|
Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-163
|
|
Ottawa, 21 April 2006 |
|
Stillwater Broadcasting Ltd.
Swan River, Manitoba |
|
Application 2005-0990-4
Public Hearing at Calgary, Alberta
21 February 2006 |
|
English-language FM radio station in Swan River
|
1. |
The Commission approves the
application by Stillwater Broadcasting Ltd. for a broadcasting licence
to operate an English-language commercial FM radio programming
undertaking in Swan River, Manitoba. |
2. |
The station will broadcast 126 hours of
programming in each broadcast week, of which 120 hours will be locally
produced. It will offer a music format featuring selections from the
1960s to the present, complemented by a minimum of 20 hours a week of
spoken word programming consisting of call-in shows, newscasts, news,
weather, sports and special events. A limited amount of religious
programming consisting of a maximum of 90 minutes per week from various
local religious leaders will also be offered. |
3. |
The applicant confirmed that it will
participate in the Canadian talent development plan developed by the
Canadian Association of Broadcasters for contributions by commercial
radio licensees. Under this plan, a radio licensee serving a market the
size of Swan River is required to contribute a minimum of $400 in each
broadcast year to eligible third parties for the development of Canadian
musical and other artistic talent. |
4. |
The Commission received numerous
interventions in support of this application. |
5. |
The Commission notes that the new FM station
will operate in "a single station market," as defined in
Local programming policy for FM radio – Definition of a single-station
market, Public Notice CRTC 1993-121,
17 August 1993. As the only commercial FM radio station licensed to
serve Swan River, the new FM station will be exempt from the requirement
that, in order to solicit or accept local advertising, one-third of
its programming must be local. The applicant indicated that it would
broadcast a maximum of 504 minutes per week of commercial messages,
but the Commission does not consider that it is necessary to impose
this commitment as a condition of licence, given that the station
will operate in a single-station market. |
6. |
The station will operate at 104.5 MHz
(channel 283A) with an effective radiated power of 210 watts. |
7. |
The licence will expire 31 August 2012 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, with the exception of condition of licence number
9. That condition does not apply to stations operating in single station
markets. |
|
Issuance of the licence
|
8. |
The Department of Industry (the Department)
has advised the Commission that, while this application 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.
|
9. |
The Commission reminds the applicant that,
pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, no licence may
be issued until the Department notifies the Commission that its
technical requirements have been met, and that a broadcasting
certificate will be issued. |
10. |
Furthermore, the licence for this
undertaking 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 21
April 2008. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a
timely manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before that date. |
|
Employment equity
|
11. |
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. |
|
Secretary General |
|
This decision is to be appended to the
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
|