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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-261
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Ottawa, 22 June 2006 |
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591989 B.C. Ltd.
Cambridge, Ontario |
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Application 2006-0058-7
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2006-33
16 March 2006 |
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CJDV-FM Cambridge – Technical change
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The Commission denies an
application to change the authorized contours of CJDV-FM Cambridge.
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Background
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1. |
In CIZN-FM Cambridge – Technical amendments,
Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2003-51,
14 February 2003 (Decision 2003-51),
the Commission approved an application by 591989 B.C. Ltd., a subsidiary
of Corus Entertainment Inc. (Corus) to amend the broadcasting licence
of CJDV-FM (then known as CIZN-FM) by changing the frequency from
92.9 MHz (channel 225A) to 107.5 MHz (channel 298A), and by increasing
the station’s effective radiated power (ERP) from 560 watts to 2,500 watts.
The changes were expected to correct severe technical limitations
associated with the station’s signal, thereby allowing the licensee
to better serve Cambridge. |
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The application
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2. |
The Commission received an application by
Corus, to change the authorized contours of CJDV-FM Cambridge, by
increasing the average ERP from 2,500 watts to 6,800 watts. |
3. |
The proposed power increase would result in
a change of CJDV-FM’s status from a Class A to a Class B1 service, and
the authorized contours of the station would be increased significantly.
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4. |
Corus indicated that, while the change of
frequency approved in Decision 2003-51
has resulted in an improvement for listeners, CJDV-FM still experiences
signal deficiencies in certain regions of its market area. |
5. |
The licensee expressed its opinion that the
signal deficiencies were due to a rare transmission phenomenon known as
"thermal ducting". Thermal ducting is described as co-channel
interference due to atmospheric conditions causing variations in the
propagation of signals through layers of warm and cold air. These layers
can trap radio signals and conduct the signals over long distances
causing high signal levels at distances well beyond the normal range of
reception. |
6. |
Corus stated that it has experienced
recurring co-channel interference from CKMB-FM Barrie, Ontario, which is
owned by Rock 95 Broadcasting (Barrie-Orillia) Ltd., and which operates
at 107.5 MHz. It also stated that approval of this application would
give CJDV-FM listeners an improved signal with wider coverage. |
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Intervention
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7. |
An intervention in opposition to this
application was submitted by CanWest MediaWorks Inc. (CanWest), licensee
of radio station CKBT-FM, known as "The Beat", which operates at 91.5
MHz in Kitchener-Waterloo. |
8. |
CanWest noted that the technical amendments
approved in Decision 2003-51 were
designed specifically to address CJDV-FM’s signal deficiencies within
the licensed Cambridge region, and that Corus already had the ability
to repatriate listeners and advertisers lost due to signal reception
problems. |
9. |
CanWest expressed the opinion that Corus’
rationale for the proposed amendments is not satisfactory, and that
competitive issues have been disregarded. The intervener indicated that,
while Corus uses a new competitive environment as a rationale for these
amendments, the licensee is projecting an increase in financial health
in the same environment, as well as an increase in the potential
listener base in nearby regions that are already well-served by radio
stations licensed to serve those areas. The intervener stressed that the
geographic contours of stations should be respected and maintained. |
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Applicant’s reply
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10. |
In reply to CanWest’s intervention, Corus
stated that although the 2003 amendment to CJDV-FM’s broadcasting
licence has provided the station with improvements to its signal, signal
deficiencies still exist. Corus further stated that the current proposal
had not been viable until the recent implementation of technical changes
to radio stations in Barrie, which provided further technical solutions
for CJDV-FM. |
11. |
Corus further stated that, given the entry
of two new commercial radio stations in the region, CJDV-FM has no
potential for substantial financial benefit at this time, and expressed
the view that CanWest has provided no evidence that the modest increases
projected for CJDV-FM would have any negative impact on CanWest’s
operations in the region. |
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Commission’s analysis and determination
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12. |
In its evaluation of this application, the
Commission has considered the views expressed by Corus and by the
intervener. |
13. |
According to the Department of Industry’s
Broadcasting Procedures and Rules, signal strength of 3 mV/m is
considered satisfactory service to principal target centres. The
Commission notes that since CJDV-FM’s existing realistic 3 mV/m contour
falls well beyond the station’s 3 mV/m theoretical contour, in the
circumstances, no power increase would be justified. |
14. |
With respect to the licensee’s claim of
signal deficiencies due to thermal ducting, the Commission notes that
the licensee has provided neither evidence of such a deficiency, nor
technical data to support such a claim. |
15. |
In light of the above, the Commission
denies the application by 591989 B.C. Ltd., to change the authorized
contours of CJDV-FM Cambridge, by increasing the average effective
radiated power from 2,500 watts to 6,800 watts. |
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Secretary General |
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This decision 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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