Vernon community radio station Valley FM hits milestone

A community radio station could be coming to Vernon as early as this fall now that the regulator has placed the local society's application on the agenda of a spring public hearing.

According to a media release from Vernon Community Radio Society, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, or CRTC, has scheduled the society for a public hearing this April, which provided an intervention against the station isn't launched, the society won't be required to appear at.

The society says in the majority these "non-appearing" cases the application is likely to be granted. The society hopes to have a decision rendered and a license granted by late May or early June.

Society president Gordon Leighton said in the release a fundraising campaign for the cost of building the station, estimated at $100,000, will now start.

Along with applying for a variety of grants the society will also be engaging with volunteers, community organizations and businesses in the greater Vernon area.

The society hopes if all goes to plan, Valley FM, which will broadcast at 97.9 FM, could be up and running as early as this fall.

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