The Nakusp Community Radio Society has officially been given control of CJHQ — better known as 107.1 FM The Arrow in Nakusp.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved the society’s application to take over the license from the defunct Nakusp Roots Music Society (NRMS).
The decision will allow the Arrow to continue broadcasting in the Nakusp area, and online through Internet streaming.
The NCRS has been operating the station since November 2011, when it purchased the assets of the station from the NRMS for $1. However, at the time, it did not get CRTC permission to take control of the station.
The application to officially take control of the station was filed in August 2013. A public hearing was held in Ottawa in December and final approval for the transfer was given by the CRTC on Feb. 26.
With official approval, the new society will be able to get to work running the station. Chris Ewings, the president of the NCRS, said they will now get to work selling advertising again and applying for grant money.
“While we have been waiting for the transfer to be approved, we haven’t really been approaching many businesses for advertising, since we didn’t want to sell a bunch of advertising, then get told our license was revoked and have to explain that to the advertiser,” he wrote in an e-mail. “So basically we haven’t had much cash flow at all.
“Also, we haven’t been able to apply for any grant monies either, so that is something we can look forward to.”
The CRTC decision comes with a few conditions. Notably, the station was not in compliance with the regulators requirements to file its annual returns for three years, from 2007 to 2010, though it has been in compliance since then.
In light of this, the CRTC issued a new broadcasting license to the Arrow that expires on Aug. 31, 2015. In order to be renewed, the NCRS must meet regulatory requirements.
