DAWG 101.9 FM

The re-hearing of the DAWG 101.9FM application adjourned April 2 until June 12th 2009. At that time the Commission will hear evidence about the feasibility of the use of 94.5 FM in the Ottawa market.

What does this mean? Let me give you the short history. We were awarded the licence on August 26th 2008, after an exhaustive process. The Decision included our ALL BLUES licence on 101.9FM and a licence to Astral Media for an ADULT CONTEMPORARY licence on 99.7.

An appeal was launched by a Franco-Ontario group that suggested that they should have been licensed. The appeal was granted by Cabinet and the decision was referred back to the CRTC.

We took a proactive, positive approach to this; at great expense, we found another frequency on which the CRTC could licence another French Language station if it desired to do so. That frequency is 94.5FM.

The CRTC is going to study that frequency to see if it can be used and all of the applicants will get a chance to make comments at the new hearing on June 12.

We think this is very positive for the Blues. We had the best engineers in Canada find this frequency; further, we had it verified by two more engineers; lastly, two of the other applicants said it would work … so we know it works … period.

We think this is very positive for the Blues. We had the best engineers in Canada find this frequency; further, we had it verified by two more engineers; lastly, two of the other applicants said it would work … so we know it works … period.

The sticky point here is that Astral Media must consent to the use of the 94.5 frequency or use it themselves instead of 99.7.

Bob Walsh, Quebec Blues Legend, Alexandre Petit, from Virée Blues Boreale and Ottawa City Councillor Eli El- Chantiry came to the hearing to address the CRTC and were awesome in support of our application, our thanks to them and to everyone – over 3000 people who have supported DAWG FM.

A balanced and factual article ran in the Ottawa Citizen 14 April 2009. Following the article is an interactive spot where readers can post their comments which, to date, have been overwhelmingly in support of DAWG FM. www.ottawacitizen.coml

DAWG is beginning to test their playlist and you can listen by going to www.bluesincanada.com and clicking on 'We stream the blues'. A link is provided to give feedback on what you’re hearing to DAWG’s Program Director. You can also use the link to get your MP3 to DAWG.