ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-648

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Route reference: Part 1 application posted on 22 July 2014

Ottawa, 15 December 2014

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Sherbrooke, Quebec

Application 2014-0685-1

CBFX-FM-2 Sherbrooke - Technical change

The Commission approves the application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to change the authorized contours of the French-language radio station CBFX-FM-2 Sherbrooke (ICI Musique).

Application

  1. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) filed an application to change the authorized contours of the French-language radio station CBFX-FM-2 Sherbrooke (ICI Musique) by increasing the average effective radiated power (ERP) from 25,000 to 33,200 watts (non-directional antenna) and the antenna’s effective height above average terrain (EHAAT) from 173 to 180.4 metres.

  2. In its application, the CBC stated that the replacement of its existing horizontally polarized antenna with a new elliptically polarized antenna would improve the quality of the signal.

Intervention

  1. The Commission received an intervention opposing the application from a respondent, the Coopérative de solidarité radio communautaire Nicolet-Yamaska-Bécancour (the Coopérative), licensee of the community radio station CKBN-FM Bécancour. 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.

  2. La Coopérative submitted that according to the interference contour maps appended to the CBC’s engineering brief, CBFX-FM-2’s new signal would affect part of the territory covered by its community radio station and would have an impact on the latter’s advertising revenue. The CBC did not reply to the intervention.

Commission’s analysis and decision

  1. The Commission notes that when the Coopérative filed its application for a broadcasting licence to operate the community radio station approved in Community Radio Station in Bécancour and Nicolet, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-56, 30 January 2004, it submitted a coverage map clearly indicating possible interference areas for the proposed station caused by CBFX-FM-2. Consequently, the Commission considers that the Coopérative was aware of the possibility of interference with its station’s signal.

  2. Further, CBFX-FM-2’s signal may already be causing interference to the community station. The Commission considers that the additional interference caused by the proposed technical changes would only have a minor impact on the community station’s coverage.

  3. With respect to the potential impact on CKBN-FM’s advertising revenue, the Commission notes that in the case of an FM station, the Radio Regulations, 1986 define a market as the “3mV/m contour or the central area as defined by the Bureau of Broadcast Measurement (BBM), whichever is smaller.” In the case of CKBN-FM, the market is defined by its 3mV/m contour. The Commission notes that the additional interference is outside of CKBN-FM’s 3mV/m contour. Consequently, the Commission considers that approval of the application would not have any impact on the market served by CKBN-FM.

  4. In light of all of the above, the Commission approves the application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to change the authorized contours of the French-language radio programming undertaking CBFX-FM-2 Sherbrooke (ICI Musique) by increasing the average ERP from 25,000 to 33,200 watts (non-directional antenna) and the antenna’s EHAAT from 173 to 180.4 metres.

  5. The Commission reminds the licensee that pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, this authority 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

*This decision is to be appended to the licence.

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