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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-163

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References: Part 1 licence renewal applications posted on 3 December 2019

Ottawa, 22 May 2020

Corus Radio Inc.
Various locations in British Columbia and Ontario

Public record for these applications: 2019-0638-0, 2019-0640-6, 2019-0652-0, 2019-0655-4, 2019-0659-6, 2019-0662-9, 2019-0664-5, 2019-0665-3, 2019-0695-0 and 2019-0697-6

Various commercial radio stations – Licence renewals

  1. The Commission renews the broadcasting licences for the English-language commercial radio programming undertakings listed below from 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2027. The terms and conditions of licence for these stations are set out in the appendix to this decision.
    Call sign and location Application
    CFMI-FM New Westminster, British Columbia and its transmitter CFMI-FM-1 Whistler 2019-0640-6
    CFOX-FM Vancouver, British Columbia and its transmitter CFOX-FM-1 Whistler 2019-0665-3
    CFLG-FM Cornwall, Ontario 2019-0638-0
    CFMJ Toronto, Ontario 2019-0697-6
    CHML Hamilton, Ontario 2019-0695-0
    CILQ-FM North York, Ontario 2019-0664-5
    CJSS-FM Cornwall, Ontario 2019-0659-6
    CJXY-FM Burlington, Ontario 2019-0652-0
    CKBT-FM Kitchener, Ontario 2019-0655-4
    CKQB-FM Ottawa, Ontario and its transmitter CKQB-FM-1 Pembroke 2019-0662-9
  2. The Commission received an intervention in regard to the present applications from the Forum for Research and Policy in Communications (FRPC). In its intervention, the FRPC expressed its support for each of the applications, provided that the licensee submits more information to the Commission on specific requirements, such as those relating to the offer of international news for certain stations, airplay and promotion of the works of Canadian emerging artists, and how the licensee’s use of online distribution platforms complements the programming of its conventional radio station’s programming, to enable the Commission to evaluate the licensee’s compliance with these requirements. The FRPC also provided comments in regard to the Commission’s licence renewal process as it relates to thebroadcastinglicences for the above services, to which the licensee replied.
  3. In Broadcasting Circular 2002-448, the Commission introduced streamlining initiatives that serve to reduce the administrative burden that many radio licensees face at the time of their licence renewals. Although it adopted these new initiatives, the Commission continues to carry out its supervisory role through its ongoing compliance review of licensees’ regulatory obligations, specific conditions of licence and monitoring activities. The Commission considers that the stations for which the broadcasting licences are renewed in this decision are in compliance with Commission policies and regulations. Further, the Commission notes that the licensee filed the appropriate radio renewal forms for this proceeding. Consequently, the Commission finds that the FRPC’s comments lie outside the scope of this licence renewal proceeding, and would be more appropriately addressed in the context of the upcoming review of the commercial radio policy framework.Footnote 1

Reminders

Local programming – CFMI-FM New Westminster and its transmitter CFMI-FM-1 Whistler, CFOX-FM Vancouver and its transmitter CFOX-FM-1 Whistler, CILQ-FM North York, CJXY-FM Burlington, CKBT-FM Kitchener, and CKQB-FM Ottawa and its transmitter CKQB-FM-1 Pembroke

  1. Local radio stations are an important daily source of local news and information for communities. Holding a broadcasting licence comes with conditions, regulatory obligations and responsibilities, which include contributing to the Canadian broadcasting system by ensuring that Canadians have access to local programming that reflects their needs and interests and informs them of important current issues.
  2. The licensee proposed for the following stations to broadcast the following weekly levels of news:
    • CFMI-FM New Westminster, British Columbia, and its transmitter CFMI-FM-1 Whistler – 45 minutes;
    • CFOX-FM Vancouver, British Columbia, and its transmitter CFOX-FM-1 Whistler – 45 minutes;
    • CILQ-FM North York, Ontario – 23 minutes;
    • CJXY-FM Burlington, Ontario – 30 minutes;
    • CKBT-FM Kitchener, Ontario – 30 minutes;
    • CKQB-FM Ottawa, Ontario, and its transmitter CKQB-FM-1 Pembroke – 30 minutes.
  3. Although Broadcasting Public Notice 2006-158 does not specify a minimum level of weekly news to be broadcast, it does specify the type of spoken word material that must be included as part of a station’s local programming. In accordance with that public notice, the Commission reminds the licensee that the above-noted stations, in their local programming, must incorporate spoken word material of direct and particular relevance to the communities served, and that this programming must include local news, weather, sports coverage, and the promotion of local events and activities. In addition, the Commission encourages the licensee to ensure that a reasonable amount of daily local news and information is made available to those communities.

Force and effect of broadcasting certificates

  1. Pursuant to section 22 of the Broadcasting Act, the broadcasting licences renewed in this decision will cease to have any force or effect if the broadcasting certificates issued by the Department of Industry lapse.

Employment equity

  1. Because this licensee is subject to the Employment Equity Act and files reports concerning employment equity with the Department of Employment and Social Development, its employment equity practices are not examined by the Commission.

Secretary General

Related Documents

This decision is to be appended to each licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-163

Terms, conditions of licence, expectations and encouragement for the English-language commercial radio programming undertakings for which the broadcasting licences are renewed in this decision

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2027.

Conditions of licence applicable to all of the stations

  1. The licensee shall adhere to the conditions of licence set out in Conditions of licence for commercial AM and FM radio stations, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-62, 11 February 2009, as well as to the conditions set out in the broadcasting licence for the undertaking.
  2. The licensee shall provide commercially reasonable access to advertising availabilities to unrelated operators of broadcasting undertakings and telecommunications service providers.

Additional conditions of licence applicable to CFMI-FM New Westminster and its transmitter CFMI-FM-1 Whistler

  1. The licensee is authorized to use a Subsidiary Communications Multiplex Operation (SCMO) channel for the purposes of broadcasting a Tamil-language radio service.

Additional condition of licence applicable to CHML Hamilton

  1. The licensee shall, as an exception to the percentage of Canadian musical selections set out in sections 2.2(8) and 2.2(9) of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations) in any broadcast week where at least 90% of musical selections from content category 2 (Popular Music) that it broadcasts are selections released before 1 January 1981:
    1. in that broadcast week, devote 30% or more of its musical selections from content category 2 to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety; and
    2. between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., in the period beginning on Monday of that week and ending on Friday of the same broadcast week, devote 30% or more of its musical selections from content category 2 to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety.

The licensee will also be responsible for specifying, on the music lists it provides to the Commission, the year of release for all musical selections it broadcasts.

For purposes of this condition of licence, the terms “broadcast week,” “Canadian selection,” “content category” and “musical selection” shall have the same meanings as those set out in the Regulations.

Additional condition of licence applicable to CKBT-FM Kitchener

  1. In lieu of the requirements set out in subsection 2.2(8) of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations)and subject to subsection 2.2(6) of the Regulations, the licensee shall devote, in each broadcast week, 40% or more of its musical selections from content category 2 (Popular Music) to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety.

For the purposes of this condition, “broadcast week,” “Canadian selection,” “content category” and “musical selection” shall have the same meanings as those set out in the Regulations.

Expectation applicable to all of the stations

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

Additional expectation applicable to CFMI-FM New Westminster and its transmitter CFMI-FM-1 Whistler

The Commission reminds the licensee that, as stated in section 3(1)(h) of the Broadcasting Act, it is responsible for the programs that it broadcasts. The licensee is therefore expected to ensure that its Subsidiary Communications Multiplex Operation (SCMO) service is operated in a responsible manner and to adhere to the guidelines regarding the provision of SCMO services set out in Appendix A to Services Using the Vertical Blanking Interval (Television) or Subsidiary Communications Multiplex Operation (FM), Public Notice CRTC 1989-23, 23 March 1989.

Encouragement applicable to CFMI-FM New Westminster and its transmitter CFMI-FM-1 Whistler, CFOX-FM Vancouver and its transmitter CFOX-FM-1 Whistler, CILQ-FM North York, CJXY-FM Burlington, CKBT-FM Kitchener, and CKQB-FM Ottawa and its transmitter CKQB-FM-1 Pembroke

The Commission encourages the licensee to ensure that a reasonable amount of daily local news and information is made available to the communities served by the station.

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