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It is illegal to start and broadcast a radio station without a license from the appropriate authorities. Expect to spend around $4,000 for application and licensing fees.

You need a frequency from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada as well as a licence from the CRTC to operate an over-the-air broadcasting station in Canada. Time and costs involved in preparing a licence application will vary. Applicants sometimes engage the services of a broadcasting specialist.

Starting a radio station can be very profitable. With proper planning, execution and hard work, you can enjoy great success. Below you will learn the keys to launching a successful radio station. Importantly, a critical step in starting a radio station is to complete your business plan.

The cost of launching a radio station largely depends on the type of station. The biggest startup expenses come from engineering fees (which can range from $500 to $3,000 to get on air), studio equipment (from $5,000 to more than $100,000), and transmitting equipment.

Pirate radio stations have been illegally hijacking the FM dial since the 1990s, but while the pirate scene is far smaller than it was in its heyday, the movement is still thriving on a local scale, and a vibrant array of online-only stations are inspired by the energy and spirit of the pirates.

In most regions, access to AM/ FM broadcasting is regulated and requires broadcast licenses in addition to music copyright licenses. You also require physical transmission equipment and access to a suitable transmission site. The challenges of launching on traditional radio are unique for each region.

If a radio station's carrier wave were to interfere with instructions from a control tower to an airplane, lives could be put at risk. The lower end of the FCC scale for radios is 88.1 MHz. Below this is reserved for television stations. Radio waves would interfere with television waves, hampering communications.