| |
Public Notice
|
| |
Ottawa, 6 August 1998 |
| |
Public Notice CRTC 1998-85 |
| |
Order in Council P.C. 1998-800 Concerning the
Reservation of Radio Frequencies in the Toronto Market |
| |
1. The Commission announces that it has received
an Order in Council concerning the reservation of radio frequencies in
Toronto. The Order, which came into force on 7 May 1998, states: |
| |
The Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission is hereby directed to reserve frequency 93.5
MHz or any other appropriate frequency on the FM band and frequency 740 kHz
on the AM band, for the use of radio services in Toronto which will
contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Canadian broadcasting
policy set out in subparagraph 3(1)(d)(iii) of the Broadcasting Act. |
| |
2. Subparagraph 3(1)(d)(iii) of the
Broadcasting Act states that the Canadian broadcasting system should,
"through its programming and employment opportunities arising out of its
operations, serve the needs and interests and reflect the circumstances and
aspirations, of Canadian men, women and children, including equal rights, the
linguistic duality and multicultural and multiracial nature of Canadian
society and the special place of aboriginal peoples within that society." |
| |
3. The Commission notes that one of the two
frequencies referred to in the Order, namely 93.5 MHz, is still being used by
the English-language FM station operated by the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation in Peterborough. While the Corporation has filed an application
to change this frequency, the proposal has not yet been announced for public
comment. |
| |
4. Moreover, there are a number of Commission
policies affecting radio that are scheduled to come under review in the
upcoming months. These matters, outlined in Public Notice
CRTC 1997-105 dated 1 August
1997 entitled An Agenda for Reviewing the Commission's Policies for Radio,
and the Commission's April 1998 Vision Action Calendar, include a
review of the Commission's policies for campus and community radio, as well
as of its policy for ethnic broadcasting. Changes to policies that might
follow these reviews could be of significance to parties interested in
providing radio service to Toronto. |
| |
5. The Commission also notes that some of the
changes announced on 30 April 1998 in its revised commercial radio policy
will necessitate amendments to the Radio Regulations, 1986. The
Commission will make these amendments in the near future, following
consideration of comments that may be received from interested parties
pursuant to Public Notices CRTC
1998-80 and 1998-81 dated 30 July 1998. Licensees will be required to
comply with the amended regulations, which the Commission expects to become
effective by early January 1999. |
| |
6. Accordingly, while the Commission recognizes
that a call for applications to provide radio service to Toronto would likely
generate much interest, it considers that such a step would be premature
until the policy reviews noted above have been concluded, and its final
determinations are available to potential applicants, the broadcasting
industry, and the public. The Commission expects to conclude these reviews in
the spring of 1999, following which a call would be issued. |
| |
Laura M. Talbot-Allan
Secretary General |
| |
This document is available in alternative
format upon request. |