ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-334

Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-334

Ottawa, 23 October 2002

Radio CJVR Ltd.
Waskesiu Lake, Saskatchewan

Application 2002-0130-2
Public Notice CRTC 2002-25
15 May 2002

CJVR-FM-2 Waskesiu Lake - Technical amendment

The application

1.

The Commission received an application by Radio CJVR Ltd. (Radio CJVR) to amend the licence of CJVR-FM Melfort, the mother station, by increasing the effective radiated power (ERP) of its transmitter, CJVR-FM-2 Waskesiu Lake, from 7,100 watts to 11,000 watts.

2.

The Commission authorized Radio CJVR to operate an FM radio station in Melfort with transmitters in Dafoe and Waskesiu Lake in New FM radio station in Melfort, Decision CRTC 2001-747, 7 December 2001 (Decision 2001-747). In response to objections to the originally proposed transmitter site for CJVR-FM-2 Waskesiu Lake, Radio CJVR negotiated an agreement with Saskatchewan Telecommunications to co-locate the transmitter on its tower. The applicant applied for an increase in the ERP to 11,000 watts in order to maintain the same coverage area from the new transmitter site.

Interventions

3.

Numerous interventions were submitted in support of the application including one from 402 signatories.

4.

Central Broadcasting Company Ltd. (Central)¹, licensee of AM and FM stations in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, opposed the proposed power increase. The intervener stated that its stations have been serving the Waskesiu Lake for over forty years. It claimed that there is no community of interest between that area and Melfort and alleged that the true purpose of the proposed power increase is to extend CJVR-FM's signal into Prince Albert, not to serve Waskesiu Lake.

5.

In response, Radio CJVR described the many ways it contributes to local events in the Waskesiu Lake community including sponsoring and providing coverage of various golf tournaments held in the area as well as broadcasting camping reports and announcements of recreational activities of interest to its listeners. Radio CJVR stated that it had decided to relocate the transmitter in response to the concerns of adjacent landowners who objected to the original site and that the proposed power increase would correct the decrease in reach in the easterly direction at the new site and enable CJVR-FM-2 to achieve the coverage approved in Decision 2001-747.

6.

Radio CJVR stated the proposed 3 millivolt per metre (mV/m) coverage contour would not overlap with the intervener's two FM stations in Prince Albert or with its AM station's 15 mv/m daytime signal contour. While the applicant acknowledged that the proposed 0.5 mv/m coverage contour would be seven kilometres south of what was originally proposed, it would still be 30 kilometres north of Prince Albert.

The Commission's analysis and conclusion

7.

CJVR Radio does not need the Commission's approval to change CJVR-FM-2's transmitter site. The Commission, nevertheless, considers that the relocation of the transmitter in order to address complaints by residents in the area is reasonable. Since the new site is located further from Waskesiu Lake than the original site, the Commission concludes that the proposed power increase is justified to enable the applicant to duplicate the coverage area approved in Decision 2001-747.

8.

With regard to the concerns raised by the intervener, the Commission considers that CJVR Radio's involvement in local events demonstrates its commitment to serve the Waskesiu Lake area, and does not consider that the applicant's intention is to serve the Prince Albert market. Moreover, the Commission agrees with CJVR Radio that, while the amended facilities will extend CJVR-FM-2's coverage contour closer to the Prince Albert market by seven kilometres, the power increase would not represent entry into that market because the contour would still be 30 kilometres north of Prince Albert.

9.

For these reasons, the Commission approves the application by Radio CJVR to amend the licence of CJVR-FM Melfort by increasing the ERP of its rebroadcasting transmitter, CJVR-FM-2 Waskesiu Lake, from 7,100 watts to 11,000 watts.

10.

The Department of Industry (the Department) has advised the Commission that, while this application is conditionally technically acceptable, it will only issue a broadcasting certificate when it has determined that the proposed technical parameters will not create any unacceptable interference with aeronautical NAV/COM services.

11.

The Commission reminds the licensee that, pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, this authority will only be effective when the Department notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met, and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.

Secretary General