ARCHIVED -  Public Notice CRTC 1999-119

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Public Notice

Ottawa, 20 July 1999

Public Notice CRTC 1999-119

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR A BROADCASTING LICENCE TO CARRY ON A RADIO PROGRAMMING UNDERTAKING TO SERVE TORONTO, ONTARIO

The Commission announces that it is issuing a call for applications for a broadcasting licence to provide AM and/or FM radio services to serve Toronto, Ontario.

Accordingly, the Commission hereby calls for applications from parties wishing to obtain an AM or FM broadcasting licence to be used jointly or separately to serve Toronto, using frequencies 740 kHz, 93.5 MHz, or any other frequency that may be suitable to serve this area.

Persons interested in submitting such an application are required to file a letter of intent no later than 19 August 1999, followed by a formal application to the Commission no later than 20 September 1999, and are also required to submit all necessary technical documentation to the Department of Industry by the latter date.

BACKGROUND

On 6 August 1998 (Public Notice CRTC 1998-85) the Commission announced that it has received an Order in Council (P.C. 1998-800) 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.

In response to the Order in Council, the Commission issued Public Notice CRTC 1998-85 on 6 August 1998 which announced, in part, that a number of Commission policies affecting radio were scheduled to come under review in the upcoming months. These included a review of the Commission's policies for campus and community radio as well as its policy for ethnic broadcasting. It further noted that changes to policies that might follow these reviews could be of significance to parties interested in providing radio service to Toronto. In addition, the Commission indicated that amendments to the Radio Regulations, 1986 would be made in due course as a result of its revised commercial radio policy.

Public Notice CRTC 1998-85 continued:

 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.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

The Commission's Commercial Radio Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1998-41, was issued on 30 April 1998.

The Commission also notes that amendments to the Radio Regulations, 1986 are now in place and its policy on ethnic broadcasting has now been issued (Public Notice CRTC 1999-117). The Commission also notes that it has issued Public Notice CRTC 1999-30 and Public Notice CRTC 1999-75, which concern respectively the Commission's proposed campus and community radio policies. It therefore feels the time is appropriate to call for applications to serve Toronto.

COMMISSION EXPECTATIONS

It should be noted that, in making this call, the Commission has not reached any conclusion with respect to the licensing of such a service, nor should it necessarily be construed that the Commission will, by virtue of having called for applications, authorize such a service at this time.

Notwithstanding the demand for additional service noted in the Order, applicants will be required to provide evidence giving clear indication that there is a demand and a market for the station and the proposed service. Without restricting the scope of the issues to be considered, the following should be addressed:

1.  The contribution that the proposed service will make to achieving the objectives established in the Broadcasting Act and, in particular, to those set out in subparagraph 3(1)(d)(iii), and the production of local and regional programming.

2.  The expected audience of the proposed service.

3.  The means by which the applicant will promote the development of Canadian talent, including local and regional talent.

4.  An analysis of the markets involved and potential advertising revenues, taking into account the results of any survey undertaken supporting the estimates.

5.  Evidence as to the availability of financial resources consistent with the requirements established in the financial projections of the applicant's business plan. For the convenience of applicants, the Commission has available upon request a document entitled "Documentation Required by the Commission to Support the Availability of an Applicant's Proposed Financing".

A financial summary for the Toronto radio market from 1994 to 1998 is attached to this call.

The Commission also reminds applicants that they must comply with the eligibility requirements set out in P.C. 1997-486, dated 8 April 1997 Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility of Non-Canadians) and amended by P.C. 1998-1268, dated 15 July 1998 and in P.C. 1997-629 dated 22 April 1997 Order Amending the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility to hold broadcasting licences).

The Commission will announce at a later date the public process where applications will be considered and where they may be examined by the public.

Notice of each application will also be published in newspapers of general circulation within the area to be served.

The public will be given the opportunity to comment on any application by submitting written intervention(s) to the undersigned. The procedure to follow for such interventions will be outlined in a future notice of public hearing.

Interested parties may forward their submissions to one of the following Commission offices:

 Central Building
 Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
1  Promenade du Portage
 Ground Floor
 Hull, Quebec
 K1A 0N2
 Tels: (819) 997-2429 - TDD 994-0423
 Telecopier: (819) 994-0218

Toll Free Tel.: 1-877-249-2782
E-Mail address:
procedure@crtc.gc.ca

 Bank of Commerce Building
 Suite 1007
 1809 Barrington Street
 Halifax, Nova Scotia
 B3J 3K8
 Tels: (902) 426-7997 - TDD 426-6997
 Telecopier: (902) 426-2721

 Place Montréal Trust
 1800 McGill College Avenue
 Suite 1920
 Montréal, Quebec
 H3A 3J6
 Tels: (514) 283-6607 - TDD 283-8316
 Telecopier: (514) 283-3689

 Kensington Building
 275 Portage Avenue
 Suite 1810
 Winnipeg, Manitoba
 R3B 2B3
 Tels: (204) 983-6306 - TDD 983-8274
 Telecopier: (204) 983-6317

 530 - 580 Hornby Street
 Vancouver, British Columbia
 V6C 3B6
 Tels: (604) 666-2111 - TDD 666-0778
 Telecopier: (604) 666-8322

 C.R.T.C. Documentation Centre
 55 St. Clair Avenue East
 Suite 624
 Toronto, Ontario
 M4T 1M2
 Telephone: (416) 952-9096
 Telecopier: (416) 954-6343

 C.R.T.C. Documentation Centre
 Cornwall Professional Building
 Room 103
 2125, 11th Avenue
 Regina, Saskatchewan
 S4P 3X3
 Telephone: (306) 780-3422
 Telecopier: (306) 780-3319

This document is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be viewed at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca

THE FINANCIAL SUMMARY IS AVAILABLE ON HARD COPY ONLY.

 Secretary General

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