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Following a series of public hearings in the fall of 1985, the Commission released Public Notice CRTC 1985-274 entitled "Northern Native Broadcasting", in which it addressed a number of issues relating to the distribution of aboriginal radio and television services. This policy statement was based on the principles contained in the Report of the Committee on Extension of Service to Northern and Remote Communities (The Therrien Report) and, together, they have formed the foundation for Commission policy. In Public Notice CRTC 1989-53 entitled "Review of Northern Native Broadcasting: Call for Comments", the Commission announced that it intended to update its regulatory approach to aboriginal broadcasting so as to reflect the evolving role of this important segment of the broadcasting system and to articulate and clarify the specific objectives related thereto... Based on information gathered through that call for comments, the Commission released Public Notice CRTC 1990-12 dated 2 February 1990 and entitled "Review of Native Broadcasting - A Proposed Policy". In that notice, the Commission set out its position with respect to what would constitute appropriate and workable definitions of a native undertaking, a native program and native music. It proposed classes of licence for aboriginal community radio stations, and provided a framework for advertising activity and Promises of Performance. It also addressed the development of native music and the resolution of conflicts between aboriginal and conventional broadcasters. Finally, the Commission indicated that it wished to move away from the "northern" focus present in the old policy, with a view to encouraging the continued development of native broadcasting in all regions of the country.

6 July 1990

Dear NCRA member:

The national conference is fast approaching, and I thought I would take this opportunity to present a brief report of what's gone on in the association over the past year. As this will most likely be my last year as NCRA president, I also thought I'd make some general comments about my experience with the association and where we might be going.

I think it's fair to say that this past year was one of both frustration and encouragement. First, the encouragement part.

Thanks to the efforts of the record service committee and our members commitment to the national boycott, PolyGram Records dropped its service fees to NCRA members, and the struggle received a far bit of national press.

After some delay, Carl Jorgenson of CFLR and the folks at CITR-FM in Vancouver took over the production of the national newsletter.

SOCAN, the new body formed to handle music copyright fees, announced that they will be in future monitoring campus radio stations.

Chris Migone resigned as editor of the national chart after two years of excellent work. Ed Skira and David Akerman, both of CHRY, are now handling the chart, and the publication has been expanding.

In November, we began work on creating a charitable organization which will take on support projects which are charitable in nature, such as training. We planned the organization from the start to be exclusively charitable, and it will not be incorporated until our activities and objectives are given prior approval by Revenue Canada. So far, our objects have been approved by Revenue Canada, and we're waiting to hear back about our proposed activities.

In the fall I met with the outgoing president of the Canadian University Press. She offered the NCRA shared office space in CUP's Ottawa office, as well as possible other support such as use of CUP's charitable foundation. In January, I attended a regular meeting of CUP's advertising wing, Campus Plus. We discussed the possibility of Campus Plus servicing NCRA members. However, Campus Plus decided to take no action at this point, but to study the matter further.

In March, I travelled to Ottawa for a week of lobbying and meetings. I met with representatives of the Department of Communications concerning possible funding for association activities, as well as the CRTC and the CAB.

For the first time in five years, the NCRA made an appearance before the CRTC to speak about the review of FM radio policy. The text of the presentation is available. The reaction of the commission, particularly the new chair Keith Spicer, was very positive. A review of student radio policy will be taking place in the near future. As well, Spicer invited the association to participate in the commission's strategic planning process.

Now, the frustration part.

Much of the time of the members of the board was taken up this year with managing the transition from the Montreal national office to a more decentralized system as accepted at the last conference. It was not, however, a smooth transition.

The move of the office material, the change of bank, and so on, were to have taken place quite soon after the conference. However, our repeated requests to the former national coordinator Martha-Marie Kleinhans to transfer funds to our account in Guelph, and forward to us all of the association files, fell on deaf ears. Treasurer John Matthews wished to complete a financial report for the board immediately, but financial records were not forthcoming.

In October, the former national coordinator notified me that she would be leaving the country for several months, and that she was giving up her responsibility for the VIA Rail account, which she claimed to have invoiced for. In November, Matthews and national chart editor Chris Migone took advantage of her absence to secure the remainder of the national office material, as well as the financial records. A check of those records by myself and Matthews indicated that $1200 in association funds had been diverted for the former national coordinator's own use. Matthews and I then went about the task of winding down office activities in Montréal, informing creditors of the change in status.

Upon the former national coordinator's return to Canada, I contacted her requesting return of the money which she had taken without board authorization. After some delay, the full amount of the money was returned. At the winter NCRA board meeting, we requested the former national coordinator's resignation from the the board, she offered it, and it was accepted. Nadine Glenineau was selected to replace her as a Québec rep until elections could be held at the national conference.

What the former national coordinator left behind, in addition to a number of unpaid bills, was the matter of the VIA Rail advertising account. The national coordinator indicated that Media Canada, the ad agency involved, had been invoiced. It took several weeks of effort to determine which stations were owed what amount. Finally, association secretary Monique Lanoix invoiced Media Canada.

The selected host for NCRC 90, CJAM-FM in Windsor, was forced to drop the conference after the student union at the University of Windsor reorganized the station and eliminated a number of part-time positions. CJSR-FM in Calgary was selected by the board to host the conference this year.

That's it. In many ways, it was a very draining year for the NCRA board and volunteers.

After two years as NCRA president, I can truthfully say that I think there is little more we can do in the area of association development without more extensive and focused work. There are a far number of funding sources out there, but all require a level of sustained work which I don't think our current level of organization can manage. I have been encouraged by the glimpses I have seen of support from both the public and private sector, but until we exploit them, they remain unrealized opportunities.

For this reason, I prepared a written proposal which details how we could create and fund an association office in Ottawa with only a modest increase in membership fees. I am presenting this proposal to the board on July 9th and to you now to serve as a basis for discussion about the future of the organization at NCRC. Please read it over and give the topic some thought. You should treat it like Miles Davis says he treats food and music: take what like want and leave the rest.

See you in Calgary,

John Stevenson
President

Student and community broadcasters have mixed feelings about the Commission's current movement toward deregulation. On one hand, we are very encouraged by the prospect of a regulatory environment which is more responsive to the needs of community radio. On the other hand, we are concerned that deregulation could mean a serious decline in the quality of commercial radio. We believe a simplification of regulation can encourage the development of a radio system which is varied and comprehensive, of high quality, and predominantly Canadian. We are concerned that commercial broadcasters may not be able to accomplish this if left to themselves. One need only look south of the border to the United States for a model of how not to deregulate.

It has been fifteen years since CKCU-FM was licenced, ten year since the first national gathering of campus/community broadcasters, and the development of the campus/community radio movement as a whole continues to lag behind that of individual stations. Now, in 1990, we are again thinking about what the NCRA should become in the year ahead.

A brief look at happenings at CFRU-FM in 1990.