Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2018-300

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Reference: Part 1 licence renewal application posted on 23 February 2018

Ottawa, 22 August 2018

Homegrown Community Radio
Killaloe and Wilno, Ontario

Public record for this application: 2017-0740-8

CHCR-FM Killaloe and its transmitter CHCR-FM-1 Wilno – Licence renewal

The Commission renews the broadcasting licence for the low-power, English-language community radio station CHCR-FM Killaloe and its transmitter CHCR-FM-1 Wilno from 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2025.

Application

1. Homegrown Community Radio (Homegrown) filed an application to renew the broadcasting licence for the low-power, English-language community radio station CHCR-FM Killaloe, Ontario, and its transmitter CHCR-FM-1 Wilno, which expires 31 August 2018. The Commission received an intervention in support of this application, to which the applicant replied.

Background

2. In Broadcasting Decision 2013-454, the Commission found the licensee in non-compliance with section 9(2) of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations) relating to the filing of annual returns, and renewed CHCR-FM’s broadcasting licence for a short term.

Non-compliance

3. As explained it Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2014-444, the Commission amended various regulations, standard conditions of licence and certain exemption orders to require the mandatory distribution of emergency alert messages by broadcasting undertakings. While all commercial radio broadcasters were required to participate in the National Public Alerting System (NPAS) by 31 March 2015, campus, community and Native radio stations were given until 31 March 2016 to participate and comply with related requirements as set out in section 16 of the Regulations. In Broadcasting Decision 2016-249, the Commission granted various radio stations, including CHCR-FM, an extension of the deadline to implement emergency alerting until 31 March 2017.
4. According to Commission records, the licensee did not implement the NPAS by the 31 March 2017 deadline.
5. Homegrown stated that CHCR-FM began implementing the installation of the Open Broadcaster software/hardware solution for the NPAS before the 31 March 2017 deadline, but that some parts for the hardware did not arrive until April 2017. It added that once the parts were received, installed and tested, the Open Broadcaster system was online as of 13 April 2017, 13 days after the above-noted deadline, and that it was fully operational (once technical difficulties were remedied) by 9 May 2017, 39 days after that deadline. The licensee noted that it has in-house technical IT expertise to maintain and troubleshoot its Open Broadcaster system so as to comply with the NPAS requirements.
6. Although the licensee failed to implement the NPAS prior to the extended deadline of 31 March 2017, the Commission is satisfied with the licensee’s efforts to implement and maintain the system for CHCR-FM. Further, the NPAS on CHCR-FM is now fully operational. Accordingly, the Commission finds that the licensee is in compliance with section 16 of the Regulations.

Conclusion

7. In light of the above, the Commission renews the broadcasting licence for the low-power, English-language community radio programming undertaking CHCR-FM Killaloe and its transmitter CHCR-FM-1 Wilno from 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2025. The licensee shall adhere to the conditions of licence set out in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2012-304, as well as to the conditions set out in the broadcasting licence for the undertaking.

Reminders

8. The full participation of the broadcasting industry is important for the NPAS to be effective in safeguarding and warning Canadians. As such, the Commission considers that compliance must be enforced and station compliance in a timely manner will be closely monitored. The Commission could choose to apply other regulatory measures, such as those set out in Broadcasting Information Bulletin 2014-608, should the requirements with respect to the NPAS not be fulfilled.
9. Pursuant to section 22 of the Broadcasting Act, the broadcasting licence renewed in this decision will cease to have any force or effect should the broadcasting certificate issued by the Department of Industry lapse.

Cultural diversity

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

Updates on composition of boards of directors

11. As set out in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-499, the Commission expects all community and campus licensees to file yearly updates on the composition of their boards of directors. These annual updates can be submitted at the time of submission of annual returns, following annual board of directors’ elections, or at any other time. As noted in Appendix 3 to that policy, licensees may submit such documentation via the Commission’s website.

Employment equity

12. In accordance with Public Notice 1992-59, 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.

Secretary General

Related documents

• Various radio stations – Extension of the deadline for implementing emergency alerting, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2016-249, 29 June 2016
• Amendments to various regulations, the standard conditions of licence for video-on-demand undertakings and certain exemption orders – Provisions requiring the mandatory distribution of emergency alert messages, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2014-444 and Broadcasting Orders CRTC 2014-445, 2014-446, 2014-447 et 2014-448, 29 August 2014
• Standard conditions of licence for campus and community radio stations, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2012-304, 22 May 2012
• Campus and community radio policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-499, 22 July 2010
• Implementation of an employment equity policy, Public Notice CRTC 1992-59, 1 September 1992

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Date modified:

2018-08-22