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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2017-267

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References: Part 1 applications posted on 8 and 9 March 2017

Ottawa, 27 July 2017

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Québec, Lebel-sur-Quévillon and Senneterre, Quebec

Applications 2017-0167-3 and 2017-0155-8

CBVE-FM Québec – New transmitters in Lebel-sur-Quévillon and Senneterre

  1. The Commission approves the applications by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to amend the broadcasting licence for the English-language radio programming undertaking CBVE-FM Québec, Quebec, to operate FM transmitters in Lebel-sur-Quévillon (2017-0167-3) and Senneterre (2017-0155-8)to rebroadcast the programming of its national, English-language network service Radio One. The new FM transmitters will replace the low-power AM transmitters CBMK Lebel-sur-Quévillon and CBMM Senneterre.
  2. The new low-power transmitter in Lebel-sur-Quévillon will operate at 92.7 MHz (channel 224LP) with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of the antenna above average terrain (EHAAT) of 12.5 metres).Footnote 1
  3. The new transmitter in Senneterre will operate at 101.7 MHz (channel 269A1) with an ERP of 115 watts (non-directional antenna with an EHAAT of 3.8 metres).
  4. The CBC stated that the new transmitters will improve the quality of the Radio One signal in Lebel-sur-Quévillon and Senneterre and will allow it to combine its Radio One and ICI Radio-Canada Première services onto a single antenna in each of these two communities.
  5. The Commission received comments from an individual regarding both applications, to which the applicant replied. The public record for these applications can be found on the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca or by using the application numbers provided above.
  6. In regard to the rebroadcasting transmitter for Lebel-sur-Quévillon, the intervener questioned whether it would be better to increase CBMK’s power rather than convert it to the FM band. In regard to the transmitter for Senneterre, the intervener questioned the appropriateness of converting CBMM to the FM band if that transmitter is to remain of low power. He added that CBMN-FM Malartic (a rebroadcasting transmitter for CBVE-FM) already covers the area and suggested that, if improving the signal quality for CBMN-FM is not possible, it would be more useful to increase CBMM Senneterre’s transmitter power to better serve the Réserve faunique de La Vérendrye and the outfitting industry operating to the east of Senneterre.
  7. The CBC replied that the proposed technical parameters for the new FM transmitters will considerably improve the quality of the signal in Lebel-sur-Quévillon and Senneterre. The CBC also stated that it has done field strength measurements of the CBMN-FM Malartic signal that demonstrated that the signal quality of CBMN-FM in Senneterre was not adequate to simply replace the AM transmitter CBMM Senneterre.
  8. 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 broadcasting certificates will be issued.
  9. Given that the technical parameters for the Lebel-sur-Quévillon transmitter approved in this decision are for a low-power FM undertaking, the Commission reminds the licensee that it will have to select another frequency if the Department so requires.
  10. The transmitters 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 27 July 2019. 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.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

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