CJAM 99.1 FM to quadruple its power in wake of CRTC decision

CJAM 99.1 FM will boost its maximum power by more than four times this summer in the wake of a decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Late last week, the CRTC announced that CJAM 99.1 FM is now permitted to increase its power from 500 watts to 2084 watts using a directional antenna system. The increase means that the campus and community radio station based out of the University of Windsor will solidify its Windsor base, while reaching further into those parts of Detroit lying to the north and northeast of CJAM’s transmitter site, particularly Gross Pointe, Michigan.

“This is obviously a historic CRTC decision for CJAM and its listening community, and we’re grateful to the CRTC for granting us this generous reach,” says Station Manager Vernon Smith.

“First and foremost, it means our 125 voices will carry further and expand our listening community. It also means that CJAM as a non-profit is much better positioned to fend for itself financially in terms of fundraising and advertising. But more than anything, the decision positions CJAM to strengthen its foothold as a cultural and ethnocultural leader that still has to compete for media consumers.”

In laypersons terms, the decision will give CJAM a radius of roughly 15 to 20 km, depending on the quality of the FM receiver being used and periodic interference from other stations, strengthening its reach into Detroit, Michigan to the north and northeast, including Gross Pointe, Michigan. The signal will improve in Belle River, Ontario to the west. But Belle River, being about 32 km from CJAM, is outside the official coverage area and the signal there will be weak and subject to interference for some of the time. More importantly, CJAM will be a much easier station to pick up on its current terrestrial real estate in Windsor and parts of Detroit.

Timing of implementation will be determined in the coming days and weeks.