We've had a lot of fun poking at CFAJ, the station at 1220 AM in St. Catharines that seems to have been "testing" for over three years and to my knowledge, has yet to air a single paid commercial. 

It's been so long since they first signed on, that they had to have their licence renewed by the CRTC, which is back in business after the PSAC strike. It happened on Tuesday and it means they won't have to face the music (pardon the expression) again until September 2030. 

What caught my eye in the renewal notice, though, was this:

"Holding a broadcasting licence comes with conditions, regulatory obligations and responsibilities, which include contributing to the Canadian broadcasting system by ensuring that Canadians have access to local programming that reflects their needs and interests and informs them of important current issues."

How, exactly, does CFAJ inform people of anything, let alone current issues, when they have no newsroom, no announcers, not even weather forecasts? The release continues:

"Although Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332 does not specify a minimum level of weekly news to be broadcast, it does specify the type of spoken word material that must be included as part of a station’s local programming. In accordance with that regulatory policy, the Commission reminds the licensee that its station, in its local programming, must incorporate spoken word material of direct and particular relevance to the communities served, and that this programming must include local news, weather, sports coverage, and the promotion of local events and activities."

Well, there's no way a station that's been on autopilot for three years and has nothing but Peter Borbely doing liners between the songs can say they've done that. And even though it's not mandatory, why didn't the CRTC call them on this? CFAJ is nothing but a jukebox. And there's no possible way they can claim they couldn't get this kind of programming on air in three years! 

Hey, I love a place that plays songs from my era without a single spot, except the occasional PSA. But at some point, don't they have to start acting like a real radio station? How long can this go on? I guess the answer, according to the CRTC, is the next seven years. 

CRTC Decision