All-Digital AM is on its way to Boston.
Langer Broadcasting Group has filed with the FCC that it will convert Jazz 650 WSRO Ashland MA to all digital operation on December 1. WSRO’s programming will still be heard in analog on translator 102.1 W271CU Framingham in the “Metrowest” suburbs. WSRO operates with 1.5kW day/100 watts night directionally right towards Boston.
Deletions
In August, tower and station operator Roger Hoppe and his Conundrum Communications Investments sent an enforcement complaint to the FCC noting that Roy Henderson’s N Content Marketing’s 100.1 WOUF Bear Lake MI had ceased operations in 2017 or 2018. After Henderson filed a modification for WOUF in September to move to the site of his 92.3 WBNZ Frankfort, Hoppe resubmitted that complaint as an informal objection noting that he evicted WOUF from his tower in 2014 and that the station failed to renew its STA to operate from a temporary site in July 2017. After that an existing CP and another granted in September 2018 both expired unbuilt before the third was applied for last month. Rather than fight the objections, Henderson changed the call letters of WOUF this week to WBQU and then surrendered the license to the FCC.
FCC Actions
The FCC is opening a docket based on a proposal from Educational Media Foundation and antenna manufacturers Dielectric, Jampro, Radio Frequency Systems and Shively Labs to use computer modeling to verify the patterns of directional antennas. Currently only FM is required to utilize physical measurements as opposed to the modeling permitted for directional patterns on AM and television. The FCC seeks comment “on whether, and how, computer modeling of FM directional antennas may be used to verify directional pattern performance, in lieu of the physical testing currently required by our rules, and whether the public interest would be served by Joint Petitioners’ proposed rule amendments. We believe that giving license applicants the option of submitting computer models could provide meaningful relief to many FM broadcasters without jeopardizing technical standards or service to the public. At the same time, we seek comment from engineers, broadcasters, antenna manufacturers, and other interested parties to help us clarify some of the issues raised by the proposed rule changes and to assess their relative costs and benefits.” The full proposed rule change can be seen here.
The FCC has proposed fines against two licensees for failing to timely file their license renewal applications.
A $3000 fine has been proposed for Seventh Generation Media Service’s 89.5 KLND Little Eagle SD as it was required to file theirs by December 1, 2020 ahead of its April 1, 2021 expiration date but did not do so until March 22 because the previous manager quit and the current manager was unaware of certain passwords and policies.
A $1500 penalty is proposed against Katie Davis’ 101.7 K269AV Tonopah & Goldfield NV as she was due to file by June 1, 2021 but did do do so until July 28 with no explanation provided.
Consent Decrees over lack of Online Public Files have been agreed to with Bible Baptist Church of Dodge City Inc.’s 89.1 KSRP Dodge City and Cloud County Community College’s 88.3 KVCO Concordia KS.
Consent Decrees over improperly maintained Political Files were reached with the following licensees:
- ATW Media LLC’s 600 KTBB Tyler and 97.5 KTBB-FM Troup TX
- Centex Broadcasting LLC’s 105.1 KMIL Cameron TX
- Fremont Broadcasting Inc’s 1330 KOVE Lander WY
- Majestic Broadcasting LLC’s 1230 KSFX, 97.1 KBCQ-FM, 100.5 KZDB and 104.7 KMOU Roswell and 1400 KTNM and 92.7 KQAY-FM Tucumcari NM
- Sanpete County Broadcasting Co.’s 94.5 KLGL Salina, 97.7 KWUT Elsinore, 99.1 KMGR Nephi, 100.5 KMXD Monroe, 650 KMTI Manti, and 980 KSVC Richfield UT
- S&R Broadcasting, Inc.’s 1280 KQLL Henderson NV
- ZIA Broadcasting Company – 680 KWKA, 1240 KCLV, and 99.1 KCLV-FM Clovis NM