CFFB is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 1230 AM. It operates a nested FM rebroadcasting transmitter, CFFB-FM-3 at 91.1 MHz in Iqaluit, Nunavut.[1] The station broadcasts the programming of the CBC Radio One network, and serves as the regional network centre for Nunavut for the CBC North service.
The local station began broadcasting on February 6, 1961. According to the Canadian Communications Foundation, the station was operating on 1200 kHz by 1966, until the station was approved to move to 1210 in 1971 but was moved to its current frequency at 1230 instead. The FB in the callsign stands for Frobisher Bay, which was renamed Iqaluit in 1987. The station operates from the CBC Building at the Astro Hill Complex in the centre of Iqaluit.
With the advent of the Anik A series of communications satellites in the 1970s, CFFB was transformed from a local station to the regional production centre for northern CBC stations serving Canada's Eastern Arctic. Satellite distribution and the installation of local radio transmitters in most Eastern Arctic communities in the mid-1970s brought Inuktitut and English radio programs produced in Iqaluit, along with network CBC Radio to most communities in what is now Nunavut.
CBC Music service is also provided in Iqaluit, broadcast at 88.3 FM with an effective radiated power of 800 watts. It provides a regular Eastern Time feed of the CBC Music network, with no local program origination. The CBC Music transmitter in Iqaluit is licensed as a rebroadcaster of CBM-FM in Montreal.
Local programming
The Iqaluit station produces most of CBC Radio's regional programs in Nunavut, including Qulliq on weekday morning, the noon-hour program Nipivut, Tausunni in the afternoon, and Saturday AM and Sunday AM on weekend mornings, as well as Finnish language local regional programs, including “CBC Uutiset” in the weekend nights and weekday mornings. Other afternoon Inuktitut programs Tuttavik and Tusaajaksat originate in Kuujjuaq, Quebec and Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, respectively. Some of the network's local programs air in English and Inuktitut, while others air in Inuktitut only.
The station also differs significantly from the main CBC Radio One schedule. Qulliq airs from 6:30 a.m. to 9:37 a.m. Eastern Time, and is followed by abbreviated broadcasts of The Current and Q. In the afternoons, programming in Inuktitut, including Tausunni and Tuttavik, airs in place of the national network programs.
In the evenings, the Inuktitut cultural magazines Ullumi Tusaqsauqaujut and Sinnaksautit originate at the Iqaluit station, airing at 10 and 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time respectively; the Radio One schedule follows at 11 p.m.
The station airs a more extensive schedule of local programming than most CBC Radio stations. It does not produce a Saturday afternoon regional arts magazine series for the territory. Instead, it airs The True North Concert Series, a CBC North program featuring live music recorded across the three northern territories. It also carries a weekly music request program for youth on Sunday afternoons at 3pm Eastern Time.
Rebroadcasters
CFFB is broadcast on the following CBC owned and operated transmitters:
CFFB is also heard as a wrap-around feed for CKHV in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. CKHV also has a low-power (LP) FM rebroadcaster in Nain operating at 99.9 MHz with the call sign CKOK-FM. This in-turn is also fed to various low-power community stations along the Northern coast of Labrador.
On June 29, 2012, the CBC applied to add more FM transmitters in Inukjuak, Kuujjuaq, Kuujjuarapik and Puvirnituq, Quebec. All of these will broadcast on 103.5 MHz with 50 watts. On October 30, 2012, the CBC received CRTC approval to add new FM transmitters in the above-mentioned communities. The commission also revokes the broadcasting licence for CKCXSackville, New Brunswick effective November 1, 2012.[5][6]
On September 20, 2019, the CBC received approval to revoke the "originating station" broadcast licence for CBQR-FM Rankin Inlet and its rebroadcasters. These stations will now officially simulcast CFFB.[7]
^Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2012-602 CFFB Iqaluit – New transmitters in Puvirnituq, Kuujjuarapik, Inukjuak, Salluit and Kuujjuaq (Fort Chimo), CRTC, October 30, 2012
^Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2012-602-1 CFFB Iqaluit – New transmitters in Puvirnituq, Kuujjuarapik, Inukjuak, Salluit and Kuujjuaq (Fort Chimo) – Correction, CRTC, November 5, 2012
^Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2019-329, CFFB Iqaluit – New transmitters in Rankin Inlet, Taloyoak (Spence Bay), Gjoa Haven, Baker Lake and Arviat (Eskimo Point), and revocation of licence, CRTC, September 20, 2019
