ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-628

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Route reference: 2014-189

Ottawa, 5 December 2014

United Christian Broadcasters Canada
Windsor, Ontario

Application 2013-1213-1, received 29 August 2013
Public hearing in the National Capital Region
26 June 2014

English-language specialty commercial FM radio station in Windsor

1. The Commission approves the application by United Christian Broadcasters Canada (UCBC) for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language specialty commercial FM radio programming undertaking in Windsor, Ontario. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision. The Commission received interventions in support of this application.
2. UCBC is a not-for-profit corporation controlled by its board of directors.
3. The station will operate at 90.5 MHz (channel 213B1) with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,730 watts (maximum ERP of 10,000 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 55.5 metres).
4. The station will be operated under a specialty, Christian Adult Contemporary music format. Its target audience will be members of Windsor’s local English-language community who are 35 to 55 years of age.
5. The station will broadcast 126 hours of programming each broadcast week. Of that amount, 92 hours will consist of local programming, and 34 hours will be made available for syndicated spoken word programs (primarily from the United States). The new station will broadcast 40 hours and 22 minutes of spoken word programming per broadcast week, of which four hours will be devoted to news, weather forecasts, sports, and community and event notices.
6. Of the weekly musical selections, 95% will be drawn from content subcategory 35 (Non-classic religious).
7. The applicant committed to devote, by condition of licence, 15% of its musical selections from content category 3 (Special Interest Music) to Canadian musical selections, rather than the 10% minimum level required by the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations).
8. The Commission reminds the applicant that it must adhere to all of the above-noted commitments.
9. In addition, the Commission reminds the applicant that it must adhere to the requirements relating to contributions to Canadian content development (CCD) set out in section 15 of the Regulations, as amended from time to time. It notes that according to UCBC’s financial projections, the station would generate annual revenues below the $1.25 million threshold set out in the Regulations throughout its licence term and therefore may not be required to make any basic CCD contributions for the new station so long as annual revenues remain below $1.25 million.
10. The Commission further notes that UCBC made commitments to exceed the minimum required contribution to CCD. Specifically, UCBC committed to devote, by condition of licence, over and above the basic annual contribution to CCD, a total of $7,000 to CCD over seven consecutive broadcast years ($1,000 per broadcast year) upon commencement of operations. Of this amount, at least 20% will be devoted to FACTOR or MUSICACTION on an annual basis. The remainder will be allocated to parties and initiatives fulfilling the definition of eligible initiatives set out in paragraph 108 of Commercial Radio Policy 2006, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-158, 15 December 2006. The Commission reminds the applicant that CCD contributions, both basic and over-and-above, constitute an important means to help develop and advance the careers of emerging Canadian artists as well as increase the supply of high-quality Canadian music in a variety of genres and the demand for Canadian music by listeners. Accordingly, the Commission stresses the importance of UCBC adhering to its commitments relating to over-and-above CCD contributions.

Secretary General

*This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-628

Terms, conditions of licence, expectation and encouragement for the English-language specialty commercial FM radio programming undertaking in Windsor, Ontario

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2021.

The station will operate at 90.5 MHz (channel 213B1) with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,730 watts (maximum ERP of 10,000 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 55.5 metres).

Pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, no licence may be issued until the Department of Industry notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.

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 5 December 2016. 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 this date.

Conditions of licence

1. The licensee shall adhere to the conditions set out in Conditions of licence for commercial AM and FM radio stations, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-62, 11 February 2009, with the exception of condition of licence 7.
2. The licensee shall operate the station within the specialty format as defined in A review of certain matters concerning radio, Public Notice CRTC 1995-60, 21 April 1995, and in Revised content categories and subcategories for radio, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-819, 5 November 2010.
3. The licensee shall devote at least 95% of all musical selections broadcast during each broadcast week to selections drawn from content subcategory 35 (Non-classic religious).
4. The licensee shall devote at least 15% of all content category 3 (Special Interest Music) musical selections broadcast each broadcast week to Canadian selections.

5. Where the licensee broadcasts religious programming as defined in the Religious Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1993-78, 3 June 1993, the licensee shall adhere to the guidelines set out in sections III.B.2.a) and IV of that public notice with respect to the provision of balance and ethics in religious programming.

Expectation

The Commission expects the licensee to reflect the cultural diversity of Canada in its programming and employment practices.

Encouragement

In accordance with Implementation of an employment equity policy, Public Notice CRTC 1992-59, 1 September 1992, the Commission encourages the licensee to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.

Date modified:

2014-12-05