ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-397
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Route reference: 2011-55
Ottawa, 29 June 2011
Le Club de la radio communautaire de Plamondon-Lac La Biche
Plamondon-Lac La Biche, Alberta
Application 2010-1649-4, received 5 November 2010
Public hearing in the National Capital Region
5 April 2011
Type A community FM radio station in Plamondon-Lac La Biche
The Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a French-language Type A community FM radio station in Plamondon-Lac La Biche, Alberta.
Introduction
1. The Commission received an application by Le Club de la radio communautaire de Plamondon-Lac La Biche (Radio Plamondon-Lac La Biche) for a broadcasting licence to operate a French-language Type A community FM radio programming undertaking in Plamondon-Lac La Biche, Alberta. The Commission received several interventions in support of this application.
2. Radio Plamondon-Lac La Biche is a not-for-profit corporation controlled by its board of directors.
3. The station would operate at 92.1 MHz (channel 221A) with an effective radiated power of 1,215 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 128 metres). The applicant proposed to broadcast 126 hours of programming in each broadcast week, 111 of which would be produced by the station. The remaining 25 hours of programming would originate from the Alliance des radios communautaire du Canada network.
4. A maximum of 80% of the station’s musical selections would be drawn from content subcategory 21 (Pop, rock and dance), while the rest would consist of a variety of musical selections drawn from categories 2 (Popular Music) and 3 (Special Interest Music).[1]
5. The applicant committed to provide, in each broadcast week, programming on local and regional news, announcements from community groups and features on local activities and in particular on the province’s French-language musicians.
6. With regard to the promotion of local artists, the applicant would feature French-language artists from the community in its musical programming, especially during musical discovery programs.
7. The applicant indicated that the training and contribution of volunteers (20 program hosts and 10 technicians), as well as the station’s operating costs, would be reduced through a collaboration with the Association Canadienne-Française de l’Alberta. As such, the station would be able to offer daily programming. In addition, a regular partnership with the Beauséjour school would provide the latter’s students with access to the airwaves.
8. The applicant further indicated that the station would serve as a programming catalyst for all French-language radio stations in the Lakeland region and would allow all French-language communities to contribute to the station’s programming. Moreover, the significant contribution of volunteers should ensure the station’s viability. The applicant stated that it would recruit approximately 10 volunteers to join the existing team to ensure that the station is operational.
Commission’s analysis and determinations
9. 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), relevant and comprehensive local information programming, in-depth spoken word programming and programming targeted to specific groups within the community. Local programming should also address the needs and interests of the communities being served.
10. The Commission notes that pursuant to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-499, a licensee must devote in each broadcast week at least 15% of its programming to spoken word programming (category 1). This spoken word programming must include programming drawn from subcategories 11 (News) and 12 (Spoken word-other), as defined in Public Notice 2000-14, as amended from time to time. All the spoken word programming must be produced locally (that is, produced by or exclusively for the licensee).
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 Le Club de la radio communautaire de Plamondon-Lac la Biche for a broadcasting licence to operate a French-language Type A community FM radio programming undertaking in Plamondon-Lac La Biche, Alberta. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.
12. The Commission announced in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-499 that it would eliminate the distinction between Type A and Type B community stations. However, before it can implement this policy, the Commission must first amend the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations). Thus, once the Regulations have been amended, these types of designations will be rescinded and the station will become a community radio station.
Secretary General
Related documents
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Call for comments on amendments to the Radio Regulations, 1986, Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-173, 11 March 2011
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Campus and community radio policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-499, 22 July 2010
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New licence form for community radio stations, Public Notice CRTC 2000-157, 16 November 2000
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Revised content categories and subcategories for radio, Public Notice CRTC 2000-14, 28 January 2000
*This decision is to be appended to the licence
Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-397
Terms, conditions of licence, expectations and encouragement
Terms
Issuance of the broadcasting licence to operate a French-language Type A community FM radio programming undertaking in Plamondon-Lac La Biche, Alberta
The licence will expire 31 August 2017.
The Commission requires the applicant to file a copy of its amended and executed by-laws within 12 months of the date of this decision in order to comply with the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility of non-Canadians).
The station will operate at 92.1 MHz (channel 221A) with an effective radiated power of 1,215 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 128 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.
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 June 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
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The licence will 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 condition of licence 9.
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In each broadcast week, the licensee shall devote a minimum of 15% of its programming to spoken word programming. For the purposes of this condition, all such programming must be locally produced.
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In each broadcast week, the licensee shall devote a minimum of 12% of all 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 concerning the minimum level of content category 3 musical selections that must be devoted to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety by campus and community radio undertakings.
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The licensee shall adhere to the Equitable Portrayal Code, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
Expectations
Canadian talent development
The Commission expects campus and community stations to continue to emphasize the development of Canadian talent, including providing airplay for the music of new and emerging artists and opportunities for other talent.
Filing of ownership information
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. Such information may be submitted through 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 fully reflect the communities they serve. The Commission encourages the licensee to consider these issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.
[1] In Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-499, the Commission set out its preliminary view that the Canadian content level for Canadian musical selections drawn from content category 3 should be raised from 12% to 15%. The Commission has since issued a call for comments to assess if a limit of 15% or higher would be appropriate (see Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2011-173).
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