ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2001-576

Decision CRTC 2001-576

Ottawa, 12 September 2001

Bluewater Community Radio, on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated
Hanover, Ontario 2001-0406-8

24 July 2001 Public Hearing
National Capital Region

New developmental community radio station

The Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence for a developmental English-language FM community radio programming undertaking at Hanover. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.

The licence will be held by a not-for-profit organization whose structure provides for membership, management, operation and programming by members of the community at large. The Board of Directors, headed by Ms. Marina Colussi, is ultimately responsible for adherence to the Radio Regulations, 1986 and the station's conditions of licence.

The Commission's primary objective for community radio is that it provide community access to the airwaves and offer diverse programming that reflects the needs and interests of the community that it is licensed to serve. The programming must include music by new and local talent, music not generally broadcast by commercial stations, local information and spoken word programming. Developmental stations operate primarily for training purposes and have a certain measure of programming flexibility (PN 2000-13).

The applicant proposes to broadcast an average of 105 hours each broadcast week. The local programming, consisting of spoken word, music, and community information will form the major part of the day. The station will also broadcast news with a focus on local issues, sports and weather.

The new station will provide all community groups, regardless of age and culture, with opportunities to express themselves artistically, culturally and religiously, by means of music and spoken word. It will also broadcast messages relating to their fund raising and membership activities, as well as their community events and meetings.

The applicant will offer approximately one hour per day of religious programming as defined in the religious broadcasting policy. The Commission reminds the applicant that it must abide by the requirements set out in Public Notice CRTC 1993-78 with respect to balance and other matters involving the broadcasting of religious programming as well as the policy regarding soliciting funds.

The station, being located in a high school, will be beneficial to students, giving them opportunities to gain experience, skills and knowledge in broadcasting.

The Commission has examined the interventions filed in support of this application.

Related CRTC documents

. Public Notice 2000-157 - New licence form for community radio stations

. Public Notice 2000-13 - Community radio policy

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

. Public Notice 1993-78 - Religious broadcast policy

Secretary General

Appendix to Decision CRTC 2001-576

Terms of the licence

The Commission will only issue the licence, and it will only be effective at such time as:

· it receives documentation establishing that an eligible Canadian corporation has been incorporated in accordance with the application in all material respects and that this corporation may be issued a licence.

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

In Public Notice CRTC 2000-12, the Commission stated that developmental radio stations would generally be licensed for three years. Taking into consideration the 12-month period allowed to implement a new radio station, the licence, when issued, will expire 12 September 2005. If the licensee wishes to continue the operation of the station beyond this period, it must, nine months before the expiry of its licence, file an application with the Commission for a regular community radio licence, or cease operations when its licence has expired.

The station will broadcast on the FM band, on the frequency 91.3 MHz, channel 217LP, with an effective radiated power of 5 watts.

The technical parameters approved in this decision are for a low-power unprotected FM service. The applicant would have to select another frequency if required to do so to permit the best use of the frequency band.

Conditions of licence

The licence will be subject to the conditions specified in the licence to be issued, as also set out in Public Notice CRTC 2000-157.