Speech
Opening remarks
by Charles Dalfen
Chairman, Canadian Radio-television
and Telecommunications Commission
at the public hearing in Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls, Ontario
June 6th, 2005
(CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY)
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to this public hearing.
My name is Charles Dalfen and I am the Chairman of the CRTC. I will be presiding over this hearing. Joining me on the panel are my colleagues, Richard French, Vice-Chair, Telecommunications; Barbara Cram, Regional Commissioner for Manitoba and Saskatchewan; Rita Cugini, Regional Commissioner for Ontario; and Stuart Langford, National Commissioner.
The Commission team assisting us includes Hearing Manager Steve Parker, Senior Broadcasting Analyst, and Legal Counsel James Murdock, as well as Chantal Boulet, Hearing Secretary. Please speak with her if you have any questions with regard to hearing procedures.
TVN Niagara Inc.
At this hearing we will first study an application from TVN Niagara Inc. to operate a conventional English-language television station in St. Catharines, Ontario. The station would operate on channel 22C and the applicant proposes programming designed to serve St. Catharines and Niagara regions.
Radio applications
We will then review five applications for a new English-language FM radio station for theWoodstock and Tillsonburg market, including an application to convert the CKOT Tillsonburg radio station from AM to FM. We will also hear an application to change the frequency and authorized contours of the CJFH-FM Woodstock radio station. All of these applications will be competing for the use of the 104.7 frequency.
The panel will study the proposals to operate a new FM station in light of the cultural, economic and social objectives defined in the Broadcasting Act and the regulations flowing from it.
The panel will base its decision on several criteria, including the state of competition and the diversity of editorial voices in the market, as well as the quality of the applications. It will also look at the ability of the market to support new radio stations, the financial resources of each applicant, and proposed initiatives for the development of Canadian talent.
The applicants will be heard in the following order:
- Byrnes Communications Inc.;
- Standard Radio Inc.;
- CHUM Ltd.;
- Newcap Inc.;
- Sound of Faith Broadcasting; and finally,
- Tillsonburg Broadcasting Company Ltd.
Process
The hearing should take four days. We will begin each day at 9:30 a.m. and finish up around 6:00 p.m. We will inform you of any changes in the schedule that may occur.
When you are in the hearing room, we ask you to please turn off your cell phones and pagers as they are an unwelcome distraction for participants and Commissioners. We would appreciate your cooperation in this regard throughout the hearing.
I will now invite the Secretary, Ms. Chantal Boulet, to explain the procedures we will be following. Ms. Boulet …
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This document is available in alternative format upon request.
Date Modified: 2005-06-06
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