OTTAWA – The CRTC cracked down on three Vancouver-area radio broadcasters Thursday after determining that they operated radio stations without a broadcast licence and contrary to an exemption.
Surrey Myfm Inc. and 89.3 Surrey City FM Ltd. operate low-power tourist information stations in the Surrey market, while Sur Sagar Radio Inc. operates a low-power house of worship station. All three were called to the Commission’s Vancouver radio hearing in May to defend their current operations and to prove that they were still eligible for exemptions.
The CRTC issued four mandatory orders to Surrey Myfm (Myfm) and Ravinder Singh Pannu, who owns and controls the station:
– Myfm and Mr. Pannu may not carry on a broadcasting undertaking in Surrey, British Columbia, or anywhere else in Canada, except in compliance with the Broadcasting Act;
– Myfm and Mr. Pannu, where either operates a broadcasting undertaking pursuant to an exemption, are required to comply at all times with the terms of that exemption;
– Myfm and Mr. Pannu must file reports with the Commission relating to the programming and operations of VF2689 as set out in the present decision and as may be requested by the Commission from time to time; and
– Myfm and Mr. Pannu must retain a clear and intelligible audio recording or exact copy of all matter broadcast on VF2689 for four weeks from the date of the broadcast plus a detailed program schedule, which must be submitted to the Commission upon its request.
In addition, Myfm and Mr. Pannu must submit a report to the Commission by December 19, 2016 setting out the station’s internal policies and procedures, as well as a field measurement report and a self-monitoring plan to ensure the station is operating within the technical requirements set out in the Exemption Order, plus self-monitoring reports on a quarterly basis.
The Commission also issued three mandatory orders to Sur Sagar Radio Inc. (Sur Sagar) and Ravinder Singh Pannu, who also owns and controls that station:
– Sur Sagar and Mr. Pannu may not carry on a broadcasting undertaking in Surrey, British Columbia, or anywhere else in Canada, except in compliance with the Broadcasting Act;
– Sur Sagar and Mr. Pannu, where either operates a broadcasting undertaking pursuant to an exemption, are required to comply at all times with the terms of that exemption; and
– Sur Sagar and Mr. Pannu must file reports with the Commission relating to the programming and operations of VF2688 as set out in the present decision and as may be requested by the Commission from time to time.
In addition, Sur Sagar and Mr. Pannu must submit a report to the Commission by December 19, 2016 that includes a field measurement report and a self-monitoring plan to ensure the station is operating within the technical requirements set out in the Exemption Order, plus self-monitoring reports on a quarterly basis.
With regards to 89.3 Surrey City FM Ltd. (City FM), the CRTC issued a mandatory order that City FM and Gurpal Garcha are prohibited from operating or having any involvement in an undertaking that is carrying on a broadcasting undertaking in whole or in part in Canada without a licence.
