ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2001-580

Decision CRTC 2001-580

Ottawa, 12 September 2001

Education Alternative Radio Society
Prince George, British Columbia
2000-1965-5

22 May 2001 Public Hearing
National Capital Region

New developmental community-based campus radio station

The Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence for a low-power developmental FM community-based campus radio programming undertaking at Prince George. The new station will broadcast programming in English and in Native languages as well as in foreign languages. 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 David Schindler, is ultimately responsible for adherence to the Radio Regulations, 1986 and the station's conditions of licence.

Developmental stations operate primarily for training purposes and have a certain measure of programming flexibility (Public Notice CRTC 2000-13).

The Commission expects this developmental campus station to provide community access to the airwaves and to offer alternative programming that reflects the diverse elements of the communities it is licensed to serve. It is in a position to make a strong contribution to the reflection of Canadian cultural diversity, especially by providing exposure to new and developing artists from minority cultural groups. It also has the responsibility to play music not often played by commercial stations. Further, it is well placed to provide spoken word programming that reflects the perspectives and concerns of minority cultural groups.

The station will broadcast 126 hours of programming each week, including at least 6 hours of ethnic programming. It will feature music from local artists, songs by popular artists not generally aired on commercial radio, music styles such as "blues" and "jazz" and various ethnic music programs. It will offer programming in languages taught at the University of Northern British Columbia and the College of New Caledonia such as Russian, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, German and Spanish. The applicant also plans to invite ethnic groups in Prince George to provide programming that portrays their particular culture.

Volunteers from the university, college and high school communities will produce approximately one-third of the station's programming. They will be able to submit ideas for programming and to write and host programs.

Related CRTC documents

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

. Public Notice 2000-12 - Campus radio policy

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

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

Appendix to Decision CRTC 2001-580

Terms of the licence

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.

· 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 campus radio licence, or cease operations when its licence has expired.

The station will broadcast on the FM band, on the frequency 88.7 MHz, channel 204LP. The Department of Industry has advised that the undertaking will have an effective radiated power of 4.3 watts rather than 5 watts, as indicated in Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 2001-4 dated 16 March 2001.

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 2000-156.