CFDM-FM

Flying Dust Frist Nation began the process of obtaining a licence for an FM broadcasting station. The goal was to openly communicate with people in the immediate area. 

On June 26, the CRTC approved an application by Flying Dust Broadcasting Inc. for a licence for an English (65%) and Cree-language (35%) FM radio broadcasting transmitting undertaking at Meadow Lake and Flying Dust Reserve on the frequency 105.7 MHz, channel 289, with an effective radiated power of 9 watts to broadcast 40 hours per week of locally-produced programming. The licence wuld expire August 31, 1994. In view of the fact that this non-profit corporation would be supported in part by government loans or grants, the applicant was reminded that it should ensure that it retained full control over all management and programming decisions at all times. 

On August 15, the Commission approved the application by FDB Broadcasting Inc. for a licence to carry on a radiocommunication distribution undertaking consisting of one low-power radio transmitter to serve Meadow Lake. The licence would expire August 31, 1999. This term would enable the Commission to consider the renewal of this licence at the same time as that of the originating station. This undertaking would distribute the programs of the Natotawin Broadcasting Inc. network originating from CJLR-FM La Ronge, on the frequency 105.7 MHz (channel 289 VLP), with an effective radiated power of 9 watts. The Commission noted that this undertaking would replace the radio programming undertaking licensed to Flying Dust Broadcasting Inc., in Decision CRTC 90-576 dated June 
26, 1990, which no longer broadcast local programming. 

Using a tower and receiver from the Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), the FDR was able to begin broadcasting. Programming consisted of a one-hour spot every Monday to Friday with announcer Ben “The Golden Voice” Lachance. 

By this time, CFDM programming had grown to five hours every weekday. Assisting Ben Lachance was Dwayne “Babes” Derocher. Together they worked towards keeping the listeners up to date with local news. Programming also included mandatory amounts of cultural content, new and classic music, and local perspectives. 

On October 3, FDB Broadcasting Inc. was authorized by the CRTC for a Type B English- and Native-language FM radio station to serve Meadow Lake. The new station would broadcast 8 hours of local programming each week. Four of these hours would be in Cree and 4 in English. The station would air 5 hours of music of which 30% would be performed or composed by natives. It would also broadcast 16 hours each week of programming from the Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation network. The applicant proposed to orient its programming to the native population and to address their specific needs and concerns. It wouldl endeavour to strengthen native culture and preserve native languages by promoting concerts of local aboriginal artists, events and gatherings and by broadcasting Cree-language programs. The Commission no longer imposed limits on the advertising broadcast by native radio stations and networks. However, it required that they broadcast a Canadian content level of at least 35% in popular (category 2) music. The licence would expire August 31, 2008. The station would operate on the frequency 105.7 MHz, channel 289LP, with an effective radiated power of 46.5 watts. The technical parameters approved were for a low-power unprotected FM service. The applicant would have to select another frequency for the operation of the service if required to do so to permit the best use of the frequency band.

CFDM-FM had its licence renewed by the CRTC on August 29 – to August 31, 2012.

On August 17, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CFDM-FM to August 31, 2013.