Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2016-126

PDF version

Reference: Part 1 application posted on 24 November 2015

Ottawa, 6 April 2016

Northern Native Broadcasting (Terrace, B.C.)
Terrace and Houston, British Columbia

Application 2015-1288-0

CFNR-FM Terrace – New transmitter in Houston

1. The Commission approves the application by Northern Native Broadcasting (Terrace, B.C.) to amend the broadcasting licence for the Type B Native radio programming undertaking CFNR-FM Terrace to operate a very low-power FM rebroadcasting transmitter in Houston. The Commission received an intervention in support of this application.
2. The new transmitter will operate at 96.1 MHz (channel 241VLP) with an effective radiated power of 3 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 311.5 metres).^{Footnote 1}
3. The licensee stated that over 10% of the population is made up of First Nations peoples who live off the reserve. It added that CFNR-FM provides a link to that culture through feature programming, on-location events and special coverage of important issues directly affecting their traditional territories.
4. Pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, this authority will only be effective when the Department of Industry (the Department) notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.
5. Given that the technical parameters approved in this decision are for a very low-power unprotected FM service, the Commission also reminds the licensee that it will have to select another frequency if the Department so requires.
6. 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 6 April 2018. 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.

Non-compliance

7. In Broadcasting Decision 2015-271, the Commission renewed the broadcasting licence for CFNR-FM and its transmitters for a shortened licence term of five years to allow for an earlier review of the licensee’s compliance with the regulatory requirements. Subsequently, the licensee filed the station’s annual return for the 2014-2015 broadcast year before the 30 November 2015 deadline. However, the financial statements that were submitted as part of the annual return covered the reporting period ending 31 March 2015 rather than the broadcast year period ending 31 August 2015.
8. As set out in Broadcasting Information Bulletin 2011-795, the licensee must ensure that the annual returns filed with the Commission cover the appropriate broadcast years (that is, the period commencing on 1 September of a given year and ending on 31 August of the following year). It is also the licensee’s responsibility to contact the Commission if further clarification is required. The licensee has not had the opportunity to comment on this instance of apparent non-compliance. The Commission will deal with this issue in the context of the station’s next licence renewal.

Secretary General

Related documents

• CFNR-FM Terrace and its transmitters – Licence renewal, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2015-271, 22 June 2015
• Filing annual returns for radio programming undertakings, Broadcasting Information Bulletin CRTC 2011-795, 20 December 2011

*This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Date modified:

2016-04-06