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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2021-139

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Reference: Part 1 application posted on 12 February 2021

Ottawa, 26 April 2021

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Inuvik and Aklavik, Northwest Territories

Public record for this application: 2021-0091-5

CHAK Inuvik and its transmitter CBAK-FM Aklavik – 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. Consistent with this authority, the Commission approves the application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to change the authorized contours of CBAK-FM Aklavik, Northwest Territories, a low-power rebroadcasting transmitter of the English-language AM radio programming undertaking CHAK Inuvik, which is part of the CBC Radio One network, by changing the class from unprotected LP to full-power A1, increasing the effective radiated power from 50 to 135 watts, replacing the existing non-directional antenna, and increasing the effective height of the antenna above average terrain from 7.7 to 20.4 metres. All other technical parameters will remain unchanged.
  3. The CBC requested expedited processing of this application, since this transmitter is located in a remote northern location that is only accessible for a brief period each year.
  4. The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to this application.
  5. When a licensee files an application for technical changes, it is generally required to demonstrate a technical or economic need. The CBC indicated that the requested technical changes are necessary for it to maintain service to the northern community of Aklavik. Specifically, these changes would permit the CBC to replace its existing temporary antenna, which was installed after the Commission approved a previous request for technical changes in CHAK Inuvik – New transmitter in Aklavik, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2019-149, 14 May 2019, with a permanent antenna that will be installed on an existing tower. The Commission is satisfied that the CBC has demonstrated a technical need for the requested changes. The Commission also considers that the implementation of these changes will have a negligible impact on the size of the population currently served by the transmitter.
  6. As a result of the change in its class from LP to A1, and in accordance with BPR-3 — Application Procedures and Rules for FM Broadcasting Undertakings, CBAK-FM will no longer be considered a secondary assignment operating on an unprotected channel. Rather, it will instead be considered a full-power rebroadcasting transmitter with protected status.
  7. 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 a broadcasting certificate will be issued.
  8. The licensee must implement the technical changes by no later than 26 April 2023. 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.
  9. As set out in section 16 of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations), licensees have obligations relating to the broadcast of emergency alert messages received from the National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System. In regard to the changes to CBAK-FM’s authorized contours resulting from the implementation of the technical changes approved in this decision, the Commission reminds the licensee that continued compliance with section 16 of the Regulations may require that any alert broadcast decoders (e.g., ENDEC) used for the purposes of broadcasting emergency alert messages on CHAK, or on any rebroadcasting transmitters that may appear on the broadcasting licence for that station, be reprogrammed to properly account for the new authorized contours.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

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