ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-437

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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-437

  Ottawa, 30 September 2004
  Radio Essipit Haute Côte-Nord
Les Escoumins and Forestville, Quebec
  Application 2003-1238-0
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-5
22 January 2004
 

CHME-FM Les Escoumins - New transmitter in Forestville

  The Commission approves the application to add a transmitter of CHME-FM in Forestville.
 

The application

1.

The Commission received an application by Radio Essipit Haute Côte-Nord (Radio Essipit) to amend the broadcasting licence for the radio programming undertaking CHME-FM Les Escoumins, in order to operate a transmitter in Forestville.

2.

The new transmitter would operate at 99.7 MHz (channel 259LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts.

3.

The applicant indicated that CHME-FM offers programming that would reflect the social, cultural, economic and community life of Forestville and of the Haute Côte-Nord region.
 

The interventions

4.

The Commission received six interventions in support of this application. One intervention in opposition to this application was submitted by 9022-6242 Québec inc. (9022-6242), licensee of CHLC-FM Baie-Comeau. The intervener has also filed an application with the Commission requesting approval of a proposal to convert CHLC-FM's rebroadcasting station CFRP Forestville to the FM band. That application is the subject of CHLC-FM Baie-Comeau - Conversion of transmitter CFRP Forestville from AM to FM band, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-436, also published today.

5.

9022-6242 expressed the view that the market is already well served by CFRP, that the market cannot support two radio stations, and that Radio Essipit had not provided any evidence to the contrary. The intervener further stated that Forestville should not be considered to be part of CHLC-FM's primary service area, since the main transmitter for that station is in Sainte-Françoise, more than 70 kilometres from Forestville.
 

The applicant's reply

6.

The applicant stated that CHLC-FM's rebroadcasting station CFRP Forestville has not been in service for many years, and that the originating station is received in most of Forestville, although its programming does not address the needs and interests of that community, since its primary service area is Baie-Comeau.

7.

Radio Essipit also indicated that CHME-FM has been in a negative financial situation for six of the past seven years. It also stated that it does not receive government grants since CHME-FM is not a community station like CHLC-FM.
 

The Commission's analysis and determination

8.

The Commission has considered the views of the applicant and the intervener, and concludes that Radio Essipit's proposal to add a transmitter of CHME-FM in Forestville will not have any undue negative impact on existing broadcasters because the main revenue of CHME-FM will not be dependent on the rebroadcasting of its signal in the Forestville region. The Commission is satisfied that, as a result of the establishment of the new transmitter, the population of Forestville will receive additional choice and signal quality.

9.

Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by Radio Essipit Haute Côte-Nord to amend the broadcasting licence for the radio programming undertaking CHME-FM Les Escoumins, in order to operate a transmitter in Forestville. The new transmitter will operate at 99.7 MHz (channel 259LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 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.

12.

Given that the technical parameters approved in this decision are for a low-power unprotected FM service, the Commission also reminds the licensee that it will have to select another frequency if the Department so requires.

13.

The transmitter 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 30 September 2006. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted in writing at least 60 days before that date.
  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 

Date Modified: 2004-09-30

Date modified: