CIOG-FM

On May 20, the CRTC approved the application by International Harvesters for Christ Evangelistic Association Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language, low-power specialty commercial FM radio programming undertaking in Charlottetown, with a rebroadcasting transmitter in Summerside. IHC, a not-for-profit corporation controlled by its board of directors and registered as a charitable institution with the Canada Revenue Agency, was also the licensee of CITA-FM Moncton and CJLU-FM Halifax, both of which broadcast Christian music. The new station would broadcast 58 hours of local programming per broadcast week. The remaining 68 hours of programming would consist of brokered spoken word bible programs and music programs, originating from both Canada and the United States. The station would broadcast 24 hours and 40 minutes of spoken word programming per broadcast week, of which 20 hours would be devoted to religious programming. In addition, the applicant specified that, by condition of licence, two hours and 30 minutes per broadcast week would be devoted to balance programming. IHC indicated that 100% of the musical selections broadcast in each broadcast week would be drawn from subcategory 35 (Non-classic religious), as defined in Public Notice 2000-14. In order to provide the station with a measure of programming flexibility, the Commission considered that it was appropriate to require that a minimum of 95% of the musical selections broadcast in each broadcast week be drawn from subcategory 35. The applicant also indicated that, by condition of licence, a minimum of 20% of all musical selections from category 3 (Special interest music) broadcast during the broadcast week would be Canadian selections. The licence would expire 31 August 2014. The station would operate at 91.3 MHz (channel 217LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts. The rebroadcasting transmitter would operate at 91.1 MHz (channel 216LP) with an ERP of 50 watts. 

CIOG-FM Charlottetown and CIOG-FM-1 Summerside were on the air in August or September. Studios and offices were located at 
241 University Avenue in Charlottetown.

On August 13, the CRTC approved the application by International Harvesters for Christ Evangelistic Association Inc. to amend the licence for CIOG-FM in order to change the frequency of its rebroadcasting transmitter CIOG-FM-1 Summerside from 91.1 MHz (channel 216LP) to 92.5 MHz (channel 223LP). All other technical parameters would remain unchanged. The licensee stated that this change was necessary because the 91.1 MHz frequency was not protected and had been granted to another FM radio programming undertaking in CKQK-FM Charlottetown – New transmitters at Elmira and St. Edward, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2009-17, 19 January 2009.

On February 6, the CRTC approved an application by International Harvesters for Christ Evangelistic Association Inc. to change the authorized contours of CIOG-FM Charlotte-town by increasing the effective radiated power from 50 to 250 watts. The Commission also approved an application by IHC to change the authorized contours of the transmitter CIOG-FM-1 Summerside by increasing the ERP from 50 to 250 watts. IHC submitted that the technical changes were necessary to allow its station to provide adequate coverage in the markets that it was licensed to serve and to ensure the station’s financial stability and viability. The Commission noted that the technical parameters proposed in the applications would change the operating class of CIOG-FM and CIOG-FM-1 from that of an unprotected, low-power service to that of a protected Class A1 service.