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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-116
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Ottawa, 24 March 2005 |
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Fawcett Broadcasting Limited
Dryden; Red Lake and Ear Falls; and
Sioux Lookout, Ignace, Hudson and Atikokan, Ontario |
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Applications 2004-0829-6, 2004-0874-1
and 2004-0875-9
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
10 January 2005 |
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Conversion of CKDR Dryden to FM band and new AM radio stations in
Red Lake and Sioux Lookout
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The Commission approves the
applications by Fawcett Broadcasting Limited: |
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- for a broadcasting licence to operate a new English-language FM
radio programming undertaking in Dryden to replace its AM station CKDR
Dryden;
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- to amend the broadcasting licence for CKDR Dryden in order to
delete the transmitters CKDR-1 Ignace, CKDR-2 Sioux Lookout, CKDR-3
Hudson, CKDR-4 Ear Falls, CKDR-5 Red Lake and CKDR-6 Atikokan, and for
broadcasting licences to continue the operation of these facilities in
the following manner:
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CKDR-5 Red Lake as an AM originating station with CKDR-4 Ear
Falls as a transmitter; and
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CKDR-2 Sioux Lookout as an AM originating station with CKDR-1
Ignace, CKDR-3 Hudson and CKDR-6 Atikokan as transmitters.
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The new AM originating stations in Red
Lake and Sioux Lookout will each broadcast local programming split fed
from the programming broadcast on the new FM station in Dryden. |
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The applications
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1. |
Fawcett Broadcasting Limited (Fawcett) is
currently the licensee of the AM radio programming undertaking
consisting of originating station CKDR Dryden, Ontario and its
transmitters CKDR-1 Ignace, CKDR-2 Sioux Lookout, CKDR-3 Hudson, CKDR-4
Ear Falls, CKDR-5 Red Lake and CKDR-6 Atikokan, Ontario. |
2. |
Fawcett filed an application for a
broadcasting licence to operate a new English-language FM radio
programming undertaking in Dryden to replace its AM station CKDR. The
new station would operate at 92.7 MHz (channel 224B) with an effective
radiated power (ERP) of 36,800 watts. It would maintain CKDR’s adult
contemporary music format as well as its local programming, including
news, weather, sports and community information. |
3. |
Fawcett also filed an application to amend
the broadcasting licence for CKDR Dryden in order to delete the
transmitters CKDR-4 Ear Falls and CKDR-5 Red Lake, and for a
broadcasting licence to continue the operation of CKDR-5 Red Lake as a
new English-language AM radio programming undertaking with CKDR-4 Ear
Falls as a transmitter. The applicant proposed to operate under the
presently authorized technical parameters in those communities; namely,
at 1340 kHz with a transmitter power of 250 watts for the station in
Red Lake, and at 1450 kHz with a transmitter power of 40 watts for the
transmitter in Ear Falls. |
4. |
In addition, Fawcett filed an application
to amend the broadcasting licence for CKDR Dryden in order to delete the
transmitters CKDR-1 Ignace, CKDR-2 Sioux Lookout, CKDR-3 Hudson and
CKDR-6 Atikokan, and for a broadcasting licence to continue the
operation of CKDR-2 Sioux Lookout as a new English-language AM radio
programming undertaking with CKDR-1 Ignace, CKDR-3 Hudson and CKDR-6
Atikokan as transmitters. The applicant proposed to operate under the
presently authorized technical parameters in those communities. The
station in Sioux Lookout would operate at 1400 kHz with a transmitter
power of 50 watts. The transmitter in Ignace would operate at 1340 kHz
with a transmitter power of 50 watts. The transmitter in Hudson would
operate at 1450 kHz with a transmitter power of 40 watts, and the
transmitter in Atikokan would operate at 1240 kHz with a transmitter
power of 50 watts. |
5. |
The applicant made commitments that the new
AM radio programming undertakings in Red Lake and Sioux Lookout would
each offer a minimum of one hour of community public service
announcements and community information in each broadcast week as well
as up to three hours of advertising targeting listeners in their
respective communities. The remainder of the programming would be
programming broadcast by the applicant’s new FM station in Dryden. |
6. |
Under the plan developed by the Canadian
Association of Broadcasters (CAB) for contributions by radio licensees
to Canadian talent development, a radio licensee serving a community the
size of each of the communities to be served by the proposed stations
would normally be expected to contribute a minimum of $400 in each
broadcast year to eligible third parties for the development of Canadian
musical and other artistic talent. Fawcett confirmed that it would
participate in the CAB’s plan and stated that each station would
contribute a minimum of $400 in each broadcast year to the Foundation to
Assist Canadian Talent on Record (FACTOR). |
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Interventions
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7. |
The Commission received interventions to
these applications by Norwesto Communications Ltd. (Norwesto). In
English-language FM radio station in Vermilion Bay,
Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-143,
13 April 2004 (Decision 2004-143),
the Commission approved an application by Norwesto to operate an English-language
FM radio station in Vermilion Bay with transmitters in Dryden and
Kenora, Ontario. |
8. |
Norwesto expressed concern that approval
of the application to convert CKDR to the FM band would have a significant
impact on its Vermilion Bay radio station approved in Decision 2004-143.
The intervener contended that, according to the contour maps provided
with the application, Fawcett’s proposal does not represent a simple
flip from AM to FM. The intervener claimed that the power increase
proposed in Fawcett’s application would expand the station’s contours
in the Dryden listening area and more than double its present coverage
area. |
9. |
Norwesto also alleged that Fawcett’s
applications to convert its existing transmitters of CKDR to originating
stations with transmitters are simply attempts to legitimize what the
applicant has already been doing for years. In Norwesto’s view, approval
of these applications would not enhance the applicant’s service to these
communities. |
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The applicant’s reply
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10. |
In response, Fawcett stated that it had advised
the Commission of its long-range business plan with respect to its
radio stations in northwestern Ontario in the context of a previous
application filed in 2001 to convert CFOB Fort Frances to the FM band1.
The applicant added that its plan to file an application to convert
CKDR to the FM band was noted in Decision 2004-143. |
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The Commission’s analysis and determination
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11. |
Fawcett appeared at the October 2003 public
hearing at which the Commission considered Norwesto’s application for a
broadcasting licence to operate a new FM radio station in Vermilion Bay
with transmitters in Dryden and Kenora. Fawcett opposed Norwesto’s
application on the grounds that the proposed radio station would have a
significant impact on existing radio stations in the market. Fawcett
also indicated its intention to convert CKDR to the FM band in
accordance with its long-term business plan, which it had previously
presented to the Commission. |
12. |
After considering all the facts, the Commission
approved Norwesto’s application in Decision 2004-143.
In approving Norwesto’s application, the Commission determined, among
other things, that the Vermilion Bay, Dryden and Kenora radio markets
were "sufficiently healthy to absorb the competitive impact that
would result from the licensing of a new commercial FM station."
The Commission further noted that, as an established incumbent, Fawcett
was well positioned to adjust to the moderate impact that would result
from the introduction of Norwesto’s service. |
13. |
In its evaluation of the present
applications, the Commission has noted that "Canadian Demographics
2005", information published by the Financial Post, indicates that total
income and retail sales for Vermilion Bay, Dryden and Kenora are
expected to continue to increase over the next five years. |
14. |
With respect to the concerns raised by
Norwesto regarding the coverage of the proposed FM station in Dryden,
the Commission finds that the intervener did not explain how the
proposed contour change for CKDR would directly affect the intervener’s
operations. The Commission notes that the proposed FM contours are
generally consistent with the coverage that the applicant currently
achieves with its originating station in Dryden and multiple
transmitters in the other communities. Accordingly, the Commission is
satisfied that approval of Fawcett’s application to convert CKDR to the
FM band will not result in a significant change to the Dryden radio
market and thus will not have an undue negative impact on Norwesto’s
operations. |
15. |
Furthermore, the Commission notes that
Fawcett made commitments to offer at least one hour of community public
service announcements and community information in each broadcast week
as well as up to three hours of advertising dedicated to listeners in
the communities to be served by each of the proposed new AM radio
programming undertakings. The Commission is satisfied that approval of
Fawcett’s applications to use the facilities of CKDR-5 Red Lake and
CKDR-2 Sioux Lookout as originating stations will enable listeners in
these communities to receive local radio programming that reflects their
respective communities. |
16. |
In light of the above, the Commission
approves the application by Fawcett Broadcasting Limited for a
broadcasting licence to operate an English-language FM radio programming
undertaking in Dryden. The station will operate on the FM band at
92.7 MHz (channel 224B) with an ERP of 36,800 watts. |
17. |
The Commission also approves the
application to amend the broadcasting licence for CKDR Dryden in order
to delete the transmitters CKDR-4 Ear Falls and CKDR-5 Red Lake, and for
a broadcasting licence to continue the operation of CKDR-5 Red Lake as
an English-language AM radio programming undertaking with CKDR-4 Ear
Falls as a transmitter. The station in Red Lake will operate at 1340 kHz
with a transmitter power of 250 watts. The transmitter in Ear Falls will
operate at 1450 kHz with a transmitter power of 40 watts. |
18. |
Further, the Commission approves the
application to amend the broadcasting licence for CKDR Dryden in order
to delete the transmitters CKDR-1 Ignace, CKDR-2 Sioux Lookout, CKDR-3
Hudson and CKDR-6 Atikokan, and for a broadcasting licence to continue
the operation of CKDR-2 Sioux Lookout as an English-language AM radio
programming undertaking with CKDR-1 Ignace, CKDR-3 Hudson and CKDR-6
Atikokan as transmitters. The station in Sioux Lookout will operate at
1400 kHz with a transmitter power of 50 watts. The transmitter in Ignace
will operate at 1340 kHz with a transmitter power of 50 watts. The
transmitter in Hudson will operate at 1450 kHz with a transmitter power
of 40 watts, and the transmitter in Atikokan will operate at 1240 kHz
with a transmitter power of 50 watts. |
19. |
Each licence will expire 31 August 2011 and
will be subject to the conditions set out in New licence
form for commercial radio stations, Public Notice CRTC
1999-137, 24 August
1999. |
20. |
The applicant is authorized, by
condition of licence, to simulcast the programming of the new FM
station on CKDR for a transition period of three months following the
commencement of operation of the FM station. Pursuant to sections
9(1)(e) and 24(1) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), and
consistent with the applicant’s request, the Commission revokes
the licence for CKDR effective at the end of the simulcast period. |
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Issuance of licence
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21. |
The Department of Industry (the Department)
has advised the Commission that, while the application for the new FM
station in Dryden is conditionally technically acceptable, it will only
issue a broadcasting certificate when it has determined that the
proposed technical parameters will not create any unacceptable
interference with aeronautical NAV/COM services. |
22. |
The Commission reminds the applicant that,
pursuant to section 22(1) of the Act, no licence may be issued for the
new FM station in Dryden until the Department notifies the Commission
that its technical requirements have been met, and that broadcasting
certificates will be issued. |
23. |
Furthermore, the licence for the new FM
station in Dryden will be issued once the applicant has informed the
Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations. The
undertaking must be operational at the earliest possible date and in any
event no later than 24 months from the date of this decision, unless a
request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 24
March 2007. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a
timely manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before this date. |
24. |
Since the applicant will operate CKDR-5 Red
Lake and CKDR-2 Sioux Lookout and their respective transmitters under
the presently authorized technical parameters, the Commission will issue
those licences accordingly. |
25. |
Given that the technical parameters for the
station in Sioux Lookout and the transmitters in Ear Falls, Ignace,
Hudson and Atikokan are for low-power unprotected AM services, the
Commission also reminds the applicant that it will have to select other
frequencies if the Department so requires. |
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Employment equity
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26. |
In accordance with Implementation of an
employment equity policy, Public Notice CRTC 1992-59,
1 September 1992, the Commission encourages the applicant to consider
employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other
aspects of its management of human resources. |
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Secretary General |
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This decision is to be appended to each
licence. It is available in alternative format upon request, and may
also be examined in PDF format or in
HTML at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca
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Footnote: |