The CRTC today announced its policy on campus and community radio. The commission announced :
*it is appropriate to maintain the current levels of Canadian musical selections for campus and community radio stations; and
*while it is not necessary to establish general requirements on volunteer participation, the Commission may impose such requirements by condition of licence on a case by case basis, as necessary.
The Commission set out its revised policy for both campus and community radio. The Commission subsequently launched three follow-up proceedings to implement and give full effect to the policy.
The Commission called for comments on amendment to the Radio Regulations, 1986 to come into effect 1 September 2026. The proposed amendments would give effect to various decisions set out in the Policy. The Commission called for comments on possible requirements related to Canadian content and volunteer participation for campus and community radio. More specifically, the Commission sought comments on the advisability of increasing the minimum level of Canadian musical selections that campus and community radio stations must play, and whether to impose requirements on such stations related to the involvement of volunteers in station operations and in the production of programming.
The Commission also called for comments on the proposed Structural and Operational Plan provided by the Community Radio Fund of Canada. The Commission approved the Plan subject to certain amendments related to the participation of commercial radio broadcasters on the board of directors, participation on the selection committee, and the measurement of the success of its initiatives.
Currently campus and community radio stations must devote at least 35% of musical selections from content category 2 (Popular Music) and at least 12% of musical selections from content category 3 (Special Interest Music) to Canadian selections. The Commission sought comments on whether it would be appropriate to increase the minimum requirements for Canadian musical sections from Category 2 and Category 3 music to 40% and 15% respectively, or more.
Apart from the licensee of one commercial station, CKLE-FM Bathurst/Caraquet, no party proposed increases beyond 40% for Category 2 selections and 15% for Category 3 selections and most were in favour of maintaining the current levels of 35% and 12%. Among other things, those opposing the increases expressed concern that they could result in undue repetition of musical selections and act as a disincentive to produce innovative programming featuring types of music where there are few Canadian selections available.
The Commission noted that, in addition to requirements to broadcast minimum levels of Canadian musical selections, campus and community stations are also subject to a number of requirements and expectations, which are not generally applied to commercial stations, designed to ensure that they broadcast a diversity of Canadian music. These include:
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a requirement that at least 5% of all musical selections broadcast are selections from category 3;
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limitations, for campus stations, on the level of hits that they broadcast;
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limitations, for community stations, on the broadcast of music from subcategory 21 (Pop, rock and dance); and
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an expectation that campus and community stations provide programming that differs from that provided by commercial radio stations and the CBC.
The Commission is of the view that these measures have been effective in increasing the diversity of programming available in the Canadian broadcasting system. After reviewing the comments received, it is concerned that increases to the minimum levels of Canadian musical selections could increase the repetition of certain selections, thereby decreasing the diversity of programming that campus and community stations provide. The Commission further notes that many campus and community stations already exceed the minimum levels of Canadian selections as a means to ensure that they remain in compliance
The Commission finds that it is appropriate to maintain the current levels of Canadian musical selections for campus and community radio stations. Campus and community radio stations must continue to devote at least 35% of musical selections from content category 2 (Popular Music) and at least 12% of musical selections from content category 3 (Special Interest Music) to Canadian selections.
The Policy states that the campus and community radio sector has provided, and should continue to provide, distinctive programming opportunities and other means of access to the Canadian broadcasting system in the communities its stations serve. The Commission therefore expects that programming produced by campus and community stations will be produced, in part, by volunteers and that volunteers will form a part of the overall operations of campus and community stations.
Parties associated with campus and community radio opposed firm requirements for volunteer participation, although they agreed with the general views set out in the Policy on the importance of volunteerism. They were of the view that such requirements would add an additional burden to an already heavily regulated sector. Parties also noted that the level of volunteerism can fluctuate according to seasons, school semesters and changes in the economy. Concern was also expressed that firm requirements for volunteers may not be realistic for stations in rural areas or for those that serve official language minority communities, given the small pool of individuals available to participate in station activities.
In addition, parties associated with campus and community radio noted that their stations already depend on volunteers and cannot operate without them. As a result, they were of the view that requirements related to volunteer participation were not necessary. Commercial station CKLE-FM, on the other hand, supported a requirement, including a stipulation that programming produced by volunteers be distributed throughout the broadcast day.
The Commission is satisfied that volunteerism is, by and large, strong in the campus and community radio sector. According to the Volunteer Report, campus and community stations, depending on market size, average between 73 and 118 volunteers per station with an average of 52 hours per broadcast week of programming produced by volunteers. It is therefore the Commission's view that it is not necessary to regulate all campus and community stations in this area.
The Commission reiterates the importance of volunteer participation in campus and community radio, as set out in the Policy. While not imposing general requirements on volunteer participation, it may impose such requirements by condition of licence on a case-by-case basis, as necessary.
The Commission called for comments on the proposed wording of amendments to the Regulations to give effect to aspects of the Policy. These included amendment to:
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simplify the approach to licensing campus and community stations, including eliminating the distinction between Type A and Type B community stations;
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incorporate new programming requirements, including revisions to content categories and subcategories and changes to Canadian content requirements; and
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implement the new approach to funding campus and community radio.
