry of the period of time granted herein or upon the termination of the last approved extension period.

The Department of Industry, Science and Technology (DIST) has advised the Commission that this application is conditionally technically acceptable, and that a Broadcasting Certificate will only be issued once it has been determined that the proposed technical parameters will not create any unacceptable interference with aeronautical NAV/COM services.

In accordance with subsection 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, the Commission will only issue the licence and the authority granted herein may only be implemented at such time as written notification is received from the DIST that its technical requirements have been met, and that a Broadcasting Certificate will be issued.

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. It encourages the applicant to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.

The Commission has received an intervention in support of this application.

Allan J. Darling
Secretary General