Speech

to the public hearing on applications for
available Montreal AM frequencies by
radio programming undertaking licensees

Montreal, Quebec
February 15, 1999

(CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY)

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome to this public hearing. My name is Andrée Wylie. I am the CRTC’s Vice-Chair, Broadcasting, and I will be presiding over this hearing on the licensing of AM radio frequencies available in Montreal.

Allow me to introduce my colleagues on this panel. They are Commissioners Joan Pennefather and Andrée Noël. The staff who will be assisting us during this hearing are Hearing Manager, Lyne Lafrance; Legal Counsel, Alastair Stewart; and the Hearing Secretaries, Lyne Lafrance and Diane Santerre. Please do not hesitate to call on them if you have questions regarding matters of process.

Because of the limited availability of AM and FM frequencies, this hearing is not the first one to consider the licensing of radio frequencies in Montreal. In 1986, the Commission examined 16 applications and licensed two undertakings: Radio communautaire de la Rive-Sud (CHAA-FM, South Shore Community Radio) and McGill University’s CKUT-FM, an English-language specialty radio station. Following a 1997 hearing, the Commission approved the CBC’s request to change the frequencies of CBF and CBM Montreal to the FM band. It also granted a licence to Jean-Pierre Coallier to operate a new FM radio station that would offer classical music programming to the Montreal Region.

In April 1998, two applications were filed with the Commission by Métromédia, the owner of CKVL Verdun and CICQ Montreal. Métromédia wanted to operate these stations on the 690 and 940 AM frequencies made available by CBC’s move to the FM band. In accordance with its policies, the Commission invited all parties interested in using these frequencies to file an application by September 24, 1998.

Five applications were filed with the CRTC for these frequencies:

• MÉTROMÉDIA has applied to amend the broadcasting licences of two of its radio stations : CKVL Verdun and CICQ Montreal. It asks to change the frequency of CKVL Verdun from 850 to 690 AM. CKVL Verdun would then provide a French-language all-news service for the Montreal Region. Métromédia also wants to change the frequency of CICQ Montreal, from 600 to 940 AM, and offer a similar service in English.

• RADIO NORD has applied for two broadcasting licences : one for an English-language radio station that would broadcast country music, and operate on the 940 AM frequency. The other is for a French-language station that would offer the same kind of programming, on 690 AM.

• and RADIO-CANADA has applied to use 690 AM to create a third French-language public radio station. It would be called Info-Radio, and would provide an all-news radio service in French. This service would cover local, regional, national and international news and public affairs.
  Should the 690 AM frequency be granted to another applicant, in its application, RADIO-CANADA requests that it then be given a broadcasting licence on the 940 AM frequency.

The Commission will take all views and comments presented into account, and expects to render its decision this spring.

Before we begin to hear the ten parties who will make presentations at this hearing, allow me to give you some information concerning the proceedings.

First, we will ask each applicant to make their presentations. We ask that you keep your presentations to a maximum of twenty minutes, including the presentation of audio-visual or other materials. The panel members will then ask questions.

In Phase Two, the applicants will reappear, in the same order. They may then comment on the competing applications. Each applicant will have a maximum of ten minutes, to do so.

In Phase Three, we will hear comments from the public. Each presenter may speak for a maximum of ten minutes.

In the final Phase, Phase Four, applicants reappear, in reverse order. They may then reply to the interventions concerning their respective applications. Again, they may speak for a maximum of ten minutes.

The hearing is scheduled to end at noon on Wednesday. All ten parties on the agenda must be heard before then. To make sure we get through our agenda, depending on the pace at which we move, we might have to prolong the evening session and sit after 6 p.m. We will let you know, if we decide that it will be necessary to do this.

I will now ask our legal counsel, Alastair Stewart, to go over some administrative and housekeeping matters regarding the conduct of this hearing.

- 30 -

Contact:  Denis Carmel, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2
               Tel.: (819) 997-9403, TDD: (819) 994-0423, Fax: (819) 997-4245
               e-mail: denis.carmel@crtc.gc.ca
               Toll-free # 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)