Welcome to the Vernon Community Radio Society
Welcome to the Vernon Community Radio Society
Become a member! Click "Join" at the menu to download an application form.
Friends of Community Radio
Welcome
Friends, we need donations to make 97.9 Valley FM a reality. Studios, control rooms and transmission equipment costs money. The "Click to Donate" button below will take you to our Okanagan-based fundraising platform, Trellis. All major credit cards accepted!
About Us
Our Vision
How will a community station be different?
How will a community station be different?
Vernon Community Radio Society is a not-for-profit organization, registered under the Societies Act of British Columbia. We are a group of community volunteers dedicated to the creation of a new over-the-air FM broadcasting undertaking. In accord with CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) regulations governing
Vernon Community Radio Society is a not-for-profit organization, registered under the Societies Act of British Columbia. We are a group of community volunteers dedicated to the creation of a new over-the-air FM broadcasting undertaking. In accord with CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) regulations governing community radio, 97.9 Valley FM will offer programming that is materially different from content currently provided by private broadcasters and by the CBC.
How will a community station be different?
How will a community station be different?
How will a community station be different?
Ownership and Governance
- Private commercial stations are owned by corporations, the shares of which can be bought and sold.
- Community stations cannot be bought or sold. The assets and operations remain in the care of the governing Society.
Earnings
- Profits of commercial stations accrue to corporations and shareholders, while profits from comm
Ownership and Governance
- Private commercial stations are owned by corporations, the shares of which can be bought and sold.
- Community stations cannot be bought or sold. The assets and operations remain in the care of the governing Society.
Earnings
- Profits of commercial stations accrue to corporations and shareholders, while profits from community stations are used to support local programming, local talent and worthy community projects.
Programming
- The CRTC has very few rules governing commercial radio, while community stations are held to minimum and maximum quotas for certain types of program content.
Service / Coverage Area
- Vernon's two commercial stations, CJIB-FM and CICF-FM, operate at the maximum allowable radiated power of 100,000 watts.
- Operating at a peak power of 1,000 watts CFAV-FM will have a smaller footprint, intended to serve the Greater Vernon area only. Reception in Lumby, Enderby and Falkland will be unlikely, or poor.
Anticipated Timeline / Development Path
How will a community station be different?
Anticipated Timeline / Development Path
Building a community radio station requires three key elements:
- A license to operate issued by the CRTC, which has now been granted.
- Money. Construction of studios, transmission facilities and offices will require a successful fund-raising initiative.
- Volunteers. CFAV-FM will employ a small number of paid personnel, who will train volunteers
Building a community radio station requires three key elements:
- A license to operate issued by the CRTC, which has now been granted.
- Money. Construction of studios, transmission facilities and offices will require a successful fund-raising initiative.
- Volunteers. CFAV-FM will employ a small number of paid personnel, who will train volunteers, anchor key time slots, maintain compliance with CRTC conditions of license and in the sale of advertising. Volunteers are critical - to round out a full broadcast day and to provide diversity of content.
Timeline
- September 1, 2020 - The CRTC approved our license bid.
- Fundraising continues
- Launch of streaming-only service targeted before the end of the 2021 calendar year.
- Our target to begin transmitting is in 2022, prior to August 31, 2022.
- Volunteer recruitment will be ongoing.