Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2022-71

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Reference: Part 1 application posted on 15 December 2021

Ottawa, 18 March 2022

Leclerc Communication inc.
Québec, Quebec

Public record for this application: 2021-0829-0

CFEL-FM Québec – Technical changes

  1. The Commission has the authority, pursuant to subsection 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 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 Leclerc Communication inc. (Leclerc) to change the authorized contours of the radio programming undertaking CFEL-FM Québec, Quebec, by decreasing the average radiated power (ERP) from 9,120 to 4,520 watts (maximum ERP from 33,900 to 20,000 watts), increasing the effective height of the antenna above average terrain from 170.0 to 492.8 metres and amending the existing coordinates of the transmitter site. All other technical parameters will remain unchanged.
  3. The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to this application.
  4. When requesting technical changes, licensees are generally required to demonstrate a technical or economic need. Leclerc stated that the proposed technical changes are necessary due to the degradation of CFEL-FM’s signal within its authorized primary contour. Specifically, Leclerc noted that the signal from its transmitter had been significantly affected as a result of modifications and the addition of new antennas on the main tower of the Marie-Guyart building, the current site of the antenna. Leclerc added that it had tried to modify the antenna as suggested by the manufacturer, but without any success. It further added that it has studied several alternative sites and had chosen to broadcast from Mont-Bélair on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s tower, which is the main broadcast site for several radio transmitters in Québec City.
  5. The Commission is satisfied that the licensee has demonstrated a technical need for the requested technical changes.
  6. 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.
  7. The licensee must implement the technical changes by no later than 18 March 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.
  8. 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 CFEL‑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 CFEL-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.

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