You don't see this too often, but it's happened to a Winnipeg radio station. Dufferin Communications complained to the CRTC that low power CFYG-FM in the Manitoba city was broadcasting ethnic programming. The problem? They were only licenced as a tourist information station, and were supposed to be prohibited from competing with actual commercial stations. 

As a result, the Commission called the owners to a virtual hearing and laid down the law, ordering them to stop broadcasting immediately. I wasn't aware that these kinds of stations aren't technically licenced and thus are only allowed to dispense info on traffic, weather and local attractions. Music is allowed, but only as background. But any other information is prohibited. 

But the temptation to add forbidden programming must be great, and in this case, it appears the owners, Gill Broadcasting, couldn't help themselves. Knowing they'd been caught in the act, the station suddenly went off the air in October, saving themselves a lot of potential legal trouble. 

Just what ARE the rules about so-called Tourist Information stations? Here's what the CRTC says about them. 

"Low-power tourist information radio stations have a limited mandate in the markets they serve and are therefore exempted from holding a licence. The purpose of these stations is to provide information about traffic and road conditions, weather, transport schedules (for example, flight, ferry, train), and local attractions. They cannot broadcast non-tourist information, including religious or political programming, and cannot broadcast musical selections, except for incidental background music. Their niche purpose and programming limitations ensure that they remain faithful to their nature of service and have no commercial impact."

As a result, the owner has lost permission to broadcast his station at all and needs CRTC permission to set up anywhere else - with severe restrictions.

CRTC Decision