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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-230

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Reference: Part 1 licence renewal application posted on 31 January 2020

Ottawa, 17 July 2020

B.C. Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches
Abbotsford, British Columbia

Public record for this application: 2019-1011-7

CFEG-TV Abbotsford – Licence renewal

The Commission renews the broadcasting licence for the low-power community-based religious television programming undertaking CFEG-TV Abbotsford, British Columbia from 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2025.

Application

  1. The Commission has the authority, pursuant to section 9(1) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), to issue and renew licences for such terms not exceeding seven years and subject to such conditions related to the circumstances of the licensee as it deems appropriate for the implementation of the broadcasting policy set out in section 3(1) of the Act.
  2. On 3 June 2019, the Commission issued Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2019-192, which listed the television services and stations for which the licences needed to be renewed to continue their operations.
  3. In response, B.C. Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches filed an application to renew the broadcasting licence for its low-power community-based religious television programming undertaking CFEG-TV Abbotsford, British Columbia, which expires on 31 August 2020. The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to this application.
  4. The licensee confirmed that it will adhere to the standard conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements set out in Appendix 2 to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2016-224, as well as to the guidelines on ethics and the provision of balance in religious programming set out in Public Notice 1993-78. In addition, the licensee proposed to maintain the conditions of licence set out in Appendix 23 to Broadcasting Decision 2013-467.

Licence amendment

  1. The licensee requested an exception to the requirement set out in section 10(3) of the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987 (the Regulations), which declares that:

    (3) Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall furnish to the Commission, within 30 days after the end of each month, the program log or machine-readable record of the licensee for that month, together with a certificate signed by or on behalf of the licensee attesting to the accuracy of the contents of the log or record.

  2. The licensee indicated that the new reporting format as a result of the recent updates to the Log Registering programs is not well suited to the type of programming it broadcasts as a religious station. The licensee also stated that the demand on resources to file monthly reports that comply with the new logging formats for a small, community-based, low power, religious station is a hardship for its station.
  3. The Commission considers that the justification provided by the licensee is adequate given the small size and limited means of this low-power religious community station. Consequently, the Commission approves the licensee’s request for an exception to the requirements of section 10(3) of the Regulations with regard to the submission of program logs or records. A condition of licence to that effect is set out in the appendix to this decision.

Conclusion

  1. In light of the above, the Commission renews the broadcasting licence for the low-power community-based religious television programming undertaking CFEG-TV Abbotsford, British Columbia from 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2025. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.

Reminder

  1. The licensee is required to retain a clear and intelligible audiovisual recording of all its programming and to provide it, upon request, to the Commission, pursuant to the requirements of sections 10(5) and 10(6) of the Regulations.

Secretary General

Related documents

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-230

Terms, conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements for the low-power community-based religious television programming undertaking CFEG-TV Abbotsford, British Columbia

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2025.

Conditions of licence

  1. The licensee shall adhere to the provisions and requirements for community-based television stations set out in Appendix 2 to Policy framework for local and community television, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-224, 15 June 2016.
  2. As an exception to section 10(3) of the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987, the licensee is not required to furnish to the Commission, within 30 days after the end of each month, the program log or machine-readable record of the licensee for that month or a certificate signed by or on behalf of the licensee attesting to the accuracy of the contents of the log or record.
  3. The licensee shall broadcast only religious programming as defined in Religious Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1993-78, 3 June 1993, with the exception of programs or program segments produced by the applicant for the purpose of ensuring balance on matters of public concern.
  4. The licensee shall adhere to the guidelines on ethics and the provision of balance in religious programming, as set out in sections III.B.2a) and IV of the Commission’s Religious Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1993-78, 3 June 1993.
  5. The licensee shall not broadcast advertising material.
  6. The licensee shall not broadcast the programming of any other programming undertaking.

Expectations

The standard expectations applicable to this licensee are set out in Appendix 2 to Policy framework for local and community television, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-224, 15 June 2016.

Encouragements

The standard encouragements applicable to this licensee are set out in Appendix 2 to Policy framework for local and community television, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-224, 15 June 2016.

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