KLSN-LP Oakley

[Frequency1]

They filed for go silent on February 2, 2018 as they stated:
KLSN HAD EXPERIENCED VANDALISM OF OUR STUDIO FACILITY AND BROADCAST TOWER SITE.
SEVERAL PIECES OF KEY EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING AN AUDIO PROCESSOR AND OUR TRANSMITTER HAVE BEEN STOLEN. COMPUTER DRIVES CONTAINING BROADCAST CONTENT SUCH AS STATION IMAGING AND JINGLES, MUSIC, COMMUNITY CALENDARS, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PROGRAMMING, AND EAS RECORDS AND STATION LOGS HAVE BEEN ERASED AND DAMAGED. TO DATE, WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RETRIEVE ANY RECORDS FROM THESE COMPUTER DRIVES.

Seems they did not have permission from American Tower to actually be on the site. On January 14, 2019 they filed a resumption of operations after telling the FCC BROADCASTING HAS RESUMED FROM OUR ORIGINAL BROADCAST TOWER SITE.

They never came back on the air since they still did not have permission to use the site.

On January 30, 2019 they again filed to go silent saying STATION LOST SITE ACCESS AND MUST RELOCATE. SILENT PERIOD REQUESTED WHILE STATION SEARCHES FOR NEW SITE AND CONSTRUCTS..

Sounds like someone lied to the FCC.

 

[BossRadioDJ]

Right now, by casual count, there are fifteen LPFMs located in California on the silent list.

From my limited experience, most LPFM operators are new to the business and have little (if any) knowledge of what it takes to actually run a radio station.

I had one LPFM owner tell me (before the station went on the air) that he intended to broadcast between taking care of customers at his place of business -- that'd he'd "turn it on" when he had something to say, and "turn it back off" when a client came in. His intention was to educate young people in his rural community about conservative politics. He had NO EXPERIENCE in broadcasting, but he had a message that simply had to get out there and couldn't be heard anywhere else. He made it through the licensing process and got the damned thing on the air ... and is now among the silent majority, literally -- I see his call letters on the list.

 

[Ralph Martin]

From my limited experience, most LPFM operators are new to the business and have little (if any) knowledge of what it takes to actually run a radio station.

Don't forget that there are many success stories in the LPFM world. I know of many well-run stations that continue to provide a vital service to their community. KDRT-LP in Davis and KFOK-LP in Georgetown are two very different operations that served as an inspiration to me when I built an LPFM for my high school students in Vacaville.

Our station (KVCB-LP) is a high school student operation with five production studios, an in-house radio symphony orchestra, HD Radio extended hybrid with HD1; HD2; HD3 and HD4. We even have an analog SCA channel. It all serves its purpose and serves it well.

Successful LPFM stations fill an important roll in the Radio broadcasting landscape!

Ralph

 

[b-turner]

I think it might be fair to say about 15 to 20 percent of the LPFM stations are actually in the category with KVCB, KFOK and KDRT. The remainder are simply run by groups and individuals that have little understanding of how to serve their community, establish awareness and create a path to the needed funds to operate. Some actually operate as more or less, personal jukeboxes for their operators. I know many more stations operating on under $2,500 a year (most lower than that) and are a mere 'burned out part' away from filing to go silent.

It is generally not 'selfishness' that causes this but a lack of knowledge. I've tried to assist a few. I either get "you've worked commercial radio and ours is a non-commercial station" or they are so fearful of going out to meet people and ask for funding they never progress. There are some that simply hate radio so much they choose to be as anti-radio as possible they cannot see radio from the listener's side or that a duck is still a duck no matter what you claim it is. The attitude might be summed up this way: if they were a restaurant, they'd never apply anything that gained customers or brought success to a restaurant that served meat because they're vegan.

I know of one station playing the metal side of classic rock (Black Sabbath, Metalica and such) with about 1/3rd obscure stuff in a rural farming area. Their 60 dbu has about 1,000 people. They are 100% music but present themselves as the hometown local information station (they've never done as much as a local PSA or weather forecast or weather warning...no EAS). And for underwriting they only offer the business name (ie: support comes from Smith and Sons...no idea what Smith and Sons does, where they are or how to reach them). I'm guessing they'll get tired of paying the bills and turn in the license in another year or two if they don't have an equipment failure in the meantime. If I had to give my honest guess, I doubt they have more than 10 listeners.

There are some fine examples of LPFM that very good radio operators. Every aspect of their operation is well planned, functions flawlessly and they enjoy a well earned respect among their listeners. They can handle any issue without panic and have planned accordingly. A very few are actually better funded than their commercial counterpart. A few are the preferred choice among the local radio listeners. The call letters listed in the previous post have stood the test of time as they're 'first window' stations.They're what other LPFM operators should aim for in their own way.

 

[Ralph Martin]

I've said this before, but I really believe this:

I know that there are several anecdotes of failed or failing LPFM's. The way I look at it; unlike most other FM broadcast services, LPFM's vetting process continues long after the granting of the construction permit. The fact that many didn't honestly know what they were getting into is understandable in a service designed to allow new players. Those who've decided to move on learned something. I would encourage them not to give up their valuable sense of community service in whatever they choose to do next!

 

[b-turner]

BossRadio DJ said: I had one LPFM owner tell me (before the station went on the air) that he intended to broadcast between taking care of customers at his place of business -- that'd he'd "turn it on" when he had something to say, and "turn it back off" when a client came in. His intention was to educate young people in his rural community about conservative politics. He had NO EXPERIENCE in broadcasting, but he had a message that simply had to get out there and couldn't be heard anywhere else. He made it through the licensing process and got the damned thing on the air ... and is now among the silent majority, literally -- I see his call letters on the list.

Would you be willing to say what those call letters are? Would love to see his typical broadcast schedule! Must have been a hoot.