Search

Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-18

PDF version

References: Part 1 applications posted on 17 October 2022

Ottawa, 24 January 2023

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Sudbury and Hearst, Ontario

Public record: 2022-0891-7 and 2022-0892-5

CBCS-FM Sudbury, CBON-FM Sudbury and their transmitters – Technical changes

  1. The Commission has the authority, pursuant to subsection 9(1) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), to issue licences 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) and to amend those conditions on application of the licensee.
  2. Consistent with this authority, the Commission approves an application (2022-0891-7) by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to change the authorized contours of CBCC-FM Hearst, Ontario, a rebroadcasting transmitter of the radio programming undertaking CBCS-FM Sudbury (which broadcasts the programming of the national, English-language network service Radio One), by changing the class from B1 to B, increasing the maximum effective radiated power (ERP) from 8,340 to 15,411 watts, decreasing the average ERP from 8,340 to 7,795 watts, increasing the effective height of the antenna above average terrain (EHAAT) from 119.0 to 163.4 metres, replacing the existing non-directional antenna with a new directional antenna, and amending the existing coordinates of the transmitter site. All other technical parameters will remain unchanged.
  3. In addition, the Commission approves an application (2022-0892-5) by the CBC to change the authorized contours of CBON-FM-26 Hearst, a rebroadcasting transmitter of the radio programming undertaking CBON-FM Sudbury (which broadcasts the programming of the national, French-language network service ICI Radio-Canada Première), by changing the class from B1 to B, increasing the maximum ERP from 8,340 to 15,541 watts, decreasing the average ERP from 8,340 to 7,559 watts, increasing the EHAAT from 119.0 to 163.4 metres, replacing the existing non-directional antenna with a new directional antenna, and amending the existing coordinates of the transmitter site. All other technical parameters will remain unchanged.
  4. The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to these applications.
  5. When requesting technical changes, licensees are generally required to demonstrate a technical or economic need. The CBC indicated that its applications are non-severable and that the requested technical changes are necessary for it to replace an existing timeworn antenna for the co-located transmitters for CBCC-FM and CBON-FM-26, which will allow the CBC to maintain excellent coverage in Hearst and its vicinity. 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 broadcasting certificates will be issued.
  7. The licensee must implement the technical changes by no later than 24 January 2025. 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 the authorized contours of CBCC-FM and CBON-FM-26 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 CBCS-FM and CBON-FM, or on any rebroadcasting transmitters that may appear on the broadcasting licences for those stations, be reprogrammed to properly account for the new authorized contours.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to each licence.

Date modified: