Missing Mouse

[Sammi Brie]

He does appear to have lived out here. He mentions once working at channel 15 on his Twitter, and he helped with the Oakland A's radio broadcasts during Cactus League season. Honestly he'd probably agree with quite a few people on this site.

He's a real old-school guy when it comes to radio. Probably too old-school. I do understand him when he says that KHEP is the only 50 kW AM here — he's right about that — but it's not a clear-channel because of the presence of XEDM (once upon a time) and KBLA closer in.

 

[DrAkbar]

Anyone remember the last time 15~Eighty finished above a 1 share? C'mon...this is a crap channel that no one would listen to even if there was a Zombie Apocalypse that took down all the FM's. (how many of those FM's can do news after 9am anyway?). We'll credit the student this - KHEP will still be a 50kw station during the day.

 

[davideduardo]

He's a real old-school guy when it comes to radio. Probably too old-school. I do understand him when he says that KHEP is the only 50 kW AM here — he's right about that — but it's not a clear-channel because of the presence of XEDM (once upon a time) and KBLA closer in.

And, despite the move of XEDM to FM, the clear channel "belongs" to Mexico by treaty and any US operation on 1580 has to protect the allocation, not the actual operating station on the channel.

 

[davideduardo]

He does appear to have lived out here. He mentions once working at channel 15 on his Twitter, and he helped with the Oakland A's radio broadcasts during Cactus League season. Honestly he'd probably agree with quite a few people on this site.

His experience in PHX seems to cover 1992 to just this year, with quite a few local TV and radio positions as well as teaching positions at my alma mater, ASU and several of the community colleges.

Search Linkedin for "Kevin C. Instructor at University of Oklahoma"

 

[landtuna]

And, despite the move of XEDM to FM, the clear channel "belongs" to Mexico by treaty and any US operation on 1580 has to protect the allocation, not the actual operating station on the channel.

Which brings questions to mind.

When (if) a protected frequency is vacated does the treaty have to be renegotiated to change the protection or does it relapse to its former condition?

Since Mexico is apparently killing their AM band would it make sense for them to keep the protection intact?

 

[KeithE4]

Which brings questions to mind.

When (if) a protected frequency is vacated does the treaty have to be renegotiated to change the protection or does it relapse to its former condition?

Since Mexico is apparently killing their AM band would it make sense for them to keep the protection intact?

The clear channels assigned to Canada, Mexico, and the Bahamas were part of the NARBA Treaty in 1941. AFAIK, that treaty and its allocations are still in force.

 

[Sammi Brie]

The clear channels assigned to Canada, Mexico, and the Bahamas were part of the NARBA Treaty in 1941. AFAIK, that treaty and its allocations are still in force.

Also worth noting that most of the clear channel AMs are in big cities with no room to migrate. XEWA, XERF and XERUV are the exceptions that are still AM-FM. XHRUV is a separate permit, and in the case of the first two, the government will force you to keep your AM service on if shutting it down would leave communities without any receivable radio stations (it also helps that the government owns XERF). The 850 clear near Orizaba, Veracruz, had long ago gone to lower power when it migrated.

 

[davideduardo]

The clear channels assigned to Canada, Mexico, and the Bahamas were part of the NARBA Treaty in 1941. AFAIK, that treaty and its allocations are still in force.

Yes, through the "Comisión Mixta" which essentially follows NARBA but adds the amendments (such as 540 going to Mexico in the late 60's) and FM.

 

[davideduardo]

Which brings questions to mind.

When (if) a protected frequency is vacated does the treaty have to be renegotiated to change the protection or does it relapse to its former condition?

Neither. The assignment of, in this case, 1580, belongs to Mexico. They might allow another still active AM in the country to use the frequency if it fit in the particular location, or they might keep it dormant just as Canada does after the reduction by nearly 50% in the AM stations there, including some former 1-A and 1-B clear channels.

Since Mexico is apparently killing their AM band would it make sense for them to keep the protection intact?

They are downsizing AM from around 800 stations to between 200 and 300 of them. The remaining ones are mostly in three classes:

1. Major metros where there are no channels on FM. DF, GDL, MTY and Puebla.
2. Border zones where the technical standards have to meet those of the US.
3. Indigenous services, mostly in languages other than Spanish, where AM reception is better than FM in rugged, sparsely settled zones.

 

[openmic]

Attorney for KHEP has filed an opposing response to the objection: http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/corrp_list.pl?Application_id=1696527&File_Prefix=BP&App_Arn=20151029AUJ&Facility_id=7701

 

[DrAkbar]

Attorney for KHEP has filed an opposing response to the objection: http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/corrp_list.pl?Application_id=1696527&File_Prefix=BP&App_Arn=20151029AUJ&Facility_id=7701

Since the Mouse went dark, neither Nurse Jeff or I are aware of Tempe residents storming City Hall, petitioning their Congressmen, or marching down Mill Ave shouting "hey, hey, ho-ho, no 50kw at night has got to go". Unfortunately this gadfly complainant will cause further delay to the FCC's approval of KHEP's application to downgrade and move the xmttr to 12~Eighty's site.

Out of curiosity, anyone have a handle on how much that parcel of land at Center & Loop 202 will fetch? Bet a lot of that $1.4m sales price comes back to the Buyer when the real estate is sold.

 

[KeithE4]

Out of curiosity, anyone have a handle on how much that parcel of land at Center & Loop 202 will fetch? Bet a lot of that $1.4m sales price comes back to the Buyer when the real estate is sold.

If what I read is correct, KHEP's owners will be paying to remove the remaining towers, so that will cut into any profit they might net.

 

[landtuna]

If what I read is correct, KHEP's owners will be paying to remove the remaining towers, so that will cut into any profit they might net.

I would suggest they just wait out New Year's Eve festivities. Someone is sure to knock them down for free.

 

[awsherrill]

Not familiar with the site so I don't know the sizes of towers involved, but knocking them down is not always the expensive part. The disposal can be $$$.

One of my transmitter sites on the East Coast had a 900+ foot tower that partially collapsed. This was a 48-inch face tower and about 600 feet of it came down, so there were several tons of metal artfully arranged around the property.

It might have been into the tens of thousands to have someone clear the site, but fortunately a retired broadcast engineer lives nearby, and he was happy to cut up the tower steel (and other stuff) and haul it away for the salvage value. It saved us a bunch of money and gave him something to do.

 

[DrAkbar]

If what I read is correct, KHEP's owners will be paying to remove the remaining towers, so that will cut into any profit they might net.

That land is worth a lot. Drop five shorties, one tall, demo the xmttr building and let the next guy scrape the surface.Hmmm...development ideas flood the grey matter under our fezes: Apartments - "La Vida Raton". Coffee shop - "Starmouse". Med Marijuana dispensary - "Goofy Ganja". etc

 

[openmic]

It's official. FCC granted CP for move and power cut on Feb 23 http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1696527. Phoenix now replaces Indianapolis as the largest city without a full-time 50kw AM.

 

[DrAkbar]

OMG! What in the Wide, Wide World of Sports are we gonna do without a six stick 50kw at night? Now Barker can close on the Tempe land and make some real $$.