ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-489

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Route reference: Part 1 application posted on 9 January 2014

Ottawa, 23 September 2014

Canadian Hellenic Toronto Radio Inc.
Toronto, Ontario

Application 2013-1744-6

CHTO Toronto - Technical change

The Commission approves an application to change the authorized contours of the ethnic commercial AM radio station CHTO Toronto.

Application

Canadian Hellenic Toronto Radio Inc. (Canadian Hellenic) filed an application to change the authorized contours of the ethnic commercial AM radio station CHTO Toronto by increasing the daytime transmitter power from 3,000 to 6,000 watts. All other technical parameters would remain unchanged.
The applicant stated that this increase was intended to improve the signal quality of CHTO to better serve listeners in Brampton, Downsview, Etobicoke, High Park, Mississauga, Rexdale and other regions of the Greater Toronto Area in light of the fact that a previously authorized power increase (see Broadcasting Decision 2009-692) had proven insufficient.

Interventions and applicant’s replies

The Commission received a comment by the commercial ethnic radio station CINA Mississauga, as well as an opposing intervention by Concordia Student Broadcasting Corporation (Concordia), licensee of the community-based campus radio station CJLO Montréal. The public record for this application can be found on the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca or by using the application number provided above.
CINA stated that it was not opposed to the application so long as the applicant avoided broadcasting competitive programming that would target the South Asian community in Mississauga and Brampton, a community currently served by CINA, while Concordia submitted that CJOL had experienced interference following the previous change to the applicant’s transmitter power, with increased interference occurring during critical time periods before sunset and after sunrise. Concordia expressed concern over the impact of an additional increase in transmitter power and proposed that the Commission limit the applicant’s power during critical hours or request that the applicant find an alternative frequency to limit the interference to other stations.
In reply to CINA, Canadian Hellenic indicated that CHTO would continue to serve the communities of the Greater Toronto Area based on the programming requirements set out in its conditions of licence and noted that CINA did not serve the same areas as those served by CHTO.
In reply to Concordia, the applicant stated that it had not received any notification of interference issues from the public, Concordia or the Department of Industry (the Department) prior to being authorized to increase its daytime transmitter power from 1,000 to 3,000 watts in Broadcasting Decision 2009-692. The applicant added that none of the changes to its application requested by Concordia should be considered prior to acceptance by the Department.

Commission’s analysis and decision

In Broadcasting Decision 2006-117, the Commission approved an application from Canadian Hellenic for an ethnic commercial AM radio station in Toronto. The applicant stated that the station would focus on delivering programming to Toronto’s Greek-speaking community, with additional programming targeting the Armenian, Romanian, Bulgarian and Serbian communities of Toronto. Further, the licensee was required by condition of licence to broadcast programming directed to at least five cultural groups in a minimum of six languages each week, with no less than 88% of its programming consisting of third-language programs.
Considering CHTO’s programming focus and the communities served within its authorized contours, the Commission is of the view that the proposed technical change would not have a detrimental impact on CINA.
Further, with respect to Concordia’s concerns relating to interference, the Commission notes that following the close of the intervention period for this application and pursuant to a requirement of technical acceptability by the Department, the applicant revised the technical parameters of its transmitter power, agreeing to a condition to remain at 3,000 watts daytime power during critical hours of operation (one hour before local sunset and one hour after local sunrise).
In light of all of the above, the Commission approves the application by Canadian Hellenic Toronto Radio Inc. to change the authorized contours of the ethnic commercial AM radio programming undertaking CHTO Toronto by increasing the daytime transmitter power from 3,000 to 6,000 watts during non-critical hours of operation.

Reminder

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.

Secretary General

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