CRTC revokes licence of Toronto campus radio station

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Just heard this as I was called for an interview about it for BlogTO, it's a total shock based on how we're doing. Enemies of community radio are no longer in charge against the will of the people and programmers in Toronto, the few enemies still been targeting us for years have no support for their ideas among the people and programmers in Toronto, we are running stable and happy, making plans to continue moving forward, and our fundraising drive just raised $55,000.

For more see the links below. Basically, CKLN was taken over by Josie Milner, a real estate agent with a hobby of destroying community radio stations. She kicked most programmers out of U of T's CIUT Radio a few years earlier and made them commercial. She recruited CKLN traitors Tony Barnes and Mike Philips to help her. Most of us were locked out for months until the coup was beaten. We're back. A couple of ex-programmer nutjobs are still attacking us.

There's obviously more, but here's what I just wrote in response to a staff email. There are probably people with ideas on how to deal with this based on their knowledge of different areas, so please contact me with any suggestions.

647-855-4744

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FYI, I was just interviewed by BlogTO about this, their phone call was the first I'd heard, but it's on Twitter. It might be a good for us to go on a coordinated media offensive to explain how we're surprised and disappointed, but optimistic that this can be resolved in our favour on behalf of the people in Toronto who we serve.

Loosely, the corrupt people who nobody liked are gone, the crazy people attacking us are crazy, we're currently stable, happy and making plans to move forward, and we just raised $55,000 mostly from people in Toronto, who obviously appreciate what our community radio station is currently offering to their community.

We just have to respectful of the CRTC's concerns and show we've moved past them. Petitions to prove public support may help as well. Just some thoughts, thanks for the great work in the fight and please keep me (us) posted.

Peace,
BK

647-855-4744

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CRTC revokes licence of Toronto campus radio station

Canada NewsWire | Digital Journal | January 28, 2011

OTTAWA-GATINEAU, Jan. 28 /CNW/ - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today revoked the licence of CKLN-FM, a community-based campus radio station located at Ryerson University. The licence holder, CKLN Radio Inc., was found to have been in breach of numerous regulations and conditions of licence. It was unable to convince the Commission that it could operate the station in a compliant manner going forward.

"Holding a broadcasting licence is a privilege that comes with responsibilities and regulatory obligations," said Konrad von Finckenstein, Q.C., Chairman of the CRTC. "CKLN Radio was given several warnings and opportunities to come into compliance. Each time, it demonstrated an inability or unwillingness to address our concerns. Taking away its licence is the only appropriate course of action in this case."

The Commission began investigating CKLN-FM in July 2009 after receiving numerous complaints about the station's governance structure, day-to-day management and operations, programming and ability to remain on air. At the time, the station experienced significant infighting and the volunteers, staff and management were locked out of the studio premises by the building manager. During the seven-month lockout, CKLN-FM broadcast an intermittent loop of programming without any ongoing community involvement or oversight by the licensee.

Once it resumed normal operations, CKLN Radio Inc. lacked any significant quality-control mechanism for its programming and there was little involvement from the Ryerson University student body despite its status as a campus radio station. It was also unable to meet some of the basic requirements of all licence holders, which include the submission of audible on-air tapes, program log and other records, and complete annual returns.

Today's decision follows a proceeding that included a public hearing, which was held on December 8 and 9, 2010.

Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-56

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-56.htm

The CRTC

The CRTC is an independent public authority that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.

Reference documents:
Notice of Consultation CRTC 2010-146
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-146.htm
Campus and community radio policy
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-499.htm

These documents are available in alternative format upon request.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/210441

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Take Back Our Radio Station - Lockout Reference Articles

http://takebackourradio.blogspot.com/

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