ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2001-315

Decision CRTC 2001-315

Ottawa, 5 June 2001

Simon Fraser Campus Radio Society
Burnaby, British Columbia
1998-0428-2

20 November 2000 Public Hearing
in Burnaby

New community-based campus radio station approved in part

1.

At the Burnaby Public hearing in November 2000, the Commission heard two applications proposing the use of FM frequency 90.9 MHz for the operation of new radio services in the Vancouver area. By this decision, by majority vote, the above-noted proposal by Simon Fraser Campus Radio Society (Simon Fraser) is approved in part.

2.

By Decision CRTC 2001-314 of today's date, the Commission, also by majority vote, approves in part the application by Gary Farmer, on behalf of a company to be incorporated (Aboriginal Voices Radio; AVR) for a broadcasting licence to carry on a new Aboriginal-language radio station at Vancouver.

3.

In each case, however, the Commission will only issue a licence provided the applicant submits, within six months of today's date, an application proposing the use of another radio frequency that is acceptable to both the Commission and to Industry Canada. Any request for an extension to this deadline requires Commission approval and must be made in writing within the six-month period.

4.

As stated in Public Notice CRTC 2001-63 that accompanies these and other decisions issued today, the Commission considers that neither the Simon Fraser application nor that by AVR would constitute the best possible use of the 90.9 MHz frequency.

5.

Concerning Simon Fraser's application, the Commission is nevertheless satisfied that licensing the proposed service is warranted and would be consistent with the objectives of the campus radio policy announced in Public Notice CRTC 2000-12. The Commission notes in this regard the extensive experience in the programming and operation of campus radio stations held by those individuals who appeared at the hearing on behalf of the applicant.

6.

A carrier current undertaking has operated from the campus of Simon Fraser University for several years. The Commission commends the applicant on its efforts over that period to develop new broadcasting talent through its acceptance of high school students in career placements. The Commission also notes the applicant's commitments to continue its promotion of local talent through its music and arts programming and through the opportunities it will provide station volunteers to become involved in program production. Further, the Commission has taken into account the 137 interventions filed with respect to this application, all but one of which were in support.

7.

In light of the above, the Commission encourages the applicant to submit plans without delay for use of an alternative frequency to deliver its proposed service to the Burnaby area.

8.

The Commission notes the applicant's confirmation at the hearing that it will operate in accordance with the new campus radio policy and adhere to all applicable conditions of licence related thereto, as set out in Public Notice CRTC 2000-156 entitled New licence form for campus radio stations. Accordingly, the licence, when issued, will be subject to the conditions specified therein, as also set out in PN 2000-156. The licence will expire 31 August 2007.

9.

Among other things, the licensee shall, by condition of licence, adhere to the new regulatory minimums with respect to the percentage of Canadian musical selections from category 2 (35%) and from category 3 (12%) that campus radio stations must air in each broadcast week.

10.

In its policy, the Commission noted that the cultural diversity present in many Canadian communities places campus stations serving those centres in a position to make a strong contribution to the reflection of that cultural diversity, especially by providing exposure to new and developing artists from minority cultural groups.

11.

Under its policy, the Commission further expects community-based campus stations to provide programming that is complementary, not only to that of commercial stations, but also to that of community stations and other campus stations operating in the same location. Such programming could consist of music, especially Canadian music, not generally heard on commercial stations (including special interest music, as well as styles of popular music seldom broadcast), in-depth spoken word programming, and programming targeted to specific groups within the community.

12.

Given the size of Simon Fraser's music library, and the freedom it gives station volunteers in the creation of programming, the Commission has no concerns about the applicant's ability to reflect a broad range of different cultural groups in the music it broadcasts. The Commission also notes the applicant's plans to increase the amount of ethnic programming from the level now aired by the carrier current operation. The Commission strongly encourages the applicant to identify all of the ethnocultural groups represented within the service area of the proposed station, and to ensure that the additional efforts it has proposed are indeed taken, with a view to reflecting these groups in the station's volunteer base and its programming, particularly in its spoken word programming.

13.

The Commission also considers that campus radio stations should be particularly sensitive to employment equity issues in order to reflect fully the communities they serve. It encourages the applicant to consider these issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources. (Public Notice CRTC 1992-59).

14.

The applicant's carrier current operation broadcasts an average of 112 hours of programming per week, and generally does not broadcast during the Christmas and New Years holidays. The applicant has indicated that it intends to increase the proposed new station's hours of broadcast to more than 20 hours per day shortly after it commences operation.

15.

The Commission reminds the applicant that, once it meets the requirement imposed earlier in this decision concerning the filing of an acceptable proposal for use of another frequency, the Commission will only issue the licence, and it will only be effective at such time as 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.

Related CRTC documents

. Public Notice 2000-156 - New licence form for campus radio stations

. Public Notice 2000-93 - Regulatory amendments to implement certain aspects of the revised policies for campus radio and community radio, and incorporating revised content categories for radio

. Public Notice 2000-44 - Call for comments - Proposed regulatory amendments for the purpose of implementing certain aspects of the revised policies for campus radio and community radio, and incorporating revised content categories for radio

. Public Notice 2000-14 - Revised content categories and subcategories for radio

. Public Notice 2000-12 - Campus radio policy

Secretary General

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

Dissent by Commissioner Jean-Marc Demers

Commissioner Jean-Marc Demers dissents from this and from four other majority decisions on applications for new or amended radio licences heard at the 20 November 2000 public hearing in Burnaby. The Commissioner dissents, as well, from Public Notice CRTC 2001-63 Introductory statement to Decisions CRTC 2001-312 to 2001-320: Radio applications considered at the 20 November 2000 public hearing in Burnaby, B.C. The rationale underlying Commissioner Demer's dissent is presented at the conclusion of Public Notice 2001-63.