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Fact sheet
How to Apply for a Broadcasting Licence
The Basics
- You need a frequency from Industry Canada as well as a licence from
the CRTC to operate an over-the-air broadcasting station in Canada.
- Time and costs involved in preparing a licence application will vary.
Applicants sometimes engage the services of a broadcasting specialist.
- Normally, the process takes from 8 to 18 months depending on whether
or not there is a competitive process. Read the CRTC's Quarterly
Report on Service Standards for Processing Broadcasting Applications
for more information.
- Broadcasting
Circular CRTC 2006-1 - Streamlined processes for certain
broadcasting applications - expedited process
CRTC Application Forms
- Application forms and information packages are available from any
CRTC office. Please specify the precise
type of service you are proposing: for example, if you want to set up
a radio station, is it an AM, Community or Campus FM; very low power
FM (10 watts ERP, or less), low power FM (50 watts ERP, or less), or
a regular, high-power FM station?
- Some application forms are available for viewing and downloading under
File, Register and Epass on our Internet site.
Industry Canada
You must apply to
Industry
Canada for a frequency and broadcast certification. Available frequences
are scarce in some major urban areas.
For more information, call Industry Canada toll-free at 1-800-328-6189
or check its
website for offices across
the country.
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Will any application to the CRTC be considered?
Applications must meet certain minimum criteria in the following areas:
- ownership;
- financial capacity;
- technical capacity;
- programming requirements.
A market study may be required to confirm the demand for the proposed
service and to show how it will increase diversity in the market. A market
study must also address the effect the new service would have on existing
broadcasters.
What happens to an application?
- CRTC staff review applications to make sure they are complete.
- Once an application is complete, the CRTC may call for competing applications.
- An application, or applications in the case of competing applications,
will be scheduled for a public hearing.
- The application(s) is announced in the Canada Gazette at least 60 days
before the hearing and the public is invited to provide
written comments supporting or opposing the application.
The Public Hearing
- The applicant and anyone who provided written comments on the application
may be asked to appear at the public hearing to provide additional information.
- Should the CRTC decide it has enough information to make a decision
about the application, it may not be necessary for anyone to appear
in person.
CRTC Decision
- After the hearing, the CRTC reviews all of the information and decides
to:
- approve the application;
- approve part of the application;
- deny the application.
- All decisions are publicly announced.
- If a new broadcasting licence is granted, the new licensee is typically
given one year to launch its service.
Participating in the Public Process
Your ideas, opinions and comments help the CRTC:
- evaluate applications for new broadcasting licences as well as changes
to existing ones;
- evaluate the performance of licensed broadcasters (i.e. radio and
television stations), cable companies, multipoint distribution systems
(MDS) such as LOOK TV, Skycable and Image Cable and direct-to-home (DTH)
satellite services – i.e. Bell ExpressVu and StarChoice;
- update its policies.
Read how you can participate.
Date Modified: 2006-03-28
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