This day in history: 1962
  
Times Colonist
Tuesday, January 08, 2008


VICTORIA BROADCASTER PREVAILS IN FM TUG-OF-WAR

A Victoria broadcaster has won a battle with U.S. stations over FM radio channels under a new international agreement which reserves seven channels for local use.

This clears the way for a new FM station which is expected to start broadcasting here in the spring from a transmitter atop the downtown Central Building on View Street.

Roy Parrett, general manager of CFAX, which received an FM licence from the Board of Broadcast Governors, said Friday he is delighted over the agreement. It came after he appealed to the BBG last September to preserve FM channels for Canadian use.

"Our American friends are crowding us off the FM dial," he said. There are 21 FM stations in the Seattle-Tacoma area. When Mr. Parrett got his licence there were only two available channels assigned to Victoria. One was "swiped" by Seattle radio station KPRN; the other was useless because an Edmonds, Wash., station on almost the same frequency drowned out reception here.

But the Department of Transport, as a result of Mr. Parrett's plea, has now negotiated a new agreement with the U.S. reserving the seven Victoria channels, as well as channels for other major cities, including Vancouver.

Mr. Parrett said plans are for the new Victoria FM station to operate under the call sign CFAY at 100.3 megacycles, well clear of any interference from U.S. stations.

Victoria Daily Times, January 8, 1962

© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2008


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