ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2001-319

Decision CRTC 2001-319

Ottawa, 5 June 2001

Radio Malaspina Society
Nanaimo, British Columbia 1999-0691-3 

20 November 2000 Public Hearing
in Burnaby

New community-based campus radio station

1. 9;

The Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence for an English-language FM community-based campus radio programming undertaking at Nanaimo. The new station will operate on the frequency 101.7 MHz, channel 269A, with an effective radiated power of 1,300 watts.

2. 9;

Subject to the requirements of this decision, the Commission will issue a licence for a community-based campus radio station, expiring on 31 August 2007. The licence to be issued will be subject to the conditions specified therein, as also set out in Public Notice CRTC 2000-156 entitled New licence form for campus radio stations.

3. 9;

The Commission notes in this regard that the application was filed before publication of the new campus radio policy (Public Notice CRTC 2000-12). At the hearing, the applicant confirmed its willingness to operate in accordance with the new policy and to adhere to all applicable conditions of licence related thereto, as set out in PN 2000-156.

4. 9;

Among other things, therefore, the licensee shall adhere, by condition of licence, 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.

5. 9;

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.

6. 9;

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.

7. 9;

The Commission therefore notes the applicant's plans to devote more than 5% of its weekly schedule to foreign language programming, to provide a further seven hours of Aboriginal-language programming, and three hours in French each week.

8. 9;

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).

9. 9;

The Commission expects the licensee to implement the initiatives set out in its plan for local talent development and to give effect to the measures designed to encourage the participation of volunteers.

10. 9;

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.

· Industry Canada, having advised that the application is conditionally technically acceptable, determines that there is no unacceptable interference with NAV/COM services and indicates that it will issue a broadcasting certificate (section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act).

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