ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 97-269

Decision

Ottawa, 18 June 1997

Decision CRTC 97-269

Diffusion communautaire Baie des Chaleurs inc.

Carleton and Paspébiac, Quebec - 199610309

Licence amendment for CIEU-FM

1. Following Public Notice CRTC 1997-29 dated 12 March 1997, the Commission approves the application to amend the broadcasting licence for the Type B community radio programming undertaking CIEU-FM Carleton (the originating station), by authorizing the licensee to add a transmitter at Paspébiac, operating on frequency 103.1 MHz (channel 276LP) with an effective radiated power of 16.1 watts.

2. Radio CHNC Ltée and the Syndicat des employé(e)s de Radio CHNC Ltée submitted interventions opposing this application. The interveners argued that approval would negatively affect CHNC's already precarious financial situation in terms of listenership and advertising revenues. In reply to these interventions, the applicant indicated that the contours of the new transmitter would fall within CIEU-FM's authorized service area and that a certain balance has already been attained in the market with respect to the migration of listeners from AM to FM.

3. The Commission is satisfied with the applicant's reply to the interventions. The Commission notes that in accordance with the community radio policy for Type B stations, the applicant is prevented, by condition of licence, from broadcasting more than 504 minutes of advertising per week, and that this effectively limits the amount of advertising that it could draw from the market. The Commission is satisfied that approval of the application will not have an undue negative impact on CHNC's ability to meet its programming obligations.

4. This authority will only be effective and the licence will only be amended at such time as construction of the transmitter 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 amended. 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.

5. The Department of Industry 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.

6. In accordance with subsection 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, the Commission will only issue the licence amendment 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.

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Allan J. Darling
Secretary General

This document is available in alternative format upon request.

DEC97-269_0