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ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-279

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Route reference: 2010-935

Ottawa, 29 April 2011

Rossland Radio Cooperative
Rossland, British Columbia

Application 2010-1552-9, received 14 October 2010
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
11 February 2011

English-language community FM radio station in Rossland

The Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language, low-power community FM radio station in Rossland, British Columbia.

The application

1.      The Commission received an application by Rossland Radio Cooperative (RRC), for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language, low power community FM radio programming undertaking in Rossland, British Columbia. The Commission received an intervention in support of this application.

2.      RRC is a not-for-profit organization controlled by its board of directors.

3.      The station would operate at 101.1 MHz (channel 266LP) with an effective radiated power of 20 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of -65.7 metres).[1]

4.      In Broadcasting Decision 2008-103, the Commission approved a request by RRC for a developmental community radio station in Rossland, British Columbia. In Public Notice 2000-13, the Commission indicated that developmental campus radio stations would generally be licensed for a three-year term, and at the end of this term, licensees will be expected to have filed an application with the Commission for a regular community radio licence or to cease operations. RRC filed the present application in order to comply with the Commission’s approach for developmental campus radio stations, as set out in Public Notice 2000-13.

5.      In Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-499, the Commission announced a number of changes to the regulatory framework for campus and community radio stations. RRC has confirmed that it would adhere to the changes set out in that policy.

6.      The applicant indicated that, during each broadcast week, the station will broadcast 70 hours of programming, including seven hours of programming in the French language.

7.      The applicant further indicated that the station’s musical programming will be drawn from a range of content category 2 and category 3 musical selections,[2] including specialty music programs.

8.      With respect to the promotion of local talent, the applicant stated that it will continue to promote talent in the community and continue to support lesser-known artist through its sponsoring of open-mic nights, through its promotion of concerts and interviews, through its programming of shows dedicated to showcasing local area music, and by planning a music festival for the summer of 2011.

9.      The applicant stated that its volunteers will be required to shadow current programmers who have been active with the developmental licensed station, through which they will learn the different facets of the station operation, including how to use studio equipment, broadcasting and journalism techniques, and general office duties. RRC believes that their volunteers will gain useful training in broadcasting and audio production.

Commission’s determination

10.     The Commission expects community-based radio stations to provide programming differing in style and substance from that provided by other elements of the broadcasting system, particularly commercial radio stations and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Such programming should consist of music, especially Canadian music, not generally heard on commercial stations (including special interest music, as well as styles of popular music seldom broadcast), in-depth spoken word programming, and programming targeted to specific groups within the community.

11.     The Commission is satisfied that the application is consistent with the provisions for community radio stations set out in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-499. Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by Rossland Radio Cooperative for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language, low-power community FM radio programming undertaking in Rossland, British Columbia. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.

Secretary General

Related documents

* This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-279

Terms, conditions of licence, expectation and encouragement

Terms

Issuance of the broadcasting licence to operate an English-language, low-power FM community radio programming undertaking in Rossland, British Columbia

The licence will expire 31 August 2017.

The station will operate at 101.1 MHz (channel 266LP) with an effective radiated power of 20 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of -65.7 metres).

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.

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.

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

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 29 April 2013. 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.

Conditions of licence

  1. The licence shall be subject to the conditions set out in New licence form for community radio stations, Public Notice CRTC 2000-157, 16 November 2000, with the exception of conditions of licence 1 and 9.

  2. The licensee shall devote, during each broadcast week, at least 15% of its programming to Spoken Word (content category 1) content, as amended from time to time. All of this spoken word programming shall be locally produced (that is, produced by or exclusively for the licensee).

  3. The licensee shall devote, in each broadcast week, 12% or more of its musical selections from content category 3 (Special Interest Music) to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety. This condition of licence will expire upon the coming into force of amendments to the Radio Regulations, 1986, introducing requirements pertaining to the minimum level/percentage of content category 3 musical selections that must be devoted to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety by campus and community radio undertakings.

  4. The licensee shall adhere to the Equitable Portrayal Code, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.

Expectation

Filing of ownership information

As set out in Campus and community radio policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-499, 22 July 2010, the Commission expects all community and campus licensees to file yearly updates on the composition of their boards of directors. These annual updates can be submitted at the time of submission of annual returns, following annual board of directors’ elections, or at any other time. As noted in Appendix 3 to that regulatory policy, licensees may submit such documentation via the Commission’s website.

Encouragement

Employment equity

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 licensee to consider these issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.

Footnotes

[1] These technical parameters reflect those approved by the Department of Industry.

[2] In Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-499, the Commission presented its preliminary view that the Canadian content level for category 3 music should increase from 12% to 15%. The Commission has since issued a call for comments on whether a 15% or higher level would be an appropriate level of Canadian content for category 3 music (see Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2011-173).

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