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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-348

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References: Part 1 applications posted on 26 August 2020

Ottawa, 6 October 2020

Vista Radio Ltd.
Quesnel, British Columbia

Public record for these applications: 2020-0504-0 and 2020-0515-7

CFFM-FM-2 Quesnel and CKCQ-FM Quesnel – Technical changes

  1. The Commission has the authority, pursuant to section 9(1) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), to issue 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, as well as to amend those conditions on application of the licensee.
  2. Pursuant to this authority, the Commission approves application 2020-0504-0 by Vista Radio Ltd. (Vista) to change the authorized contours of the English-language commercial radio programming undertaking CFFM-FM-2 Quesnel, British Columbia, by increasing the average effective radiated power (ERP) from 175 to 2,458 watts (maximum ERP from 175 to 3,500 watts), decreasing the effective height of the antenna above average terrain from 554 to 88 metres, replacing the existing non-directional antenna with a directional antenna and changing the coordinates of the transmitter site. All other technical parameters will remain unchanged.
  3. Further, the Commission approves application 2020-0515-7 by Vista to change the authorized contours of the English-language commercial radio programming undertaking CKCQ-FM Quesnel by changing the transmitter class from A to B, increasing the average ERP from 1,800 to 2,045 watts (maximum ERP from 1,800 to 3,500 watts), and replacing the existing non-directional antenna with a directional antenna. All other technical parameters will remain unchanged.
  4. Vista requested approval of application 2020-0515-7 contingent on approval of application 2020-0504-0, and submitted that these technical changes are required because CFFM-FM-2’s current transmitter site on Dragon Mountain is both difficult to access and expensive to maintain due to snow and ice accumulation in winter. The licensee intends to replace CKCQ-FM’s current antenna with a broadband antenna system, relocate CFFM-FM-2, and have the two stations share the new antenna. According to Vista, this will allow efficient and reliable operation of both stations and improve coverage to the Quesnel market, which both stations are licensed to serve.
  5. The Commission notes that the population served by CFFM-FM-2 will increase from 13,901 to 17,664 within the station’s primary (3 mV/m) contour but decrease from 22,049 to 20,887 within its secondary (0.5 mV/m) contour. The changes to the populations served by CKCQ-FM will be negligible.
  6. The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to these applications.
  7. When requesting technical changes, a licensee is generally required to demonstrate a technical or economic need. In this case, the Commission is satisfied that Vista has demonstrated a technical need justifying the requested technical changes.
  8. Pursuant to section 22(1) of the Act, this authority will only be effective when the Department of Industry notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that broadcasting certificates will be issued.
  9. The licensee must implement the technical changes by no later than 6 October 2022. To request an extension, the licensee must submit a written request to the Commission at least 60 days before that date, using the form available on the Commission’s website.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to each licence.

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