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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2003-148
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Ottawa, 8 May 2003
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MacKenzie and Area Community Radio Society
MacKenzie, British Columbia
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Application 2002-0688-0
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
24 March 2003
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Community radio station in MacKenzie
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1.
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The Commission approves the application by MacKenzie and Area Community Radio Society for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language Type B community FM radio programming undertaking in MacKenzie. The new station will operate at 103.5 MHz (channel 278A) with an effective radiated power of 900 watts.
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2.
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The station will broadcast 100 hours of programming per week, including a maximum of 10 hours of news and sports programs acquired from CIRX-FM Prince George. The programming, which will include local and regional news, sports, weather, current events and emergency broadcast services, will be tailored to the needs of the MacKenzie people. The programs will target a range of listeners, from French-language and Aboriginal audiences to seniors, women, children and youth. The station will also offer a weekly program in Punjabi to target the South Asian population and will broadcast College of New Caledonia course lectures.
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3.
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The applicant will recruit volunteers for the station through a local newspaper advertisement and public service announcements. All volunteers must take a training course at the College of New Caledonia, which will include a theory and a practical component. The volunteers will have to demonstrate their knowledge of the Broadcasting Act and CRTC regulations.
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4.
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In the area of local talent development, the new station will provide broadcast time each week for local musical artists to perform on the air. The station will also provide the artists with professional quality recordings of their performance that can help to further their career.
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5.
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The Commission received 137 interventions in support of this application.
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6.
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The licence of this community station 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 is ultimately responsible for adherence to the Radio Regulations, 1986 and the station's conditions of licence.
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7.
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The licence will expire on 31 August 2009 and will be subject to the conditions set out in New licence form for community radio stations, Public Notice CRTC 2000-157, 16 November 2000.
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8.
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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.
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9.
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The Commission reminds the applicant that, pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, no licence may be issued until the Department notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met, and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.
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10.
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Furthermore, the licence for this undertaking will be issued once the applicant has informed the Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations. The undertaking must be operational at the earliest possible date and in any event no later than 24 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 8 May 2005. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before this date.
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11.
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The Commission considers that community 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.
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Secretary General
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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: http://www.crtc.gc.ca
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Date Modified: 2003-05-08