ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 97-329

Decision

Ottawa, 11 July 1997

Decision CRTC 97-329

Monarch Broadcasting Ltd.

Taber, Alberta - 951850700

Licence renewal for CKTA

1. Following Public Notice CRTC 1996-144 dated 4 November 1996 and Decision CRTC 96-800 dated 20 December 1996, the Commission renews the broadcasting licence for the radio programming undertaking CKTA Taber, from 1 September 1997 to 31 August 2003, 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.

2. The licence term granted herein, while less than the maximum of seven years permitted by the Broadcasting Act (the Act), will enable the Commission to consider the next licence renewal of this undertaking in accordance with the Commission's regional plan and to better distribute the workload within the Commission. This term is not reflective of any Commission concern regarding the licensee's performance.

3. In Decision CRTC 93-23, the Commission approved the application by Monarch Broadcasting Ltd. (Monarch) for authority to acquire the assets of CHEC (now CKRX) Lethbridge and CFEZ (now CKTA) Taber from Shaw Radio Ltd. (Shaw). Monarch proposed a benefits package on behalf of CKTA totalling $7,500 over three years to be directed to "Project Discovery". In addition, Monarch committed to spend $5,500 in each year of the licence term to continue Shaw's commitments to Canadian talent development.

4. Citing a difficult financial situation, the licensee has indicated that it was unable to complete all of the benefits as originally proposed. The licensee, therefore, is requesting to extend for three years the period for completion of the benefits package.

5. The Commission approves Monarch's request by authorizing the licensee to defer payment of the remaining $14,833 in benefits approved in Decision CRTC 93-23 over a period of three years. Taking into consideration the administrative renewal granted in Decision CRTC 96-800, the remaining benefits are to be completed by 31 August 1999.

6. The Commission reminds Monarch that a final report on the implementation of the full benefits package is to be submitted at the end of the broadcast year ending 31 August 1999.

7. The licensee is required, by condition of licence, to make payments to third parties involved in Canadian talent development at the level identified for it in the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) Distribution Guidelines For Canadian Talent Development, as set out in Public Notice CRTC 1995-196 or as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission, and to report the names of the third parties associated with Canadian talent development, together with the amounts paid to each, on its annual return. The payments required under this condition of licence are over and above any outstanding commitments to Canadian talent development offered as benefits in an application to acquire ownership or control of the undertaking.

8. The Commission notes that this licensee is subject to the Employment Equity Act that came into effect on 24 October 1996 (1996 EEA), and therefore files reports concerning employment equity with Human Resources Development Canada. As a result of a consequential amendment to the Act, the Commission no longer has the authority to apply its employment equity policy to any undertaking that is subject to the 1996 EEA.

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Laura M. Talbot-Allan
Secretary General

This document is available in alternative format upon request.

DEC97-329_0