CKRW has received permission to begin simultaneous broadcasting of its 610 AM signal on a new 96.1 FM frequency.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) released notice of its approval Monday. The application was submitted last January by Klondike Broadcasting Co. Ltd.

CKRW operations manager Jennifer Johnstone said she hopes the simultaneous broadcast will begin before summer's end.

The AM signal begins breaking up as you move toward the outer city limits area, she pointed out.

Having the FM broadcast, said Johnstone, will provide a higher quality of reception for listeners located further out from the city centre.

It will also enable the station to broadcast its signal in stereo.

'With the FM, it should be significantly clearer, especially on the way out to Marsh Lake,' Johnstone said. 'That is where we will see the biggest difference.'

CKRW is planning to transmit the signal from Grey Mountain. It's currently talking with another party about the use of space in an existing building on the mountain, she said.

In its ruling, the CRTC noted CKRW cannot broadcast the FM signal until it receives a certificate of approval from the federal Department of Industry indicating the new frequency will not interfere with Nav Canada's aeronautical communication's service.

Of the four interventions the CRTC received on the application, Northern Native Broadcasting Yukon Ltd. and its CHON-FM station submitted the only opposition, says the CRTC summary.

The non-profit NNBY argued the Whitehorse market is too small, and that permitting CKRW additional broadcasting rights would hurt CHON-FM by taking away another piece of available advertising revenue.

'In reply, the applicant agreed with NNBY that Whitehorse was too small for another radio service,' says the CRTC summary.

'It noted that approval of its proposal would not add an additional voice to the market, only allow it to improve the sound quality of its programming.

'Klondike further stated that its proposal to simulcast CKRW's programming is predicated on its need to serve all residents of Whitehorse, regardless of reception challenges due to terrain.'

NNBY general manager Shirley Adamson declined to comment on the CRTC's decision.