CICV-FM

On April 15, the CRTC approved an application by Cowichan Valley Community Radio Society for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language, low-power developmental community FM radio programming undertaking in Lake Cowichan. C.V.C.R.S. was a not-for-profit organization without share capital controlled by its board of directors. The organization would recruit and train volunteers for various positions being developed in areas such as on-air disc jockeying, programming, special events coordination and office administration. The new station would offer learning modules for students so as to provide these with training in the various aspects of radio and communications. The new station would focus its music programming on local talent and would seek to establish itself as an emergency service broadcaster by providing a link to the various community emergency services in the Cowichan Valley. The station would broadcast and report emergency updates and advisories of road and flood conditions, weather reports and fire hazards, as well as other general emergency communications provided by local government. Programming would also include talk shows, phone-ins and programming specific to and developed by the community. The applicant undertook to broadcast an average of 61 hours per broadcast week, of which a minimum of 42 hours would be station-produced programming. With respect to the promotion of local artists, Cowichan stated that it would give local individuals an opportunity to develop and use their creative talents on radio by being able to record and promote their material. The applicant would provide local and Canadian actors and musicians with a broadcast platform and experience for future employment opportunities. The licence would expire August 31, 2012. If the applicant wished to continue the operation of the station beyond this period, it was directed to file an application for a regular community radio licence with the Commission nine months before the expiry of its licence. The station would operate at 98.7 MHz (channel 254VLP) with an average effective radiated power of 3.7 watts. Given that the technical parameters approved in this decision were for a low-power unprotected FM service, the Commission also reminded the applicant that it would have to select another frequency if the Department of Industry so required. 

CICV-FM signed on the air in August.

CICV-FM became known as “The Lake”. 

On August 9, 2012, Cowichan Valley Community Radio Society received CRTC approval to operate an English-language low-power community FM radio station in Lake Cowichan, British Columbia. In 2009, the Commission approved an application by Cowichan for a developmental community radio station. In Public Notice 2000-13, the Commission indicated that developmental community radio stations would generally be licensed for a three-year term and that at the end of this term licensees would be expected to have filed an application with the Commission for a regular community radio licence or to cease operations. Cowichan filed an application in order to comply with this approach. The new station would operate at 97.5 MHz (channel 248LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of -82 metres. The applicant indicated that, during each broadcast week, the station would broadcast 126 hours of programming. The station would offer 38 hours of spoken word programming per broadcast week, all of which would be local, station-produced programming. The programming would include a community calendar, public service announcements and interviews. The station would devote 90% of its news time to local news, with the remaining 10% being devoted to regional news. The station’s musical programming would be drawn from content categories 2 (Popular Music) and 3 (Special Interest Music), including specialty music programs focusing on blues, jazz and acoustic folk music. The station would offer 24 hours per broadcast week of category 3 musical selections. With respect to the promotion of local talent, the applicant stated that it would encourage entertainers to visit the station and perform live. It also would also broadcast a program that featured local artists. With respect to volunteers, Cowichan said it was in the process of establishing a training syllabus and was working on training for volunteers relating to specific areas of broadcasting. The new licence would expire August 31, 2019. 

On September 1, CICV-FM moved from 98.7 MHz to 97.5 MHz and began operating under its new licence conditions.
 

In the summer, CICV-FM increased power from 5 to 50 watts.

Cowichan Valley Community Radio Society requested the revocation of its broadcasting licence for its English-language, low-power community radio programming undertaking CICV-FM Lake Cowichan. The CRTC approved the revocation on January 18. The reason given for the closure: a lack of volunteers.