ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-612

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Route reference: Part 1 application posted on 2 June 2011

Ottawa, 23 September 2011

Salt Spring Island Radio Corp.
Salt Spring Island and Mount Bruce, British Columbia

Application 2011-0882-9, received 17 May 2011

CFSI-FM Salt Spring Island – New transmitter at Mount Bruce

1.    The Commission approves the application by Salt Spring Island Radio Corp. to amend the broadcasting licence for the English-language specialty radio programming undertaking CFSI-FM Salt Spring Island in order to operate a low-power transmitter at Mount Bruce, British Columbia to serve the residents of south Salt Spring Island.

2.    The new transmitter will operate at 102.1 MHz (channel 271LP) with an average effective radiated power of 20 watts and an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 391 metres.[1]

3.      The licensee stated that because it cannot serve the south end of the island, it is suffering economic loss as a result of advertisers not wanting to pay for sponsoring ads that cannot be heard by the entire island population. Further, it noted that CFSI-FM’s credibility and the support from first responders and emergency services were in jeopardy as a result of the poor signal coverage. Finally, the licensee indicated that due to variable mountainous terrain, there was no single location that would provide coverage to the entire island.

4.    The Commission notes that it received interventions in support of the application, as well as a comment by CiTR Radio expressing concern about the possibility of interference between the proposed transmitter and CITR-FM Vancouver, which operates on the first adjacent frequency 101.9 MHz (channel 270A) to the proposed transmitter. However, the Commission notes that the technical acceptability certificate provided by the Department of Industry (the Department) does not indicate any potential interference with CITR-FM.

5.      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.

6.      The Commission reminds the licensee that pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, this authority will only be effective when the Department notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.

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

8.      The transmitter 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 23 September 2013. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted in writing at least 60 days before that date.

Secretary General

*This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Footnote

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

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