ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 97-665

Decision

Ottawa, 4 December 1997

Decision CRTC 97-665

Community Communications Ltd.

Surrey, British Columbia - 199618146

Application for new community radio programming undertaking
- Denied

1. Following a Public Hearing held in the National Capital Region beginning on 15 October 1997, the Commission denies the application for a broadcasting licence for an English-language FM type B community radio programming undertaking at Surrey.

2. Having assessed the various elements of this application, the Commission has determined that the applicant failed to adhere to the Commission's community radio policy outlined in Public Notice CRTC 1992-38 dated 29 May 1992, as noted below.

3. Firstly, based on the information filed in the application, the Commission finds that the applicant failed to meet the ownership criteria set out in that notice. Specifically, the notice states that "a community radio station is characterized by its ownership and programming and the market it is authorized to serve. It 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." While the applicant indicated that it could amend the incorporation status of the company to satisfy the not-for-profit requirement, the Commission notes that the applicant would still be controlled by two individuals, and not by members of the community at large, as stipulated by the policy.

4. Secondly, the definition of community radio also states that "... programming should be based on community access and should reflect the special interests and needs of the listeners it is licensed to serve." Traditionally, community radio stations offer a range of non-conventional programming, such as alternative-based music focusing on different styles and content and directed to many underserved groups. In this regard, the Commission notes that the station's proposed programming would be limited to conventional news-type/information broadcasts and did not provide any details on non-conventional programming. The limited scope of this programming would be inconsistent with the provision of programming diversity, which is an essential objective of community radio.

5. In addition, the applicant did not provide any details on how it would ensure direct community access to the station by individuals or groups, on the specific measures it would take to promote volunteer training, or on control mechanisms that would be put in place to supervise volunteers. The Commission notes in this respect that in Public Notice CRTC 1992-38, it stated that all community radio applicants would be expected to describe in their applications the measures to be taken to promote volunteer training and the mechanisms put in place to train and supervise volunteers workers. When questioned by the Commission on those matters, prior to the hearing, the applicant only made reference to possibly involving broadcast journalist students and recent graduates at the station.

6. Finally, the Commission notes that the applicant did not propose any initiatives in the area of Canadian talent development.

7. In light of the foregoing, the Commission considers that the applicant has not provided sufficient reasons why an exception to the above-noted policy should be made in this case.

8. The Commission received five opposing interventions to this application all expressing concerns falling into the same areas as those noted above.

Laura M. Talbot-Allan
Secretary General

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