ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-495
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Route reference: 2010-69
Additional reference: Part 1 applications posted on 27 June 2011
Ottawa, 16 August 2011
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Fredericton and Saint John, New Brunswick
Applications 2011-0964-5 and 2011-0966-1
CBAT Fredericton – Licence amendments
The Commission approves applications by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to amend the broadcasting licence for the English-language conventional television station CBAT Fredericton to add a post-transition digital transmitter to serve the population of Fredericton and to change the technical parameters of the existing analog transmitter so that it can continue to serve Saint John.
The applications
1. The Commission received an application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to amend the broadcasting licence for the English-language conventional television programming undertaking CBAT Fredericton to add a post-transition digital transmitter to serve the population of Fredericton.
2. The new transmitter would operate on channel 31 with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 4,200 watts (maximum ERP of 7,360 watts) with an effective height of antenna above average terrain (EHAAT) of 102.8 metres.
3. The CBC further applied to change the technical parameters of CBAT, which currently serves both Fredericton and Saint John, in order to maintain service to Saint John and the surrounding area in analog. Specifically, the CBC proposed to decrease the transmitter’s average ERP from 55,000 to 5,400 watts (maximum ERP from 100,000 to 22,000 watts) and to increase the EHAAT from 384.9 to 423.2 metres. All other technical parameters would remain unchanged.
4. The Corporation submitted that these applications responded to concerns set out in Broadcasting Decision 2011-203. In that decision, the Commission denied an application by the CBC to add a post-transition digital transmitter to serve Fredericton because its proposal would have resulted in a loss of over-the-air service to viewers in Saint John.
Interventions
5. The Commission received interventions commenting on the application to continue to provide analog service to Saint John. The public record for this proceeding can be found on the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca under “Public Proceedings.”
6. While noting that the CBC’s proposal would continue over-the air service to Saint John, concern was expressed that the service would not be digital. In reply, the CBC outlined various alternatives that it had explored to provide digital service and had concluded that its proposal was the only viable way to continue to provide over-the-air coverage to Saint John.
Commission’s analysis and determinations
7. The Commission is of the view that the Corporation’s proposal is a reasonable method of continuing to provide over-the-air service to both Fredericton and Saint John. It further notes that an extension until 31 August 2012 to the authorization allowing CBAT to provide an analog signal was approved in Broadcasting Decision 2011-494, also issued today. This will allow the Commission to review the service provided to Fredericton and Saint John when the CBC’s applications for licence renewal are considered in 2012.
8. Accordingly, the Commission approves the applications by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to amend the broadcasting licence for the English-language conventional television programming undertaking CBAT Fredericton to add a post-transition digital transmitter to serve the population of Fredericton and to change the technical parameters of CBAT in order to maintain service to Saint John and the surrounding area in analog.
9. The new digital transmitter CBAT-DT will operate on channel 31 with an average ERP of 4,200 watts (maximum ERP of 7,360 watts) with an EHAAT of 102.8 metres.
10. The analog transmitter CBAT-TV will operate with an average ERP of 5,400 watts (maximum ERP of 22,000 watts) with an EHAAT of 423.2 metres. All other technical parameters will remain unchanged.
11. The digital transmitter must be operational and the changes to the technical parameters of the analog transmitter must be made at the earliest possible date and in any event no later than 31 August 2011. The Commission expects the licensee to inform it in writing once the digital transmitter is in operation and the technical amendments to the analog transmitter have been implemented.
12. The Commission reminds the Corporation that the operation of an analog transmitter may not prevent a digital transmitter from being implemented.
13. The Commission also reminds the licensee that, pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, the authorities granted in this decision will only be effective when the Department of Industry notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.
Secretary General
Related Documents
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Continued operation of anolog television rebroadcasting transmitters in mandatory markets and associated technological changes, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-494, 16 August 2011
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CBAT-TV Fredericton/Saint John – Licence amendment, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-203, 23 March 2011
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Revised licensing framework for over-the-air digital television services, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-69, 10 February 2010
*This decision is to be appended to the licence.
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