Search

Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2022-324

PDF version

Reference: Part 1 application posted on 20 September 2022

Ottawa, 28 November 2022

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Ottawa and Rolphton, Ontario

Public record: 2022-0686-2

CBOF-FM Ottawa – New transmitter in Rolphton

  1. The Commission has the authority, pursuant to subsection 9(1) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), to issue licenses for such terms not exceeding seven years and subject to such conditions related to the circumstances of the licensee as the Commission deems appropriate for the implementation of the broadcasting policy set out in subsection 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 amend the broadcasting licence for the French-language radio programming undertaking CBOF-FM Ottawa, Ontario, to operate a new transmitter in Rolphton, Ontario, to rebroadcast the programming of its national network service ICI Radio-Canada Première (ICI Première).
  3. The Commission received two comments from an individual in regard to the present application, in which they proposed alternative solutions to the licensee’s proposal. In its reply to these comments, the licensee stated that it evaluated the alternative solutions submitted and has come to the conclusion that, at this time, its own proposal best meets the needs of the community.
  4. The new transmitter will operate at 98.5 MHz (channel 253 A1) with a maximum and average effective radiated power (ERP) of 129 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of the antenna above average terrain [EHAAT] of -18.2 metres). The Commission considers that the frequency 98.5 MHz is not the last available frequency to serve Rolphton.
  5. When requesting technical changes, licensees are generally required to demonstrate a technical or economic need. In regard to this application, the CBC stated that the proposed changes are intended to provide an FM service to improve the quality of ICI Première’s signal in the region of Rolphton and its surrounding areas. As such, the new transmitter, CBOF-FM-4, will replace the current low-power AM rebroadcasting transmitter in Rolphton, CBOF-4. The CBC specified that the FM antenna will be installed on a new transmission tower on the current AM site.
  6. The Commission is satisfied that the licensee has demonstrated a technical need for the requested technical changes and that the technical solution it proposed is appropriate.
  7. Pursuant to subsection 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 transmitter must be in operation no later than 28 November 2024. 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 CBOF-FM-4’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 CBOF-FM, 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.

Date modified: