ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 96-644

Decision

Ottawa, 27 September 1996

Decision CRTC 96-644

Chetwynd Communications Society

Chetwynd, British Columbia - 199604335

New community radio programming undertaking

Following a Public Hearing in Calgary beginning on 15 July 1996, the Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence for an English-language low-power FM community radio programming undertaking at Chetwynd, on the frequency 101.1 MHz, channel 266, with an effective radiated power of 25 watts.

Consistent with Public Notice CRTC 1992-38 dated 29 May 1992 entitled "Policies for Community and Campus Radio" and subject to the requirements of this decision, the Commission will issue a licence for a Type A community radio station. This licence will expire on 31 August 2000, and will be 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 for community radio undertakings across Canada and to better distribute the workload within the Commission.

The Commission expects community radio to develop innovative and alternative forms of community-oriented programming that contribute to the diversity and variety of radio services within a community. It also expects community radio to focus on all aspects of the community, by offering programming which examines issues affecting all of its members, as well as programs which deal with matters of interest to specific elements within it, such as neighbourhoods, surrounding towns, villages, and specific interest groups.

In this regard, the Commission notes that the station will broadcast a minimum of 4 hours of local programming daily, from Monday to Friday, including one hour in a native language. For the remaining hours, the station will rebroadcast the programs of the FM station to be operated by Nornet Broadcasting Ltd. in Fort St. John as approved in Decision CRTC 96-646 of today's date.

The Commission notes that this community station is owned and controlled by a not-for-profit organization whose structure provides for membership, management, operation, and programming primarily by members of the community at large.

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 accepted by the Commission.

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

This authority will only be effective and the licence will only be issued at such time as the construction of the undertaking is completed and it is prepared to commence operation. If the construction is not completed 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 operation before the expiry of this period, and that an extension of time is in the public interest, within such further periods of time as are approved in writing by the Commission, the licence will not be issued. The applicant is required to advise the Commission (before the expiry of the twelve-month period or any extension thereof) in writing, once it has completed construction and is prepared to commence operation.

The Commission acknowledges the intervention submitted in support of this application.

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Allan J. Darling
Secretary General