ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 97-382

Decision

Ottawa, 8 August 1997

Decision CRTC 97-382

Cariboo Central Interior Radio Inc.

Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and Quesnel, British Columbia - 951943000

Licence renewal for CFFM-FM and its transmitters

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 CFFM-FM Williams Lake and its transmitters CFFM-FM-1 100 Mile House and CFFM-FM-2 Quesnel, from 1 September 1997 to 31 August 2000, 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. This term will enable the Commission to assess at an early date the licensee's compliance with the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the regulations).

3. An analysis of the programming broadcast by CFFM-FM during the week of 10 to 16 September 1995 indicated that the licensee had failed to comply with subsection 2.2(3) of the regulations by broadcasting no Canadian content in musical selections from Category 3.

4. The licensee explained that there was an absence of Canadian content during a Punjabi program aired between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. because the program is produced by a person from the community who is not a member of the staff. The licensee indicated that it would inform the independent producer of the regulatory requirement with respect to Canadian content and would monitor this situation weekly to ensure strict compliance.

5. The Commission views with great concern the licensee's failure to comply with this regulatory requirement. It intends to monitor the licensee's performance during the new licence term, and directs the licensee to take all necessary measures to ensure that the regulations are adhered to at all times.

6. The Commission approves the licensee's request to be relieved of the obligation to broadcast exclusively within the Group I or Group II formats and to assume the following condition of licence:

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.

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. It is a condition of licence that the licensee adhere to the guidelines on gender portrayal set out in the CAB's 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.

9. 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. The Commission notes that no special measures have been initiated by the licensee in this regard. It will wish to review the steps taken by the licensee in the area of employment equity at the time of the next licence renewal.

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Laura M. Talbot-Allan
Secretary General

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