ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 96-746

Decision

Ottawa, 15 November 1996

Decision CRTC 96-746

Radio La Sarre inc.

La Sarre, Quebec - 199604244

Conversion of CKLS from AM to FM

Following a Public Hearing in Québec beginning on 9 July 1996, the Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence for a French-language FM radio programming undertaking at La Sarre, on the frequency 102.1 MHz, channel 271A, with an effective radiated power of 4,130 watts.

Radio La Sarre inc. currently operates the AM radio programming undertaking CKLS La Sarre and has indicated that this application was filed with a view to converting the station to FM.

Subject to the requirements of this decision, the Commission will issue a licence expiring 31 August 2003, upon surrender of the current licence issued for CKLS. This licence will be subject to the conditions specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued.

The Commission notes that the licensee proposes to continue to broadcast a minimum of 16 hours and 15 minutes of local programming per broadcast week. The remainder of the programming will come from the AM radio stations of the Radio Nord network (72 hours and 15 minutes) and of the Radiomédia network (79 hours and 30 minutes).

In that respect, the Commission notes that in an intervention to this application, Radiomutuel inc., licensee of CJMM-FM Rouyn-Noranda and CJMV-FM Val d'Or, indicated that it does not object to the conversion of CKLS from AM to FM as long as Radio La Sarre inc. undertakes to compliment local programming with programming obtained from AM stations operated in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue area by its parent company, Radio Nord inc. Radiomutuel inc. requests that this commitment be imposed as a condition of licence in order to preclude the introduction of a new musical service on the FM band.

In reply, the licensee stated that its application was submitted for the purpose of resolving technical problems and that it would have no objection to the imposition of a condition of licence regarding the source of programs.

In view of the concerns expressed by Radiomutuel inc. and the licensee's reply thereto, the Commission is of the view that the approval granted herein should be conditional upon the imposition of a condition of licence regarding the source of programs. It considers, however, that the condition should be more flexible than the one proposed by Radiomutuel inc. in that it should allow the licensee to broadcast programming originating from the Radiomédia inc. network in addition to programming originating from the Radio Nord inc. network.

Accordingly, it is a condition of licence that programming other than local programming originate exclusively from the AM stations operated as part of the Radio Nord inc. and Radiomédia inc. networks.

The Commission reaffirms the particular importance it attaches to the development of Canadian talent and, in that respect, it notes the commitment by the licensee's parent company, Radio Nord inc., to maintain its annual contribution to $1,000 in direct costs for Canadian talent development for the four AM stations of its network (CKLS, CKRN, CKVD and CHAD).

It is a condition of licence that this station not be operated within the Specialty format as defined in Public Notice CRTC 1995-60, or as amended from time to time by the Commission.

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 accepted 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.

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 accepted 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.

This authority will only be effective and the licence will only be issued at such time as 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 licensee 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 licensee 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 Department of Industry has advised the Commission that this application is conditionally technically acceptable and, therefore, technical acceptability is subject to the satisfactory resolution of any interference with aeronautical NAV/COM and/or communications services in the area, as revealed by monitoring during on-air trials.

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

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

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Allan J. Darling
Secretary General