Search

Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-405

PDF version

References: Part 1 licence renewal applications posted on 30 October 2020

Ottawa, 21 December 2020

Bell Media Radio Atlantic Inc.
Fredericton, New Maryland and Oromocto, New Brunswick; and Truro, Nova Scotia

Public record for these applications: 2019-0834-4, 2019-0835-2, 2019-0836-0 and 2019-0838-6

Various commercial radio stations – Licence renewals

  1. The Commission has the authority, pursuant to section 9(1) of the Broadcasting 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 Broadcasting Act.
  2. Consistent with that authority, the Commission renews the broadcasting licences for the commercial radio programming undertakings listed below from 1 March 2021 to 31 August 2027.Footnote 1 The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to these applications. The terms and conditions of licence for these stations are set out in the appendix to this decision.
    Call sign and locality Application number
    CFXY-FM Fredericton, New Brunswick 2019-0834-4
    CIBX-FM Fredericton, New Brunswick 2019-0835-2
    CKHJ Fredericton, New Brunswick, and its transmitters CKHJ-1-FM New Maryland and CKHJ-2-FM Oromocto 2019-0836-0
    CKTO-FM Truro, Nova Scotia 2019-0838-6

Reminders

Local news and information – CFXY-FM Fredericton; CKHJ Fredericton and its transmitters CKHJ-1-FM New Maryland and CKHJ-2-FM Oromocto; and CKTO-FM Truro

  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:
    • CFXY-FM Fredericton: 0 hours, 58 minutes
    • CKHJ Fredericton and its transmitters CKHJ-1-FM New Maryland and CKHJ-2-FM Oromocto: 1 hour, 27 minutes
    • CKTO-FM Truro: 1 hour, 32 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 licences

  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 the 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 2020-405

Terms, conditions of licence and expectation for the commercial radio programming undertakings for which the broadcasting licences have been renewed in this decision

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2027.

Conditions of licence

  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 into 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.
  3. a)   The licensee shall pay tangible benefits in respect of any shortfall in the tangible benefits for the radio broadcasting undertakings to be divested by BCE Inc. (BCE) in accordance with Astral broadcasting undertakings – Change of effective control, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-310, 27 June 2013, between $11.05 million attributed to those undertakings and the aggregate value of the tangible benefits to be paid by purchasers of those undertakings as determined by the Commission in the decision approving the transfer of those undertakings by BCE (“shortfall”).

    b)   In the event of a shortfall, the licensee shall file with the Commission a proposal for the payment of the resulting tangible benefits within 30 days of the Commission’s decisions approving the transfer of the last of those undertakings by BCE.

Expectation

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

Date modified: