CFWE-FM has asked the CRTC for an increase in power for their Edmonton transmitter from 9300 watts to 100,000 watts, and to continue to run omni-directional. If approved, it will be the first case of "full power" stations on the same frequency in both Edmonton and Calgary. There are other issues, as well.
Distances between the proposed station and co-channel and adjacent channel allotments or assignments were checked using the required distance separations set out in Broadcasting Procedures and Rules, Part 3 and Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America Relating to the FM Broadcasting Service and the Associated Working Arrangement (dated July 1997) amended February 2001. (D.E.M. Allen engineering report that formed part of the application)
Here are the Required Separation distances in km and the actual distance:
- CIBK-FM Calgary 98.5 - 306/287.1km
- CKUA-FM-10 Athabasca 98.3 - 140/131.3km
- CHFB-FM Bonnyville 98.7 - 195/213.9km
- CFCW-FM Camrose 98.1 - 106/102.9km
- CIZZ-FM Red Deer 98.9 - 131/149.1km
The rationale for the power increase, written by Director of Radio, Boyd Leader (Rhubarb Jones when he was on air at JOE-FM), is summed up in these sentences from the application:
The current power does not give us effective coverage within the city of Edmonton. Our current signal is unavailable to our listeners in most buildings and low lying areas within Edmonton and we regularly receive complaints from listeners about not being able to receive our signal or that there’s too much static to listen.
The location of their transmitter site is Due North of Stony Plain, while all of the other Edmonton FM transmitters are within a few miles of Edmonton City Limits.