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CRTC Forces Radio India/Sher-e Punjab To End Operations on KVRI/KRPI at Midnight

Bongwater

Bongwater

Well that ended quick...

The CRTC has spoken on Canadian based Radio India/Sher-e Punjab and ordered both of them to terminate all broadcasts on KVRI 1600 and KRPI 1550 as of midnight tonight, thus bringing the Big Border Blaster Battle of '14 to a quick and efficient end.

Details on http://nwbroadcasters.com/

I knew the CRTC was going to put the smack down on them. I just didn't see it happening this soon...
 
Do they actually have any power to force them, other than to seize studio equipment? Theoretically speaking, the operation could move stateside (if CRTC's only traction is to shut down the studio). It seems like it's going to be a lot harder when you have broadcasters who are THAT determined!

We'll see what happens..
 
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fordranger797 said:
Do they actually have any power to force them, other than to seize studio equipment? Theoretically speaking, the operation could move stateside (if CRTC's only traction is to shut down the studio). It seems like it's going to be a lot harder when you have broadcasters who are THAT determined!

We'll see what happens..
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Apparently, they have brass balls. Both stations are still on the air in spite of the order, apparently trying to appeal the desicion.

I think it has something to do with WYUL, another Canadian LMA'd American station in New York that serves Montreal. They probably are waiting to see what the CRTC does on them. There are differences however. There may be other American stations LMA'd by Canadians affected by this. I think that might be the only serious loophole KVRI and KRPI have in their favor. There may be something else entirely, I don't know.
 
Well, there's problems with that. It could be done, but it's not smart to test any government. Radio India is trying to get the CRTC to license them the old CJOR/CHRX/CKBD 600 AM frequency. I would imagine that right now to be like a pirate ignoring a NOUO from the FCC while demanding a radio license at the same time. Something tells me that might not end well at this rate....We'll see.

But from the looks of it, it's starting to seem like the CRTC is hypocritically going after some groups and letting others slide. So either they better get their act together, close all the loopholes and enforce their own rules equally or accept Canadian broadcasting from American stations. But since the CRTC has long been loath to allow advertising on or promotion of US radio/TV stations, I would think there's probably going to be some more shake-ups along the border before this is over.

The question will it just be affecting cross border LMAing? Donations to US religious preachers (such as those on KARI 550 and KWPZ 106.5)? Accepting donations from American listeners to Canadian public stations? What remaining Canadian advertising on KVOS? Could even Fox's recent purchase of KBCB (which puts in a good signal in Vancouver) be a consideration in all this? There are lots of scenarios, none of them good for a lot of people. The CRTC, (through Revenue Canada) can make things rough for Canadian businesses that advertise on cross border originating signals, removing certain promotional tax deductions.

I somehow don't understand what's taken the CRTC so long to wake up to all these loopholes in their own system. When I saw the plans and signal pattern for KVRI for the first time before they went on the air, I smelled trouble. I just didn't know who would react first, the FCC or the CRTC.

I mean just LOOK at KVRI's signal, they're hard to pick up in parts of Bellingham. And you can just barely hear them in Mount Vernon. And 90% of the signal is thrown into Canada

http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=KVRI&service=AM&status=L&hours=D

Yet somebody at the CRTC signed off on this too. They had to have been informed of KVRI's signal and aware of the potential problems, as it was obviously set up by design to target Vancouver so directionally.

But for a while, nobody said anything and I guess it all looked kosher until the proposed KRPI transmitter move and the big stink over that this year finally put the South Asian border blasters from Northwest Washington on the CRTC radar. And if that's the case, the CRTC needs to share some blame in this. After all, they made all these strict policies for Canadian stations to adhere to while at the same time ignoring the glaring loopholes that allowed operators like Radio India, Sher-e Punjab, Radio Marketing Solutions (WYUL), etc to skirt around the CRTC's official line.

Nevertheless, I wouldn't think defying government orders is to anyone's advantage. But their lawyers may know something we don't....
 
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As far as WYUL is considered, I wonder how they operate. I wonder if they have their studios set up in Montreal, or if everything behind the scenes takes place in New York.
 
Bongwater said:
"One of KRPI 1550’s hosts, Harjit Gill, told The Sun Thursday that the staff are going to eventually be moved to Ferndale and will have to obtain visas to work in the U.S....."

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/CR...wn+midnight/10377832/story.html#ixzz3J8ssmcQv

And so it begins.....
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Wow... really? I was just joking around when I suggested the idea that the operation could move stateside. I am not an immigration expert, but from what i've read making a move like that seems highly unlikely. I believe the owner would have to prove that no American citizen could do the jobs his employees already do.

Maybe it will work, but it just seems to crazy to work!
 
fordranger797 said:
Wow... really? I was just joking around when I suggested the idea that the operation could move stateside. I am not an immigration expert, but from what i've read making a move like that seems highly unlikely. I believe the owner would have to prove that no American citizen could do the jobs his employees already do.

Maybe it will work, but it just seems to crazy to work!
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I can't see how any of this is to their benefit. Again, maybe I'm overlooking something. But it just looks really bizarre in every scenario.
 
Bongwater said:
I can't see how any of this is to their benefit. Again, maybe I'm overlooking something. But it just looks really bizarre in every scenario.
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Not to mention, this is a news/talk radio station, so how will news operations work? I don't really think that it would be viable to move a news operation to a region that is disconnected from the listening audience.

Making an international move for station employes would be risky because this station may lose much of its influence when it moves out of the community it serves.
 
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If Obama can let 5 million illegals stay in this country by Executive Order, I don't think it would be too difficult for a few Canadians to work stateside. They don't need no stinkin' visas. Just find a child who was born here, claim paternity.
 
bossbill said:
If Obama can let 5 million illegals stay in this country by Executive Order, I don't think it would be too difficult for a few Canadians to work stateside. They don't need no stinkin' visas. Just find a child who was born here, claim paternity.
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It would probably work. Whatever they do, I wish them the best of luck. The legitimacy of Radio India is questionable, but their dedication to this evident.
 
I wasn't joking when I said they should do it. I think it's a great idea. Power to them. The FCC obviously doesn't care if they program to Canada. Where I used to work in radio, about one tenth of the staff was Canadian. Getting work visas probably wouldn't be that much of a problem. From talking to the Canucks (back then) who used to work with, I got the sense that there are a lot of Canadians in the industry who work in the US.
 
boombox4 said:
I wasn't joking when I said they should do it. I think it's a great idea. Power to them. The FCC obviously doesn't care if they program to Canada. Where I used to work in radio, about one tenth of the staff was Canadian. Getting work visas probably wouldn't be that much of a problem. From talking to the Canucks (back then) who used to work with, I got the sense that there are a lot of Canadians in the industry who work in the US.
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The immigration sources I have read claim that an individual needs to have select skills in certain labour sectors (industries where there is a lack of US citizens available to do the job), or have a high level of post secondary education in order to qualify as a potential immigrant to the United States. With that in mind, it doesn't seem like many jobs in the radio industry qualify as "in-demand labour". Then again, as we are only talking about a work permit, the rules may be much looser than I recall.

My main goal in life up to the age of 18 was to move to the United Kingdom when I was older. I gave up on that dream when I found out that the possibility of meeting immigration requirements was near impossible :D.
 
fordranger797 said:
The immigration sources I have read claim that an individual needs to have select skills in certain labour sectors (industries where there is a lack of US citizens available to do the job), or have a high level of post secondary education in order to qualify as a potential immigrant to the United States. With that in mind, it doesn't seem like many jobs in the radio industry qualify as "in-demand labour". Then again, as we are only talking about a work permit, the rules may be much looser than I recall.

My main goal in life up to the age of 18 was to move to the United Kingdom when I was older. I gave up on that dream when I found out that the possibility of meeting immigration requirements was near impossible :D.
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What you are referring to applies more towards the H visas, for employees. That probably wouldn't apply in this situation.

There are several types of visas available for foreign nationals who do business with companies in the United States, or are owners or investors in companies located in the US. The fact that these Canadian broadcasters apparently own radio facilities in the U.S. could make them eligible for an E-1 or similar visa.
 
boombox4 said:
There are several types of visas available for foreign nationals who do business with companies in the United States, or are owners or investors in companies located in the US. The fact that these Canadian broadcasters apparently own radio facilities in the U.S. could make them eligible for an E-1 or similar visa.
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'The Communications Act of 1934 limits foreign ownership of FCC licensed broadcast facilities.'

A lawyer would say the word limits has a lot of meaning. But this rule has stood the test of time!

I recall in 1997 the WTO/FCC relaxed the rules on this, but the FCC retains the power to over-ride any requests/decisions without congress's approval. I think it's just basic telecommunication services,pagers cell phone stuff? I'm not really sure.

If just working here in the U.S. for an U.S. owned company that company can sponsor an employee from another country, I may be wrong but I think it's called a c-1 visa,? corrections? Thanks!


WTO = world trade organization
 
WOW! I'm way off base....lol
If I would have read more, it says a foreign entity cannot own more than %25 of an FCC license broadcast facility unless it's WTO member.
Canada is a WTO member as is the U.S.

Eventually it's a CRTC and FCC battle, If the CRTC or FCC issues an license to this group, What can the other do? Nothing.
 
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The interesting part is how the CRTC words their law. I would guess they could construe any attempt to collect news in Canada, then transport the information across the border for assembly, recording and transmission would qualify as being "part" of a broadcasting venture. As they present their argument, that would still violate their Act.

Unless they win on appeal (doubtful), get a Canada-based signal or successfully gain a license, it looks to me like their terrestrial broadcasting days may be over.
 
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