ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2000-741

Decision CRTC 2000-741

Ottawa, 29 November 2000

Corey Lascelle
Estevan; Moose Jaw; North Battleford; Swift Current and Weyburn, Saskatchewan
- 200005521 - 200005547 - 200005563
- 200005555 - 200005539

18 September 2000 Public Hearing
National Capital Region

New low-power tourist information services

The Commission approves the applications for new low-power English-language FM radio stations at the locations listed above. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.

The applicant proposes tourist information services promoting tourist attractions, upcoming events listings, and including a limited number of sponsorship messages per hour from affiliated businesses within the tourism industry.

Programming will consist of one to two hours of pre-recorded announcements repeated continuously over a 24-hour period. The services will operate on a year-round basis.

These services will offer a better service to tourists and will replace talking sign services operated in Estevan, North Battleford, Swift Current and Weyburn.

In its licensing policy for low-power radio broadcasting undertakings, the Commission indicated that the licences for these undertakings would be subject to conditions that would define programming so as to ensure that licensees do not begin to offer the same service as a conventional licensee, without prior Commission approval (PN 1993-95). These conditions are set out in the appendix to this decision.

Related CRTC document

• Public Notice 1993-95 - A licensing policy for low-power radio broadcasting

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to the licences.It is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca 

Terms of licence for the low-power FM radio programming undertakings at Estevan, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Swift Current and Weyburn

Licences will be issued and effective when the licensee confirms in writing that it is ready to begin operation. This must take place within 12 months of today's date. Any request for an extension to that deadline requires Commission approval and must be made in writing within that period.

The Department of Industry has advised the Commission that these applications are conditionally technically acceptable, subject to determination that there is no unacceptable interference with NAV/COM services. When the Department certifies that broadcasting certificates will be issued, the Commission will issue the licences and the licensee may begin operation (section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act).

The licences, when issued, will expire 31 August 2007.

As proposed, the stations will operate at:

• Estevan, on the frequency 92.3 MHz, channel 222LP, with an effective radiated power of 47.5 watts;

• Moose Jaw, on the frequency 95.9 MHz, channel 240LP, with an effective radiated power of 46.2 watts;

• North Battleford, on the frequency 92.3 MHz, channel 222LP, with an effective radiated power of 45.1 watts;

• Swift Current, on the frequency 99.5 MHz, channel 258LP, with an effective radiated power of 47.5 watts; and

• Weyburn, on the frequency 99.5 MHz, channel 258LP, with an effective radiated power of 47.5 watts.

The technical parameters approved in this decision are for low-power unprotected FM services. The applicant would have to select other frequencies for the operation of these services if required to do so to permit the best use of the frequency band.

Conditions of licence

The licences will be subject to the conditions specified below and to any other condition specified in the licences to be issued.