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Renewal of your radio licence

The Commission reminds radio station licensees that it is important to comply with the requirements set out in the Broadcasting Act, the Radio Regulations, 1986, regulatory policies, information bulletins and their conditions of licence. A broadcasting licence is first and foremost a privilege. Broadcasting undertakings in Canada make use of frequencies that are public property and are part of a unique system that includes activities in the public, private and community sectors.

Before a licence expires, the Commission reviews each station's compliance record for the current licence period (as well as amendments to conditions of licence, as the case may be). The Commission may also review a radio station's compliance at any time during the licence term and following the receipt of a complaint. The purpose of the review is to ensure that frequencies are used appropriately for the purpose of providing Canadians with a broadcasting system that serves to safeguard, enrich and strengthen the cultural, political, social and economic fabric of Canada.

Renewing your licence

The Commission generally process licence renewal applications in accordance with the rules of procedure for applications set out in Part 1 of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure (the Rules of Procedure)Footnote 1. The treatment of a Part 1 application means that the application will be published on the Commission's website, typically for a 30-day period, to provide members of the public or any other interested party with an opportunity to submit an intervention or comment in connection with the application. The licensee will then have a period of 10 days to respond to an intervention, if desired.

In addition, radio station licensees who wish to apply for an amendment to their licence must do so by submitting a separate application at any time during their licence period.

There are five steps to renewing your licence:

  1. Submission of the renewal application (Form 310 or 311)
  2. Verification of the application by Commission staff to ensure that it is complete (this may include correspondence between Commission staff and the licensee)
  3. Posting of the application on the CRTC website (intervention period of 30 days and reply period of 10 days, if applicable)
  4. Analysis and decision-making
  5. Posting of the renewal decision or amendment of a condition of licence, if applicable.

Please note that the application process for a licence renewal begins one year before a licence expires and that a decision is posted on the CRTC’s website no later than the expiry date of the current licence term.

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