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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-412
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Ottawa, 5 December 2007
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Ernest Turcotte Evangelistic Association
Timmins, Ontario
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Application 2007-0209-4, received 9 February 2007
Public Hearing in Kelowna, British Columbia
30 October 2007
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Christian music FM radio station
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The Commission denies the application by Ernest Turcotte Evangelistic Association for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language specialty low-power FM radio programming undertaking in Timmins, Ontario.
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The application
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1.
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The Commission received an application by Ernest Turcotte Evangelistic Association (Ernest Turcotte) for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language specialty low-power FM radio programming undertaking in Timmins, Ontario. The proposed station would operate at 100.7 MHz (channel 264LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts.
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2.
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The applicant indicated that the proposed station would provide a Christian music service. During each broadcast week, a minimum of 95% of all musical selections would be drawn from subcategory 35 (Non-classic religious). In addition, in each broadcast week, the proposed station would broadcast 35 hours of spoken word programming, of which 95% would consist of religious programming. The remaining 5% would be devoted to community events.
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3.
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The proposed station would broadcast 126 hours per week of local programming. It would be operated by volunteers and would offer gospel music as well as variety topics on teaching and preaching from local musicians, local pastors and northern Canadian ministers.
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4.
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The applicant stated that it would create a regulatory committee that would include three members with different religious views. This committee would ensure balance in the station's religious programming and oversee complaints.
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5.
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The Commission received several interventions in support of this application.
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Commission's analysis and determinations
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6.
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In Public Notice 1993-78 (the Religious Broadcasting Policy), the Commission stated that stations that broadcast religious programming have an obligation to offer differing views on matters of general public concern, including religious matters. The Commission expects all applicants for such stations to provide details concerning how they propose to ensure balance in their programming, and how they would respond to complaints from the public about balance in programming.
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7.
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The Commission generally is of the view that the balance requirement would be met where a reasonable consistent listener is exposed to a spectrum of views on issues of public concern over a reasonable period of time.
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8.
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The Commission notes that this is the applicant's second attempt to establish a radio programming undertaking in Timmins. In Broadcasting Decision 2006-455, the Commission denied an application to acquire the assets of CKTT-FM Timmins and a proposal to modify the service offered by the station from that of a tourist information service to a commercial specialty FM service offering religious programming. The Commission stated that it was not satisfied that the applicant had clear and adequately developed plans for providing balanced religious programming.
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9.
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Similarly, the Commission considers that the applicant's plans for ensuring balanced religious programming in this application are rather broad and unclear, and scarcely consistent with the duties and responsibilities of a broadcaster that focuses on religious programming. Such plans are particularly critical in this case given the high level of proposed religious spoken word content. In addition, the Commission is of the view that the applicant has not presented a sufficiently developed plan for providing balanced programming as contemplated by the Religious Broadcasting Policy. In light of the above, the Commission is not convinced that the applicant is committed to ensuring balance in its religious programming.
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10.
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Furthermore, the Commission notes that the Timmins market is already served by CHIM-FM Timmins, a religious spoken word and music service. The applicant did not discuss how its proposed station would differ from CHIM-FM. The Commission is therefore not persuaded that this application would bring additional programming diversity to the market.
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11.
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Based on the foregoing, the Commission denies the application by Ernest Turcotte Evangelistic Association for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language specialty low-power FM radio programming undertaking in Timmins, Ontario.
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Secretary General
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Related documents
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Commercial Radio Policy 2006, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-158, 15 December 2006
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CKTT-FM Timmins, Ontario - Acquisition of assets, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-455, 31 August 2006
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New licence form for commercial radio stations, Public Notice CRTC 1999-137, 24 August 1999
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Religious Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1993-78, 3 June 1993
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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: http://www.crtc.gc.ca
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Date Modified: 2007-12-05