Satellite Distribution Distribution Rationale Population Served Coverage Area Map BRIEF BACKGROUND The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA) is committed to the continued development and promotion of the heritage of Canada's Aboriginal peoples through increased access to communications. AMMSA established CFWE-FM in 1987 specifically to serve the Aboriginal population located throughout Alberta. On August 31, 1987 CFWE-FM made its initial broadcast to the town of Lac La Biche, Alberta from a transmitter site located on the roof of a building across from the studios. This was to signal the start of a new method of communicating with Aboriginal communities in Alberta. Through an arrangement with CBC-TV in Edmonton, the audio from CFWE was utilized by CBC-TV between the hours of 6:00 am until 9:00 am weekday mornings. CFWE was known as the radio station on TV. Through this arrangement CFWE was heard in Aboriginal communities throughout Northern Alberta - even though it was only for 3 hours each day. SATELLITE DISTRIBUTION Distribution of The Native Perspective program weekday mornings to remote communities via the CBC-TV network continued, however the limitations of this method were becoming apparent. Network scheduling changes was making it impossible for AMMSA to reach its programming commitment of 20 hours per week as specified by the Northern Native Broadcast Access Program (NNBAP.) In 1989, an alternate signal delivery system was established which was comprised of a small network of low-power FM transmitter sites all receiving CFWE programming via satellite technology. Ten communities in Northern Alberta were selected initially. On November 1, 1991 the agreement between CFWE and CBC to air The Native Perspective program ended. This added to the urgency to which CFWE pursued satellite distribution. To compound the problem, CFWE via CBC was the only "radio" link for many communities. 19 northern communities were added to the satellite network in 1991. This network now consists of 48 FM sites serving 55 communities throughout Alberta, several of which are now producing their own programming through community radio. In 1993, AMMSA relocated the studios of CFWE to its administrative offices in Edmonton. The end of distribution of The Native Perspective weekday mornings via the audio track of CBC-TV in Edmonton added to the urgency with which CFWE pursued its own satellite distribution system. Since then, CFWE has moved quickly (given the enormous resource costs of such a system) to replace The Native Perspective on the air in all the communities impacted by providing an alternative distribution system: satellite re-broadcasting.   DISTRIBUTION RATIONALE CFWE-FM is Alberta's Aboriginal Voice, broadcasting throughout Alberta via the ANIK F1 satellite. This distribution system is designed to provide people living in aboriginal communities with communication alternatives, in particular programs that more closely reflect their views, interests and culture. Indeed, for many communities, CFWE is their only radio link. CFWE-FM is more than just another radio station. It has the potential and track record of adapting and growing with each individual community it serves. POPULATION SERVED BY CFWE The population figures (1986) of each community being served by CFWE are contained in the community profiles attached at the end of the Appendix. A summary of these figures including a projection of current figures is contained in Table 2 that follows. Two facts are apparent from examining the figures. The first is that CFWE-FM broadcasts to the majority of Native communities throughout northern Alberta. This reflects the initial mandate of AMMSA: that of providing communications to all Native people in northern Alberta. The second is that, taken as a whole, all the communities served by the CFWE-FM Satellite Distribution system represent a significant share of the population of northern Alberta. Table 2    1986  1991  1996   1999  Treaty 6 Bands  19,695  25,136  26,500  27,200  Treaty 8 Bands  12,982  16,568  17,500  18,100  Total Northern Alberta   97,000   99,000  102,000  104,500  Total Alberta Native 113,383 120,708  123,000  127,000  CFWE Coverage  3,500  40,000  45,000  70,000 SOURCE: 1986, 1991 data - Alberta Native Affairs - 1996 data - Statistics Canada - 1999 population figures estimated from 1996 data. A conservative estimate is that around 40% of northern Alberta Aboriginal citizens have access to news, information and entertainment provided by CFWE. CFWE-FM is a viable and functioning contributor to the communications infrastructure of Alberta. Its relevancy and importance to the people it serves is well documented. Furthermore, the Satellite Distribution System of CFWE-FM continues to grow Our audience base is now expanding to include several large communities in southern Alberta as well. A primary purpose of the Northern Native Broadcast Access Program (NNBAP) was to provide radio to isolated or under-served aboriginal communities. Given the number of communities and budget limitations, it was necessary to use low-power FM transmitters. While this type of installation does provide the community with radio, it limits signal coverage to the central part of the community only. Consequently, reception is poor or non-existent for those people who live some distance from the centre of a community or travel between nearby communities. Plans have been developed to replace several regional sites with one centralized high-power FM transmitter. This will improve reception significantly. Standoff, in southern Alberta, was the first community to have this system installed to provide coverage to the Blood Reserve and Peigan Reserve. A second system was completed in spring 1999 at Joussard near Lesser Slave Lake. This system includes a 250-watt transmitter with high gain antennas situated on a 150-foot tower. The system enables CFWE-FM to reach High Prairie, Grouard, Sucker Creek, Driftpile, Joussard, Kinuso, Slave Lake, Peavine Métis Settlement and East Prairie Métis Settlement. In 2001 and beyond, high power centralized FM sites are under consideration for the following regions: CFWE's Future Expansion  Moose Hills - completed fall-2001 Cold Lake, Elizabeth Settlement, Frog Lake, Fishing Lake, Kehewin, Saddle Lake, Devils Lake  Edmonton-west 2002 Alexander, Alexis, Paul Band, Enoch, Bearspaw  Tsuu Tina/Calgary 2003 Tsuu T'ina, Stoney Reserve