ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2015-83

PDF version

Route reference: 2014-621-1

Ottawa, 10 March 2015

Gaétan Thériault
Saint-Élie-de-Caxton, Quebec

Application 2014-1317-9, received 25 September 2014
Public hearing in the National Capital Region
19 February 2015

Special event low-power FM radio station in Saint-Élie-de-Caxton

The Commission approves an application for a short-term broadcasting licence to operate a French-language special event low-power FM radio station in Saint-Élie-de-Caxton from 1 April to 31 October 2015.

The Commission considers that residents and tourists visiting Saint-Élie-de-Caxton during its 150^th anniversary celebrations will benefit from the station’s local reflection.

Application

1. Gaétan Thériault^{Footnote 1} filed an application for a short-term broadcasting licence to operate a French-language special event low-power FM radio station in Saint-Élie-de-Caxton from 1 April to 31 October 2015. The Commission received interventions supporting this application.
2. The station would operate at 88.1 MHz (channel 201LP) with an effective radiated power of 10 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of -7 metres).^{Footnote 2}
3. The applicant proposed to broadcast 39 hours of programming each broadcast week to promote events for the 150^th anniversary of Saint-Élie-de-Caxton. The programming would include information on the village’s history, interviews with community elders, updates on the celebrations and activity schedule, as well as musical selections, particularly from guest artists, theme nights and live performances. All of the programming would be local and hosted by volunteers during weekday evenings (7 to 10 p.m.) and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. The station would broadcast no advertising other than sponsorship identification and promotion with mention of event sponsors for the 150^th anniversary.

Commission’s analysis and decision

4. After examining the public record for this application in light of applicable regulations and policies, the Commission considers that it must address the following issues:
   • impact on the market; and
   • proposed programming.

Impact on the market

5. Although no local radio station currently serves Saint-Élie-de-Caxton, there are four stations in Trois-Rivières and two transmitters whose contours reach the municipality. However, the Commission considers that this application would have a limited impact on these stations since:
   • the licence for the proposed station would only be in effect for a seven-month period;
   • the proposed station would broadcast during non-peak hours during the week;
   • its programming would solely serve to promote the celebrations of the 150^th anniversary of Saint-Élie-de-Caxton; and
   • the station’s low power would prevent it from reaching the communities next to the municipality.
6. Further, the commercial potential of the proposed station would be minimal since it would limit its on-air advertising activities to sponsorship identification and promotion with sponsor mention.

Proposed programming

7. The Commission notes that the applicant committed to broadcast local programming hosted by volunteers and that the information broadcast would all be in connection with the celebrations and the municipality. In light of the applicant’s proposed programming, the Commission considers that residents and tourists visiting Saint-Élie-de-Caxton during its 150^th anniversary celebrations would benefit from the station’s local reflection.
8. The Commission notes that such radio stations are usually subject to specific conditions of licence that define their nature and programming. Accordingly, the Commission finds it appropriate to impose the following condition of licence regarding the nature of the proposed service:

   The licensee shall only broadcast on the station’s airwaves programming related to the events of the 150^th anniversary of the municipality of Saint-Élie-de-Caxton, including information on the village’s history, interviews with community elders, and updates on the celebrations and activity schedule, as well as musical selections, particularly from guest artists, theme nights and live performances.

Conclusion

9. In light of all of the above, the Commission approves the application filed by Gaétan Thériault for a short-term broadcasting licence to operate a French-language special event low-power FM radio programming undertaking in Saint-Élie-de-Caxton from 1 April to 31 October 2015. The applicant must cease any broadcasting activity on the expiry of the licence. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.

Secretary General

*This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2015-83

Terms, conditions of licence and encouragement for the French-language special event low-power FM radio programming undertaking in Saint-Élie-de-Caxton, Quebec

Terms

The licence will be in effect from 1 April to 31 October 2015.

The station will operate at 88.1 MHz (channel 201LP) with an effective radiated power of 10 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of -7 metres).

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

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

Conditions of licence

1. The licensee shall only broadcast on the station’s airwaves programming related to the events of the 150^th anniversary of the municipality of Saint-Élie-de-Caxton, including information on the village’s history, interviews with community elders, updates on the celebrations and activity schedule, as well as musical selections, particularly from guest artists, theme nights and live performances.

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:

2015-03-10