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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-427
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Ottawa, 19 August 2005
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Radio Nord Communications inc.
Rouyn-Noranda, Val d'Or/Amos and La Sarre, Quebec
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Application 2003-1475-8
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-37
2 June 2004
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CHOA-FM Rouyn-Noranda and its transmitters CHOA-FM-1 Val d'Or/Amos and CHOA-FM-2 La Sarre - Licence renewal
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The Commission renews the broadcasting licence for CHOA-FM Rouyn-Noranda and its transmitters CHOA-FM-1 Val d'Or/Amos and CHOA-FM-2 La Sarre, from 1 September 2005 to 31 August 2012. Details on the licensee's proposals for the new licence term and other requirements imposed by the Commission are addressed below.
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The application
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1.
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The Commission received an application by Radio Nord Communications inc. (Radio Nord) to renew the broadcasting licence for the commercial radio programming udertaking CHOA-FM Rouyn-Noranda and its transmitters CHOA-FM-1 Val d'Or/Amos and CHOA-FM-2 La Sarre, which expires 31 August 2005.1
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2.
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In its renewal application, Radio Nord proposed to change CHOA-FM's commitment to Canadian talent development. Radio Nord committed, by condition of licence, to contribute a minimum of $400 annually to MusicAction. Radio Nord noted that this amount is the same as that set out in the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB's) plan for contributions to Canadian talent development.
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3.
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Radio Nord also proposed to delete the following condition of licence:
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It is a condition of licence that programming other than local programming originate exclusively from the Radio Nord inc. and Radiomédia inc. (Radiomédia) networks.
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4.
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The licensee noted that its affiliation with Radiomédia was replaced by the Nouvelles Télé-Radio (NTR) service.
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Interventions
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5.
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The Commission received several interventions in connection with the renewal of the licences for Radio Nord's stations, specifically CHOA-FM Rouyn-Noranda, CHGO-FM Val d'Or and CJGO-FM La Sarre. Comments generally addressed the following three items:
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- the quality and diversity of news coverage;
- opting out in favour of the Outaouais or other regions; and
- contributions to Canadian talent development.
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6.
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Furthermore, several interveners raised specific concerns about the CHGO-FM renewal. General concerns and those relating to CHGO-FM are addressed in detail in CHGO-FM Val d'Or and its transmitter CHGO-FM-1 Rouyn-Noranda - Licence renewal, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-426 also issued today.
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Commission's analysis and determination
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7.
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The Commission carefully examined the application and considered the comments by the licensee and the interveners regarding the quality of news aired by CHOA-FM. The interveners maintained that the licensee broadcasts the same news on its television and radio stations.
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8.
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The Commission notes Radio Nord's major responsibilities in covering such a large territory. The Commission further notes that there was a labour dispute at Radio Nord in Abitibi-Témiscamingue at the time interventions were filed concerning the licence renewals for stations CHGO-FM, CJGO-FM and CHOA-FM and that the stations' news services were affected during that period. However, on 20 July 2004, the employees of Radio Nord in Abitibi-Témiscamingue ended the strike. The Commission thus expects that the news services affected by the strike are returning to the quality of service provided before the dispute began.
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9.
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Inaccordancewith Commercial Radio Policy 1998, Public Notice CRTC 1998-41, 30 April 1998 (the Commercial Radio Policy), Radio Nord is required, by condition of licence, to refrain from soliciting or accepting local advertising for broadcast during any broadcast week unless one third of the programming aired is local.
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10.
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The Commission reminds the licensee that the definition of local programming, set out in the Commercial Radio Policy, indicates that, in their local programming, licensees must include spoken word material of direct and particular relevance to the community served, such as local news, weather and sports, and the promotion of local events and activities.
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11.
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With respect to the request to delete the condition of licence requiring that non-local programming originate exclusively from the Radio Nord and Radiomédia networks, the Commission notes that the station is now affiliated with the NTR service and that Radiomédia no longer exists as a news service. Accordingly, the Commission approves the request to delete this condition of licence.
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12.
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With respect to its commitment to Canadian talent development, the licensee agreed to accept, as a condition of licence, to spend a minimum of $400 per year, which will be paid directly to MusicAction. The Commission notes that the proposed amount complies with the terms set out in the CAB's Distribution Guidelines for Canadian Talent Development, as established in Contributions by radio stations to Canadian talent development - a new approach, Public Notice CRTC 1995-196, 17 November 1995.
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13.
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Based on its review of this licence renewal application and the licensee's past performance, the Commission renews the broadcasting licence for the commercial radio programming undertaking CHOA-FM Rouyn-Noranda and its transmitters CHOA-FM-1 Val d'Or/Amos and CHOA-FM-2 La Sarre, from 1 September 2005 to 31 August 2012. The licence will be subject to the conditions set out in New licence form for commercial radio stations, Public Notice CRTC 1999-137, 24 August 1999 (Public Notice 1999-137), and to the following condition:
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The contributions set out in condition of licence no. 5 of Public Notice 1999-137 shall be paid to MusicAction.
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Employment equity
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14.
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Because this licensee is subject to the Employment Equity Act and files reports concerning employment equity with theDepartment of Human Resources and Skills Development, its employment equity practices are not examined by the Commission.
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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 in PDF format or in HTML at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca
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Footnote:
[] The Commission notes that the broadcasting licence for CHOA-FM Rouyn-Noranda and its transmitters CHOA-FM-1 Val d'Or/Amos and CHOA‑FM-2 La Sarre was renewed administratively in Administrative renewals, Broadcasting Decisions CRTC 2004-365, 23 August 2004 (1 September 2004 to 28 February 2005), CRTC 2005-59, 14 February 2005 (1 March 2005 to 30 June 2005) and CRTC 2005-228, 1 June 2005 (1 July 2005 to 31 August 2005).
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Date Modified: 2005-08-19