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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2003-345
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Ottawa, 1 August 2003 |
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Silk FM Broadcasting Ltd.
Magna Bay, British Columbia |
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Application 2002-0832-3
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC
2003-3
23 January 2003 |
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CILC-FM Magna Bay – Technical change
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The Commission approves the
application by Silk FM Broadcasting Ltd. to increase the effective radiated
power of CILC-FM Magna Bay, a transmitter of CILK-FM Kelowna, British
Columbia. |
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The application
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1. |
The Commission received an
application from Silk FM Broadcasting Ltd. (Silk FM) to increase the
effective radiated power of the transmitter CILC-FM Magna Bay, from 6.3 watts
to 50 watts. |
2. |
The licensee indicated that the
proposed change is intended to improve the signal quality in the
transmitter’s coverage area, since the mountains that surround the area limit
the signal propagation. |
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Interventions
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3. |
The Commission received two
interventions opposing Silk FM’s proposal, one from Jim Pattison Industries
Ltd. (Pattison) and the other from Standard Radio Inc. (Standard). Pattison
is the licensee of CIFM-FM and CKBZ-FM Kamloops and Standard is the licensee
of CKXR Salmon Arm. |
4. |
Pattison expressed concern that, should the
proposed power increase be approved, the signal of CILK-FM Kelowna will be
extended into part of the extended market for its Kamloops stations. The
intervener stated that the expanded coverage area for CILK-FM Kelowna would
have an impact on audiences in an already fragmented marketplace. Pattison
further noted that the musical format used by CILK-FM is already available in
the area from existing local radio stations. |
5. |
Standard stated that the transmitter CILC-FM
Magna Bay already has a clear signal in the region it is licensed to serve.
As the licensee of CKXR Salmon Arm, the intervener expressed concern that the
proposed increase in power for CILK-FM’s transmitter would give that station
a clear signal in the Salmon Arm region. The intervener stated that this
would effectively give Silk FM a new FM radio station in the Salmon Arm
region, without Silk FM having made commitments to local reflection of that
community. |
6. |
The intervener also noted that CILK-FM operates
in the same music format as Standard’s station CKXR. It suggested that, if
the proposed power increase for CILC-FM is approved, Silk FM should be
subject to a condition of licence that it not solicit local advertising in
the Salmon Arm region |
7. |
Standard further stated that it planned to apply
to the Commission for approval to convert CKXR from the AM to the FM band.
Standard was of the view that the Commission should consider the application
by Silk FM at the same time as its future proposal. |
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The applicant's replies
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8. |
In reply to Pattison, the applicant
stated that, if the proposed increase were to be approved, the area to be
served is centred on Magna Bay and the contours of the transmitter’s signal
would not enclose either Kamploops or Salmon Arm. |
9. |
In response to Standard, Silk FM
stated that it would be impossible for a 50 watt signal to travel from the
transmitter location in Magna Bay, through 26 kilometres of mountainous
terrain, to become listenable in Salmon Arm. |
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The Commission's analysis and conclusion
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10. |
The Commission notes that the southern edge of
the 0.5 mV/m contour produced by the proposed change to CILC-FM’s power would
fall approximately 10 kilometres north of Salmon Arm. The Commission finds
that, while the CILC-FM signal might be receivable in some locations near
Salmon Arm, it would not be considered a reliable signal. |
11. |
The Commission also notes that the primary
market for CILK-FM’s signal is Kelowna, a market with a population of
143,900, and that the only community in the Salmon Arm region that would fall
within the transmitter’s proposed contour is Tappen, with a population of
6,700. The Commission is of the view that it would be unlikely that Tappen or
Salmon Arm businesses would seek to advertise on CILK-FM, with its focus on
serving Kelowna, and whose advertising rates would be significantly greater
than those of CKXR Salmon Arm. |
12. |
With respect to the concerns expressed by
Pattison related to the duplication of musical formats of radio stations in
the Salmon Arm region, the Commission notes that it does not generally
regulate the musical formats of radio stations. |
13. |
With respect to Standard’s suggestion that the
Commission consider the application by Silk FM at the same time as a possible
request to convert CKXR to the FM band, the Commission notes that, even with
a proposed power increase, CILC-FM would remain an unprotected low-power FM
transmitter, and approval of the Silk FM request would not affect a future
application by Standard. |
14. |
Accordingly, the Commission approves the
application by Silk FM to increase the effective radiated power of its
transmitter CILC-FM at Magna Bay, from 6.3 to 50 watts. |
15. |
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. |
16. |
The Commission reminds the licensee
that, pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, this
authority will only be effective when the Department notifies the Commission
that its technical requirements have been met, and that a broadcasting
certificate will be issued. |
17. |
Given that the technical parameters
approved in this decision are for a low-power unprotected FM service, the
Commission also reminds the licensee that it will have to select another
frequency if the Department so requires. |
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Secretary General |
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This decision is to be appended
to the licence. It is available in alternative format upon request, and may
also be examined at the following Internet site:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca |