Search

Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2024-71

PDF version

Reference: Part 1 application posted on 23 October 2023

Ottawa, 5 April 2024

Vista Radio Ltd.
Lethbridge, Alberta

Public record: 2023-0479-9

CJOC-FM Lethbridge –Technical changes

  1. The Commission has the authority, pursuant to subsection 9(1) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), to issue licences for the carrying on of broadcasting undertakings as well as to amend those licences.
  2. Consistent with this authority, the Commission approves the application by Vista Radio Ltd. (Vista) to change the authorized contours of the English-language commercial radio programming undertaking CJOC-FM Lethbridge, Alberta. Specifically, the licensee requested to replace the existing non-directional antenna with a new non-directional antenna and to increase the effective height of the antenna above average terrain (EHAAT) from 155.8 to 162.7 metres. All other technical parameters will remain unchanged.
  3. The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to this application.
  4. When a licensee of a radio station files an application for technical changes, the Commission generally requires the licensee to present compelling technical or economic evidence justifying the requested technical changes. In CJWE-FM Calgary – New transmitter in Lethbridge, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2022-125, 10 May 2022 (Broadcasting Decision 2022-125), the Commission approved an application by Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA) to amend the broadcasting licence for CJWE-FM Calgary, Alberta, to allow that licensee to operate a new rebroadcasting transmitter for CJWE-FM in Lethbridge (CJWE-FM-1 Lethbridge). The Commission notes that it is AMMSA’s intention to locate this new rebroadcasting transmitter on the same tower where the transmitter for CJOC-FM is currently located. In order to complete the installation of the CJWE-FM-1 antenna, CJOC-FM needs to slightly modify its technical parameters. After the implementation of the changes, CJOC-FM would operate from a new transmitter hosted on the AMMSA broadband FM antenna. Vista believes that these changes will also ensure the continued long-term availability of a high technical quality CJOC-FM signal for local listeners.
  5. The Commission is satisfied with Vista’s rationale for its requested technical changes and has no concerns in regard to those changes. Further, the Commission finds that the requested changes are in the public interest since they will allow AMMSA to relocate its new rebroadcasting transmitter that was approved in Broadcasting Decision 2022-125.
  6. Pursuant to subsection 22(1) of the Act, this authority will only be effective when the Department of Industry (also known as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) 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 5 April 2026. 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 CJOC-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 CJOC-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: