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ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-67

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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-67

  Ottawa, 30 January 2004
  Trust Communications Ministries
Kitchener, Ontario
  Application 2003-0844-6
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
17 November 2003
 

Christian music FM radio station in Kitchener

  In this decision, the Commission denies the application by Trust Communications Ministries to operate a Christian music FM radio station in Kitchener.
 

The application

1.

The Commission received an application by Trust Communications Ministries (Trust) to operate an English-language commercial specialty FM radio programming undertaking at Kitchener, Ontario at 93.7 MHz (channel 229B1) with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 795 watts.

2.

Trust indicated that with the exception of the frequency proposed, the application is identical to the one denied by the Commission in Country FM radio station in Kitchener-Waterloo, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2003-153, 14 May 2003 (Decision 2003-153).

3.

The applicant stated that the proposed station would broadcast 24 hours per day and would devote 80 percent of the broadcast week to local station-produced programming. The remaining 20 percent of the broadcast week would be devoted to specialty programs such as syndicated music countdown programs and new album features.

4.

Trust indicated that it did not plan to offer religious programming as defined in Religious Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1993-78, 3 June 1993 (Public Notice 1993-78; Religious Policy). It stated however, that should it decide in the future to offer religious programming, it would provide balance as required by the Religious Policy. The applicant also indicated that it would accept a condition of licence that required it to adhere to the guidelines on ethics for religious programming as set out in Public Notice 1993-78.
 

Interventions

5.

The Commission received 128 interventions in support of this application, and two opposing, submitted by Sound of Faith Broadcasting Inc. (Sound of Faith) and Mr. Dave MacDonald, a member of Sound of Faith's Board. In Christian music radio station in Kitchener-Waterloo, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2003-154, 14 May 2003, the Commission approved an application by Sound of Faith to operate an FM Christian radio station in Kitchener.

6.

Sound of Faith's intervention stated that the addition of a second Christian station to serve Kitchener would place a significant strain on the financial resources of the Kitchener-Waterloo Christian community, and would have a serious negative impact on Sound of Faith's business plan.

7.

In reply to the intervener, Trust expressed its view that the Kitchener-Waterloo market could sustain two Christian stations.
 

The Commission's analysis and determination

8.

In Broadcasting Decisions CRTC 2003-152 to 2003-155, all dated 14 May 2003, the Commission approved four applications to operate new FM radio stations in Kitchener-Waterloo. The applications by Global Communications Limited, Larche Communications Inc. on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated, Sound of Faith, and Aboriginal Voices Radio Inc. were approved. The remaining applications, including one submitted by Trust, were denied.

9.

The Commission notes that the current application is virtually identical to the one denied in Decision 2003-153, and that the applicant's submission occurred within a relatively short period of time since that denial.

10.

Given that, to date, only one of the four stations approved in May 2003 has launched, the Commission is of the view that the impact of the arrival of these four new stations in Kitchener-Waterloo cannot yet be evaluated. Therefore, the Commission finds that, at this time, approval of a further application to operate an FM radio station in Kitchener would compromise the integrity of the original licensing process. In these circumstances, the Commission is of the view that those stations approved in May 2003 should be given a reasonable opportunity to launch before the Commission considers licensing further stations in this market.

11.

Based on the foregoing, the Commission considers that approval of the application would not be in the public interest. Accordingly, the Commission denies the application by Trust Communications Ministries, for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language commercial specialty FM radio programming undertaking at Kitchener at 93.7 MHz (channel 229B1) with an ERP of 795 watts.
  Secretary General
  This decision is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca 

Date Modified: 2004-01-30

Date modified: