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Vermont Stn.Warns Montreal Listeners New Outlet Could Hurt Reception
Here's something you don't see very often - a station in a U.S. state warning Canadian listeners they may soon lose their over-the-air reception.
In a brief article posted on its website, WVPS-FM in Burlington, Vermont is advising those tuning in from Montreal they may be getting so much interference from a newly licenced Quebec country music station that they could lose the ability to get their signal.
CJOL-FM is located at 107.9 in Joliette and the fear is that station's power of 25,000 watts could effectively shut out the Vermont outlet on the same frequency.
This isn't the first time Montreal NPR fans have been warned about this. During the newcomer's hearing for the licence in front of the CRTC, the Commission received at least 100 interventions arguing against the licence - or at least the dial position - but in its infinte wisdom, the CRTC ignored them, saying the hearing could only be used to object to the conditions of service for the then-proposed station, and not how it would affect out-of-town signals.
They granted the licence in 2024 and while the station has yet to anounce an air date, those in Quebec who care know it's coming - and soon.
Joliette is only about 35 miles (56 kilometres) from downtown Montreal, so it will almost certainly obliterate its Vermont counterpart on the same frequency.
The U.S. station is not only worried about losing Canadian listeners, but also the donations they make to help keep the NPR format on the air, especially after the loss of American government funding.
This reminds me a bit of the two Indigenous stations in Toronto at 106.5, both of which failed, but were on the exact same frequency as Buffalo's WYRK-FM. When those stations went silent, the stateside's country music signal came booming back into the GTA. But they don't rely on contributions or advertising from north of the border.
The CRTC is currently accepting submissions for yet another similar station in the city and in Ottawa, even though it's failed twice. Those applications, by the way, are due by June 18th.
New Quebec radio station may affect reception of Vermont Public at 107.9 FM
- rk12
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Re: Vermont Stn.Warns Montreal Listeners New Outlet Could Hurt Reception
Typical CRTC/Industry Canada add station for a town of 21K people and cause interference to US signal available to millions.There were other frequencies available and 25KW not required for small town unless your trying to jam a US signal.Is this a rimshot into Montreal ?
- RadioActive
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Re: Vermont Stn.Warns Montreal Listeners New Outlet Could Hurt Reception
I'm frankly surprised Industry Canada allowed this. But obviously their research showed interference wasn't an issue.
Besides that, they couldn't care less about an American signal and I suspect there are people on these boards who are only too happy to block a U.S. signal in favour of a Canadian one any chance they get.
People can still listen online, which was the whole point of the Vermont station announcement.
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Thread Starter- rk12
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Re: Vermont Stn.Warns Montreal Listeners New Outlet Could Hurt Reception
What happens when your in between the two signals around Montreal and all you will receive is interference..So no listenable signal for most populated areas.
- paterson1
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Re: Vermont Stn.Warns Montreal Listeners New Outlet Could Hurt Reception
In fairness, it is not the responsibility of the new radio station in Joliette or the CRTC to protect the revenue or signal to Montreal for WVPS in Burlington. The FCC treats our stations just the same, and don't care if fewer Canadian FM stations are available now in WNY or Detroit because of a new American outlet.
The pledge drives are a bit of a mystery since NPR/PBS are somewhat vague how much they actually bring in from Canada. WNED in Buffalo has certainly benefited from the GTA which has 7 times more people than the home market in WNY. If you include areas that WNED would never reach without cable in Southern Ontario the split is even more one sided.
Also confusing is the annual amount brought in from corporate donations, private and corporate foundations and generous one time gifts of philanthropy from wealthy individuals and families. These have nothing to do with the pledge drives. I have heard this is where the big money comes in for many stations and not so much the pledge drives.
If the new Joliette country station ruins the signal of WVPS in the Montreal area, maybe they will a apply for a rebroadcaster or translator in Vermont to cover the city. Actually it will be interesting to see how CJOL does and if it reaches Greater Montreal with a clear signal. I don't believe the city has a French language country station or any local country radio.
- WPE9HAY
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Re: Vermont Stn.Warns Montreal Listeners New Outlet Could Hurt Reception
Very similar to WNED 94.5 in which the Classical programming will soon move to 88.7 and not be receivable because of CIRV HD's on 88.9.
WNED was getting iffy due to CHKX 94.7 HD but when I asked WNED about a booster in Youngstown they were not that interested.
Oh well ...to on-line we go.
- mace
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Re: Vermont Stn.Warns Montreal Listeners New Outlet Could Hurt Reception
rk12 wrote:
What happens when your in between the two signals around Montreal and all you will receive is interference..So no listenable signal for most populated areas.
Similar to 92.9 here?
- rk12
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Re: Vermont Stn.Warns Montreal Listeners New Outlet Could Hurt Reception
Live FM band scan from Rabbit ears site from Northeast Montreal has both WVPS and the current Joliette station 4.5KW 103.5 reception and only 19 miles from Joliette .
Last edited by rk12 (May 8, 2026 2:41 pm)
- tvguy
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Re: Vermont Stn.Warns Montreal Listeners New Outlet Could Hurt Reception
Industry Canada refuses to protect reception of U.S. stations over Canadian soil. No matter what the preferences of Canadians are. As Inspector Clouseau says "the loi is the loi".
From the licensing decision:
[list=1]
[*]Regarding the auditor’s interventions, the Commission notes that, in Broadcasting Decision 2023-16, it indicated that there are agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America regarding the coordination of FM Broadcasting Services. It specified that in assessing technical acceptability, the Department of Industry (also known as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) takes into consideration the interference protection afforded to existing radio stations, including FM radio stations in the United States. However, the portion of American FM radio station coverage on the Canadian side of the border is not protected from interference.
[*]Moreover, in that decision, the Commission recognized that there were other frequencies available to serve the Joliette market, but none were likely to provide coverage similar to or greater than the frequency 107.9 FM.
[*]Therefore, the Commission considers that it should not protect access to the WVPS-FM signal at the expense of a Canadian station.
[/list]
Last edited by tvguy (May 8, 2026 3:10 pm)