CIAM-FM

On January 7, Care Radio Broadcasting Association received a license for a new low-power Type B English-language FM community station at Fort Vermilion. It would operate on a frequency of 92.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 30 watts. The station would broadcast a minimum of 126 hours of station-produced programming in each broadcast week, including an average of 88 hours in English and a minimum of 32 hours in Aboriginal languages. Initially, the station would offer programming in Cree, the principal language spoken in the broadcast area.

CIAM-FM (See, I AM) signed on the air January 28 at 4:45 p.m., offering Christian music and programs with a strong local content (Bringing Good News to Northern Alberta’s People).

On August 20, CIAM received permission to change frequency from 92.3 MHz to 92.7 MHz.

On May 12, CIAM was authorized to add transmitters at Buffalo Head (95.5 MHz with effective radiated power of 25 watts), Foggy Mountain (104.3 MHz with ERP of 50 watts), Red Earth (102.9 MHz with ERP of 50 watts), and Watt Mountain (94.1 MHz with ERP of 50 watts).

On July 7, CARE Radio Broadcasting Association was given approval to add transmitters at Slave Lake (107.5 MHz, 26.8 watts), Weberville (101.7 MHz, 50 watts) and Hines Creek (94.7 MHz, 50 watts).

For the record, the CIAM studios and offices were at 4709 River Road, Fort Vermilion.

CIAM-FM-2 was authorized to change its transmitter site to just north of the existing location, situated north of Buffalo Head.

On November 6, Care Radio Broadcasting Association received approval to amend the broadcasting licence for the English-language Type B community station CIAM-FM Fort Vermilion in order to add low-power transmitters at the following locations: Buckland, SK (100.1 MHz, 50 watts), Vanderhoof, BC (97.9 MHz, 50 watts), Meander River, AB (95.9 MHz, 50 watts), Peerless Lake, AB (96.9 MHz, 50 watts), Manning, AB (95.5 MHz, 50 watts), Cleardale, AB (91.5 MHz, 50 watts), Chateh, AB (96.9 MHz, 14 watts), Wabasca, AB (95.5 MHz, 50 watts), and Fort Chipewyan, AB (95.5 MHz, 50 watts).

On May 1, CIAM Media & Radio Broadcasting Association (formerly CARE Radio Broadcasting Association) received permission to change the authorized contours of CIAM-FM-5 Weberville by decreasing the effective height of the antenna and by relocating the transmitter. The relocation was necessary due to the inferior structure of the existing tower.

On May 12 the CRTC approved the application by CIAM to change the frequency of CIAM-FM-11 Vanderhoof from 97.9 MHz to 98.5 MHz. CIAM stated the change was necessary due to unforeseen technical interference with a station in Prince George. The interference was discovered during the on-air testing period.

On September 11 the CRTC approved technical changes for CIAM-FM-14 Wabasca. The antenna site would be changed and the effective height would be reduced from 63.25 to 50 metres. The change was necessary due to a lack of space on the tower that had been originally proposed.

On June 30, the CRTC renewed the broadcasting licence for the low-power, English-language Type B community radio programming undertaking CIAM-FM Fort Vermilion and its transmitters (CIAM-FM-1 Red Earth, CIAM-FM-2 Buffalo Head, CIAM-FM-3 Watt Mountain, CIAM-FM-4 Foggy Mountain, CIAM-FM-5 Weberville, CIAM-FM-6 Hines Creek, CIAM-FM-7 Slave Lake, CIAM-FM-8 Charlie Lake, CIAM-FM-10 Buckland, CIAM-FM-11 Vanderhoof, CIAM-FM-12 Cleardale, CIAM-FM-13 Peerless Lake, CIAM-FM-14 Wabasca, CIAM-FM-15 Fort Chipewyan, CIAM-FM-16 Meander River, CIAM-FM-17 Chateh and CIAM-FM-18 Manning), from 1 July 2010 to 31 August 2013. This short-term licence renewal will enable the Commission to review, at an earlier date, the licensee’s compliance with the Radio Regulations, 1986. In Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2009-786, the Commission stated that the licensee may have failed to comply with section 9(2) of the Radio Regulations, 1986, which relates to the provision of annual returns, for the 2008 broadcast year.

On August 20, the CRTC denied applications by CIAM Media & Radio Broadcasting Association to amend the broadcasting licence for the type B community radio station CIAM-FM Fort Vermilion by adding low-power transmitters in Prespatou and Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and Three Hills, Alberta, to rebroadcast the programming of CIAM-FM. The transmitter in Prespatou would have operated on frequency 105.5 MHz (channel 288LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 45.1 metres). The transmitter in Dawson Creek would have operated on frequency 107.5 MHz (channel 298LP) with an ERP of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an EHAAT of 146.3 metres). The transmitter in Three Hills would have used frequency 89.5 MHz (channel 208LP) with an ERP of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an EHAAT of 47.5 metres). The licensee submitted that the installation of transmitters in Prespatou, Dawson Creek and Three Hills would allow it to broadcast the programming of CIAM-FM in these communities and adequately serve their populations. The Commission noted that, in CIAM-FM Fort Vermillion and its transmitters – Licence renewal, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2010-437, 30 June 2010, it renewed the broadcasting licence for CIAM-FM for a short-term period ending 31 August 2013. This short-term renewal was based on the station’s failure to comply with section 9(2) of the Radio Regulations, 1986, which related to the provision of annual returns, for the 2008 broadcast year. After examining the application in light of the applicable regulations and policies, the Commission considered that the only issue to be addressed in its determinations related to the licensee’s non-compliance with its regulatory requirements. As set out in Broadcasting Decision 2010-437, the licensee submitted the annual report for the 2008 broadcast year on 29 January 2009. In a letter to the Commission submitted in regard to its renewal application for CIAM-FM, the licensee explained that the 2008 annual return for the station was filed with the Commission for the financial year covering 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008, and not for the broadcast year ending 31 August 2008. The Commission noted that the licensee’s annual reports for previous broadcast years were submitted by the 30 November deadline for each year, as set out in subsection 9(2) of the Regulations. The Commission generally denies licence amendments requested by licensees that are in non-compliance with their regulatory requirements. Given CIAM-FM’s above-noted non-compliance with subsection 9(2) of the Regulations, the Commission does not consider that a departure from this practice is warranted in this case.

On July 28, the CRTC approved the applications by CIAM Media & Radio Broadcasting Association to amend the licence for CIAM-FM by adding low-power transmitters in Prespatou and Dawson Creek, B.C. and Three Hills, AB. The transmitter in Prespatou would operate on 105.5 MHz (channel 288LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain (EHAAT) of 45.1 metres). The transmitter in Dawson Creek would operate on 107.5 MHz (channel 298LP) with an ERP of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an EHAAT of 146.3 metres). The transmitter in Three Hills would operate on 97.3 MHz (channel 247LP) with an ERP of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an EHAAT of 44.02 metres). The licensee submitted that the addition of these transmitters would allow it to broadcast the programming of CIAM-FM in these communities and adequately serve their populations.

On October 25, the CRTC approved the application by the CIAM-FM Media & Radio Broadcasting Association to change the authorized contours of its transmitter CIAM-FM-12 Cleardale by decreasing the antenna’s effective height above average terrain from 48.5 to 39.07 metres and relocating the transmitter site. The applicant stated the change was necessary due to a lack of space on the tower that was originally proposed.

CIAM disbanded its 21 station network of rebroadcasters and replaced them with eight regional networks. The networks feature a mix of local programs and partial simulcasting from Fort Vermilion. Operating on the CIAM brand: CIAM Fort Vermilion – with – CIAM-FM-2 Buffalo Head, CIAM-17 Chateh, CIAM-4 Foggy Mountain, CIAM-15 Fort Chipewyan, CIAM-16 Meander River and CIAM-3 Watt Mountain. The Share Radio network: CIAM-6 Hines Creek and CIAM-12 Cleardale. YJLU network: CIAM-7 Slave Lake, CIAM-13 Peerless Lake, CIAM-1 Red Earth and CIAM-14 Wabasca. CIAM (not yet on the air) at Three Hills, would operate as Prairie Radio. Peace Valley Radio: CIAM-5 Weberville-Peace River and CIAM-18 Manning. Sunrise Radio: CIAM-8 Charlie Lake-Fort St. John, CIAM-9 Dawson Creek and CIAM-19 Prespatou (all B.C.). CIAM-11 at Vanderhoof, B.C. would operate as The Light and CIAM-10 Buckland-Prince Albert (SK) would operate as Victory FM.

On August 9, the CRTC approved the application by CIAM Media & Radio Broadcasting Association to amend the licence for CIAM-FM Fort Vermilion, in order to add a low-power FM rebroadcasting transmitter in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. The new transmitter would operate on frequency 107.1 MHz (channel 296LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 33.78 metres). The licensee stated that the people in Prince Albert and the nearby reserves had expressed the desire that the signal of CIAM-FM be rebroadcast so that their broadcast area would be covered from an overall community perspective. Given that the technical parameters approved in this decision were for a low-power unprotected FM service, the Commission reminded the licensee that it woul have to select another frequency if the Department of Industry so required.

In January, CIAM received CRTC approval to relocate the transmitter of CIAM-FM-22 at Prince Albert, SK. Later in the year CIAM 107.1 Prince Albert reportedly left the air and was deleted from the ISEDC database.

On June 8, CIAM Media & Radio Broadcasting Association received CRTC approval to add a rebroadcast transmitter at Taber. It would operate at 89.3 MHz (channel 207LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 25.85 metres).

On December 12, the CRTC approved the application by CIAM-FM to change the authorized contours of CIAM-FM-7 Slave Lake by relocating the transmitter 36 kilometres from its original site and to increase the effective height of antenna above average terrain from 147.3 to 201.3 metres.

On September 19, the CRTC gave CIAM Media & Radio Broadcasting Association approval to add rebroadcast transmitters at Burnt Hills (101.9 MHz with ERP of 50 watts and EHAAT of 82.99 metres), Saskatoon Hill (89.3 MHz with an ERP of 50 watts and EHAAT of 156.3 metres), Rose Prairie (107.5 MHz with ERP of 50 watts and EHAAT of 104.6 metres), and Boston Bar (91.1 MHz with ERP of 50 watts and EHAAT of -537.2 metres).

In September, CIAM-FM-26 (92.7 MHz with ERP of 50 watts) began broadcasting in Rose Prairie.

On September 21, the CRTC approved CIAM’s application to change the location of the transmitter and increase antenna height for CIAM-FM-23 Taber.

On October 4, the CRTC approved CIAM’s applications to add transmitters at Telegraph Creek (BC) and Corman Park (SK). The BC transmitter would operate on 92.7 MHz with ERP of 50 watts and the SK transmitter would broadcast at 102.9 MHz with ERP of 50 watts.

On April 15, CIAM Media received CRTC approval to launch a new station in Fort Liard, NT. It would operate on 95.1 with 50 watts. EHAAT would be 81.53 metres (EHAAT). The call sign would be CIAM-30. Also In April, CIAM-FM-29 (100.9 with 50 watts) signed on in Corman Park, SK.

On May 25, CIAM received CRTC approval to switch frequencies for CIAM-23 89.5 in Taber to 102.5. Power would increase from 50 to 1,500 watts. EHAAT would rise from 41.3 to 46.2 metres.