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MEDIA A new radio station. based out of Scarbor- ough - numbered company 8041393 Canada (OBCI) a corporation controlled by Kumaraku- lasingam Nadarajah â€" was approved to broad- cast on 102.7FM, the same frequency WhiStle Radio utilizes. WhiStle Radio may go silent. The local FM station had its application for a stronger signal and re-location of its transmis- sion tower denied by the cm this month. “Their signal will reach Stouffville and basi- cally drown us," said Glenn Jackson. a WhiStle Radio board member and head of its commu- nications committee. “In the commission's view, by adding a new radio voice to the Scarborough radio market and by serving a wider range of languages and cultural groups than those proposed by the other applicants for new radio“ services, the proposal by 8041393 Canada (OBCI) would increase the diversity of local ethnic radio pro- gramming in Scarborough," according to the CR’I‘C's Nov. 5 written ruling. The new station will target listeners aged 24 and younger in the south. east and west Asian communities of Scarborough. Ajax and Pickering. It will serve a minimum of 18 distinct groups and a minimum of nine different lan- guages. according to the ruling. There were four new applications for area radio stations to broadcast on 102.7FM. along with two for changes. WhiStle Radio is currently one of two stations already broadcasting on that frequency, according to a WhiStle Radio media release. All of the applications were deemed mutual- ly exclusive on a technical basis and the CR’I‘C’s duty was to determine which one “would repre- sent the best use of the frequency 102.7 MHz.” according to the written decision. In its ruling, the CR’IC noted if it were to have approved WhiStle Radio’s application, the size of that population would still be less than one-tenth of that served through any of the other proposals in this proceeding." WhiStle Radio can currently only be heard in urban Stouffville. The purpose of the applica- tion was to increase its signal strength all the way to Davis Drive, thus, encompassing all of 'I‘hé CR'PC noted 8041393 Canaaa “represents a more appropriate use of that frequency." Decision could shut down station ‘MORE APPROPRIATE USE’ BY SANDRA BOLAN sbalan@yrmg.com WhiStle ; Radio 102.1". Wlfitchurch-Stoulfville. WhiStle Radio can be so easily kicked OR the air because its signal strength is less than 50 watts. according to lackson. Paul Calandfa. MP for Oak Ridgesâ€"Markham and a Stoufiville resident. noted his disappoint- “WhiStle Radio is very important to our community and l have become a very big fan of 'what they do. I am available to provide any advice or assistance in helping them in future,” he told The Sun-Tfibune via email. Calandra, however. will not be stepping into this battle. like he did earlier in the year when he held a public meeting regarding the Rogers' cell tower on Free] Lane. ‘" During the public hearings held in May. pro- ponents for 8041393 Canada stated in part: we have the sympathy for the problem facin WhiStle Radio” and they would work with the Stouffville station to engineer a solution that would be suitable for both parties. according to the CR'I‘C's written mling. “It's actually against the law. given my posi~ tion as a parliamentary secretary. The CR’I‘C is a semi-judicial agency and if i were to directly attempt to influence the decision it would be highly inappropriate.” he told The Sun-Tribune via email. “We pledge that if we are licensed. we will work to find a solution and help defray the engi- neering costs to do so." 8041393 Canada stated. according to the CRIC's written ruling. “Their signal will reach Stoufl'ville and basically drown us.‘ 8041393 Canada is not obligated to find a solution. however. in its written ruling, the CRIC deemed it is an expectation. If a solution cannot be found. WhiStle Radio will go off the air, according to Jackson. “We don't know of any bther (FM) frequen- cies available." lackson said. Discussions have yet to take place between the two broadcast entities. The Sun-Tribune has tried to unsuccessfully contact Kumamkulasingam Nadarajah. who controls 8041393 Canada. “We're assuming they made their statements with good faith.” said Dianne Cookpalachik. chairperson of WhiStle Radio's board of direc- tors. If no solution can be found. a move to the AM dial may be possible. however. “we're not seriously looking at that yet." Jackson said. In 2011, Toiwn of Whitchurch-Stouffville council supported WhiStle Radio’s application because it would. in pan. help the fire depart- ment reach more residents with emergency notifications. “Nothing changes. We'll still utilize them but with other media outlets as well”. including radio stations 680 News. CFRB and CBC. along with Facebook and 'IWitter, fire chief Rob MCK- enzie told The Sun-Tribune this week. The community radio station got its start from resident Jim Priebe in 2005 with live Inter- net broadcasts of Stouffville Spirit Jr. A hockey games from his home. Priebe. who ran for a council seat last month. is no longer with WhiStle. N0 FREQUENCIES AVAILABLE The PM licence was granted a year later. to the station that operates out of the Stouffville Fine Furniture building downtown. Today, the station continues to broadcast the hockey games live. as well as 45 shows. which are hosted and produced by approximately 90 volunteers. The station has one paid employee. according to )ackson. For the past nine months, the station has been broadcasting Whitchurch-Stouffville council meetings a day after they occur. They also broadcast live from the Strawberry Festival and Santa Claus parade every year. It's the only radio station dedicated to WhitchurchStouffville. “There's something about hearing a com- mercial for a place on Main Street.” Jackson 'We don‘t know what happened! admit- ted Glenn Jackson. a WhiStie Radio board member and head of its commuâ€" nications committee. He has also been a web manager for the past 15 years. Thedtreeorgantionsareseparate entitieshweventheydohaveoneming commonJaclsoncreatedallotthe websitesandmeyhaveasharedinlra- structure,hesaid. Jadrsondoesnotbeiievethehaddng wasapersonalattackonhim. ‘It'ssaddiattheywoulddomattoan organizationmathadnothingtodowim arr/triirigfiadtson said oiWhiSde Radio. lhethreecompanieswerethreatened andmldtoulcsunemhgofltheir websitesaroundOrx 15.acconingto rumourslaclsondeniedtheradiosta- tionrecelvedanythreats. WhiSfieRadb'ssltevemdownoal'l. DavidMlhonbehaliofStouMe. com toidmeSun-Tribuneviaemailz'lt didappearthatwewerehadredbutwe werebackonlinequicktyAllisbackto nonnaiandmwingforwardf' dale referred The Sun-tribune to Mills. Jacksm and a team of volunteers are currentiy working on a new WhiStle Radio website.There is no timetable for when it will be up and mnning. No complaint was filed with York Regional Police. according to Jackson. who noted he has had client websites hacked a few times this year. 'ihere's no network out there that is 100 per cent secure,‘ he said. Although Jackson knows his way around a websites infrastructure. he admitted figuring out who was behind this hack is beyond his skill set The radio station can still be heard over the radio at 102.7FM in urban Stoull‘ville but that does not help ond Welke. host of Honky Tonk Outlaws. who has a couple of thousand. maybe more, listeners from around the world. includ- ing Australia, Croatia, England, Germany. Norway. South Africa and Sweden. ‘You'd be surprised the (reach) that these artists have. it’s just unbelievable: he said. wnssue Radio remains off-line alter its website was hacked last month. Two other local media ouUets websites were also hacked atthesametime - Stouflvilleeom and the Stouflville Free 'Itelleverybodytojusthangonandsit m'muesaid. HACKERS HIT SITES