CRTC Approves Technical Amendments for CITM-FM Ottawa
Summary
The CRTC has approved technical amendments for Torres Media Ottawa Inc.'s radio station CITM-FM Ottawa. The changes include increasing power and relocating the transmitter antenna to share a tower with another station, aimed at improving operational efficiency and reducing costs. The amendments are effective upon notification from the Department of Industry and must be implemented by March 16, 2028.
What changed
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has approved an application by Torres Media Ottawa Inc. to amend the technical parameters of its English-language commercial FM radio station, CITM-FM Ottawa. The approved changes include increasing the transmitter class from A to B1, raising the maximum effective radiated power (ERP) from 2,500 to 7,500 watts, increasing average ERP from 1,100 to 1,565 watts, decreasing the effective height of the antenna above average terrain (EHAAT) from 100.5 to 98.0 meters, and amending transmitter coordinates and antenna location. These amendments are intended to allow the station to share an antenna and tower with Torres Media's existing station, CIDG-FM Ottawa, thereby improving operational efficiency and reducing operating expenses.
Regulated entities, specifically Torres Media Ottawa Inc., must implement these technical amendments by March 16, 2028. The CRTC also reminds the licensee that continued compliance with section 16 of the Radio Regulations, 1986, regarding emergency alert messages, may require reprogramming of alert broadcast decoders to account for the new authorized contours. Licensees seeking an extension must submit a written request at least 60 days prior to the deadline.
What to do next
- Implement technical amendments for CITM-FM Ottawa by March 16, 2028.
- Review and reprogram alert broadcast decoders if necessary to ensure compliance with emergency alert message regulations based on new authorized contours.
- Submit a written request for an extension at least 60 days before the March 16, 2028 deadline, if required.
Source document (simplified)
Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2026-45
Reference: Part 1 application posted on 16 January 2026
Gatineau, 16 March 2026
Torres Media Ottawa Inc.
Ottawa, Ontario
Public record: 2025-0495-1
CITM-FM Ottawa – Technical amendments
- The Commission has the authority, pursuant to subsection 9(1) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), to issue licences for the carrying on of broadcasting undertakings and to amend those licences.
- Consistent with this authority, the Commission approves the application by Torres Media Ottawa Inc. (Torres) to amend the technical parameters of the English-language commercial FM radio programming undertaking CITM-FM Ottawa, Ontario. Specifically, Torres proposed to change the class of the transmitter from A to B1, to increase the maximum effective radiated power (ERP) from 2,500 to 7,500 watts, to increase the average ERP from 1,100 to 1,565 watts, to decrease the effective height of the antenna above average terrain (EHAAT) from 100.5 to 98.0 metres, to amend the coordinates of the transmitter, and to relocate the transmitter antenna. All other technical parameters will remain unchanged.
- The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to this application.
- When a licensee files an application for technical amendments, the Commission requires the licensee to present compelling technical or economic evidence justifying the requested amendments. In this case, Torres proposed to relocate the transmitter for CITM-FM, so that it would share an antenna and tower with the licensee’s existing station, CIDG-FM Ottawa. The licensee stated that the proposed changes would improve operational efficiency and reduce the station’s operating expenses and facility costs. The Commission notes that the amendments would have a minor impact on listenership. The Commission is satisfied that the licensee has demonstrated an economic need for the requested amendments.
- Pursuant to subsection 22(1) of the Act, this authority will only be effective when the Department of Industry (also known as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.
- The licensee must implement the technical amendments by no later than 16 March 2028. To request an extension, the licensee must submit a written request to the Commission at least 60 days before that date, using Form 300 available on the Commission’s website.
- As set out in section 16 of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations), licensees have obligations relating to the broadcast of emergency alert messages received from the National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System. The implementation of the technical amendments approved in this decision could result in changes to CITM-FM’s authorized contours. The Commission reminds the licensee that continued compliance with section 16 of the Regulations may require that any alert broadcast decoders (e.g., ENDEC) used for the purposes of broadcasting emergency alert messages on CITM-FM, or on any rebroadcasting transmitters that may appear on the broadcasting licence for that station, be reprogrammed to properly account for the new authorized contours.
- This decision is to be appended to the licence. Secretary General
Date modified:
2026-03-16
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