ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2001-590

Decision CRTC 2001-590

Ottawa, 17 September 2001

Athabasca Motor Hotel (1972) Limited
Jasper, Alberta 2000-2223-6

19 June 2001 Public Hearing
National Capital Region

New low-power local information/rebroadcasting service

The Commission approves the application for a new low-power English-language FM radio station at Jasper. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.

The station will offer listeners in Jasper a hybrid format combining a local information service and a rebroadcasting service. It will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week on a year-round basis.

During each hour of the broadcast day, the station will air a 10-minute tape loop consisting of locally originated, pre-recorded announcements of matters of concern or interest to the residents and visitors to Jasper, as well as emergency services information, as required. For the remaining 50 minutes, the station will rebroadcast the signal of a licensed Edmonton radio station. Initially, it will rebroadcast the signal of CIRK-FM.

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Generally, the Commission's practice has been to license low-power information/tourist services and rebroadcasting operations as separate undertakings. In the present case, however, the Commission agrees with the applicant's arguments that Jasper's particular circumstances warrant special consideration. Jasper is situated in an isolated location. It is a community that is made up of a small number of permanent residents and a large number of seasonal and itinerant visitors. The only originating radio signal that currently reaches Jasper is CJYR Edson, Alberta via its transmitter at Hinton, Alberta. There is no local radio service available on radio in Jasper. Its emergency service agencies have no broadcasting facilities to communicate emergency information, when needed. Accordingly, the Commission is satisfied that approval of this application, which will provide Jasper with a local radio service, is in the public interest.

The applicant will update the local information package as conditions change. This segment will include details on how individuals and groups in the community can use the service to broadcast their messages. The station may broadcast 1 minute of station-originated advertising during each 10-minute locally originated programming segment. A condition of licence in this regard is found in the appendix.

The applicant confirmed that, when rebroadcasting the programming of other stations, it will not alter the signal, and that it will not insert local advertising during these periods. The station also may not substitute local programming during rebroadcasting periods except on occasions when emergency services agencies require it to broadcast emergency messages.

The applicant acknowledged that it is responsible for the programming it broadcasts, including all of the material aired during the rebroadcasting of the signal of another radio station.

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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 (Public Notice CRTC 1993-95). These conditions are set out in the appendix to this decision.

Intervention

The Commission has considered the concerns expressed in the opposing intervention submitted by Telemedia Radio (West) Inc., licensee of CJYR, regarding the impact of the new station at Jasper on the intervener's operations, and is satisfied with the applicant's response.

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 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 2001-590

Terms and conditions of licence for the low-power FM radio programming undertaking at Jasper

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).

The licence, when issued, will expire 31 August 2008.

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As proposed, the station will operate on the frequency 92.3 MHz, channel 222LP, with an effective radiated power of 29.5 watts.

The technical parameters approved in this decision are for a low-power unprotected FM service. The applicant would have to select another frequency for the operation of the service 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 below and to any other condition specified in the licence to be issued.

1. a) The licensee must use the station for the purpose of broadcasting locally originated announcements of matters of concern or interest to the residents and visitors to Jasper and for broadcasting emergency services information when required by the emergency services agencies operating in the Jasper area.

b) Notwithstanding a) above, the licensee may devote up to a maximum of 50 minutes during each clock hour of its broadcast week to the rebroadcasting of the programming of a licensed Edmonton radio station.

c) During the time periods in which the station rebroadcasts programming of another station, the licensee is prohibited from substituting local advertising and any other type of local programming, with the exception of emergency messages as and when required by the emergency services agencies operating in Jasper.

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2. a) The licensee must not broadcast more than 1 minute of station-originated advertising material during each 10-minute locally originated programming segment.

b) The licensee may broadcast station-originated advertising material only during periods of locally-originated programming.

3. During the periods of locally-originated programming, the licensee must not broadcast any musical selections, except as incidental background music.