Off the air, but still online: Ryerson-based radio station CKLN vows to continue
Posted April 19, 2011 8:14 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CKLN, a community radio station based at Ryerson University, has vowed to continue broadcasting online after its on-air license was revoked in January.
The station appealed the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ruling, but the Federal Court of Appeal refused to hear its argument.
CKLN was launched in 1983 and is currently broadcasting online at ckln.fm as it decides whether to bring its fight to the Supreme Court, or apply for a new radio frequency.
According to a notice posted on the CKLN website, the station was running only pre-recorded material for six months, from March 2009 to September 2009.
The CRTC said that was a factor in their decision to revoke the license.
However, CKLN argues radio staff and the board of directors were locked out at the time, and couldn’t put any new material to air.
Since then, CKLN says, a new board has been elected. According to a statement, it “has hired a seasoned station manager, and put processes in place to make CRTC compliance easier for its volunteer programmers.”
In its ruling, the CRTC also said Ryerson student fees fund the station – but don’t reap much benefit from it.
CKLN says it is now “committed to student outreach to increase the participation of Ryerson students both on-air and behind the scenes.”
