CBFG-FM

CBFG Chisasibi began broadcasting.
 

On August 11, the CRTC renewed the licence for CBFG-FM Chisasibi, CBFH-FM Waskaganish, CBFV-FM Waswanipi and CBFA-3 Weymontachie to August 31, 2001. The Commission noted that CBFG-FM broadcast 77 hours of programming per week, of which 47 hours were produced locally in the Cree language. Further, the station rebroadcast the CBC’s French-language Radio (AM) network programming, which was received via satellite, to which were added 15 hours of Cree-language programming produced by the CBC’s Northern Quebec Service and 15 hours of Cree-language programming produced by the Société de communications cries de la Baie James.  
 

On August 31, the CRTC renewed CBFG-FM’s licence to August 31, 2007. The Commission granted a licence term of six years instead of the maximum of seven years permitted by the Broadcasting Act. This would allow the next licence renewal of the undertaking to be considered at the same time as the renewal of CBC’s radio network licences. CBFG-FM broadcast 80 hours of locally-produced programming per week in the Cree language and rebroadcast French-language programming from CBC North-Quebec, CBF Montréal, CBC’s network La Première Chaîne and from the James Bay Cree Communications Society. 
 

On October 5, the CRTC approved the applications by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to amend the licence for CBFG-FM Chisasibi to add two low-power FM transmitters in order to rebroadcast the programming of La Première Chaîne. 

The transmitters would be located in Kuujjuaq and Kuujjuarapik. The new transmitter in Kuujjuaq would operate at 105.1 MHz (channel 286LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain (EHAAT) of 9.3 meters). The new transmitter in Kuujjuarapik would operate at 105.1 MHz (channel 286LP) with an ERP of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an EHAAT of 30.1 meters). The CBC indicated that since there was no coverage in those areas, it wished to extend to those areas the service of La Première Chaîne. Given that the technical parameters were for low-power unprotected FM services, the Commission reminded the licensee that it would have to select another frequency if the Department of Industry so required.
 

On October 30, the CRTC approved the CBC’s applications to amend the licence for CBFG-FM Chisasibi. The first application was to add the following existing undertakings to CBFG-FM Chisasibi’s licence as rebroadcasting transmitters: CBFA-FM-1 Manouane (radiocommunication distribution undertaking), CBFA-FM-2 Obedjiwan (RDU), CBFW-FM Wemindji (RDU), CBFM-FM Mistassini (RDU), CBFA-3 Weymontachie (radio programming undertaking), CBFH-FM Waskaganish (RPU) and CBFV-FM Waswanipi (RPU). The second application which was subject to the approval of the first application, was to revoke the broadcasting licences for the seven undertakings noted above. In support of its applications, the CBC stated that the above-noted transmitters would better serve listeners as rebroadcasting transmitters of CBFG-FM Chisasibi. The licensee indicated that all the rebroadcasting transmitters added in the licence of CBFG-FM would continue to operate under the technical parameters and contours authorized in their current licences. The CBC added that, although licensed as originating stations, CBFA-3 Weymontachie, CBFH-FM Waskaganish and CBFV-FM Waswanipi had been operating as rebroadcasting transmitters of CBFG-FM Chisasibi since 1974, 1986 and 1980, respectively. Therefore, there would be no impact on the programming broadcast by CBFA-3, CBFH-FM and CBFV-FM.
 

On April 23, the CRTC approved the CBC’s application to amend the licence for CBFG-FM Chisasibi to operate an FM transmitter in Weymontachie, Quebec, to replace its existing AM transmitter, CBFA-3. CBFG-FM was affiliated to the network La Première Chaîne. The new transmitter would operate at 92.3 MHz (channel 222LP) with an average effective radiated power of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 0.76 metres). Given that the technical parameters were for a low-power unprotected FM transmitter, the Commission reminded the licensee that it would have to select another frequency if the Department of Industry so required.
 

In the spring, the CRTC approved CBFG’s application to increase ERP for CBFH Waskaganish from 55 to 112 watts and to lower antenna height and relocate the transmitter.

In August, the CBC received CRTC approval to change the program source of CBFA-FM-1 Manouane, CBFA-FM-2 Obedjiwan and CBFG-FM-3 Weymontachie from CBFG Chisasibi to CBF-FM-8 Trois-Rivières.