Somebody else trying for 107.9

[DaveBayArea]

This one is more obviously an attempt to move in. From the other direction, where they could use the old 107.9 site on Elverta Road and still cover the new City of License of Robbins.

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_list.pl?Application_id=1808243

I think the FCC should give both of them CP's. Keeps them both from getting any closer to each other. They could then (probably) auction off 107.5 in Sac now that it's a blank channel. Just sayin'

Dave B.

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

This one is more obviously an attempt to move in. From the other direction, where they could use the old 107.9 site on Elverta Road and still cover the new City of License of Robbins.

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_list.pl?Application_id=1808243

I think the FCC should give both of them CP's. Keeps them both from getting any closer to each other. They could then (probably) auction off 107.5 in Sac now that it's a blank channel. Just sayin'

Dave B.

There's more way more to it and it's a little sneaky. I'll share my insights tonight....

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

This one is more obviously an attempt to move in. From the other direction, where they could use the old 107.9 site on Elverta Road and still cover the new City of License of Robbins.

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_list.pl?Application_id=1808243

I think the FCC should give both of them CP's. Keeps them both from getting any closer to each other. They could then (probably) auction off 107.5 in Sac now that it's a blank channel. Just sayin'

Dave B.

I believe there's way more to it. It seems a little sneaky to get around an auction as there are too many coincidences. I'll share my insights tonight.

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

I believe there's way more to it. It seems a little sneaky to get around an auction as there are too many coincidences. I'll share my insights tonight.

This is so suspicious.

1. The Sutter Creek move is invalid since it’s a two station frequency time share and and only one station is proposing the move it, making two stations in a second adjacent short space locally.

2. Bustos is petitioning the deletions of two Class B allotment in favor of a Class A, whose proposed facility is WAY under the the maximum ERP and HAAT of such said Class. Come on really? 4kw at 44 meters ERP serves virtually no-one and they would have you believe that sacraficing two full Class Bs, one that would serve 2,000,000 people for an under built Class A that serves a tiny town and a bunch of cows is in the public interest.

3. As Dave pointed out, this is more than likely a two step move....

A. Bustos would have a hard time convincing the FCC that a move of the allotment of 298B from Colusa to 300B Robbins without it appearing like a Sacramento move-in.

B Bustos may have approached the Farms of Amador to request channel 300 in lieu of 298A to make their proposal make sense. Think about it. Without the Sutter Creek proposal, it would make no sense to propose only 300A for Robbins as without Sutter Creek a full Class B.

C. If and when it’s approved, Bustos can build the little facility and obtain a license to cover.

D. Farms of Amador or their new owner withdraws their application to move KCYF.

E. Bustos then applies for an upgrade to full Class B , KZSZ in Robbins with a tower in Elverta, putting a full Class B facility into the Sacramento market and thus circumventing the auction.


In conclusion, the FCC being as feckless as they have been with FM auctions would miss out on some revenue.

If I were, Sue Wilson (the one that championed the deletion of KDND) or Entravision, Lazer or Lotus, I would file a Petition to Deny so fast.

Entravision must have seen this coming and made a preemptive move with 101.9.

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

I believe there's way more to it. It seems a little sneaky to get around an auction as there are too many coincidences. I'll share my insights tonight.

Essentially would the FCC chose to drop the auction of 300B Sacramento and lose 10 million dollars plus in revenue to allow a move in of a station from Colusa the Bustos got for nothing?

By the way forget 107.5 as a Class B for Sacramento as a replacement as it’s too close to the Livermore 107.3.

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

Correcting some typos Bustos move 107.9

This is so suspicious.

1. The Sutter Creek move is invalid since it’s a two station frequency time share and and only one station is proposing the move it, making two stations in a second adjacent short space locally.

2. Bustos is petitioning the deletions of two Class B allotment in favor of a Class A, whose proposed facility is WAY under the the maximum ERP and HAAT of such said Class. Come on really? 4kw at 44 meters ERP serves virtually no-one and they would have you believe that sacraficing two full Class Bs, one that would serve 2,000,000 people for an under built Class A that serves a tiny town and a bunch of cows is in the public interest.

3. As Dave pointed out, this is more than likely a two step move....

A. Bustos would have a hard time convincing the FCC that a move of the allotment of 298B from Colusa to 300B Robbins without it appearing like a Sacramento move-in.

B Bustos may have approached the Farms of Amador to request channel 300 in lieu of 298A to make their proposal make sense. Think about it. Without the Sutter Creek proposal, it would make no sense to propose only 300A for Robbins as without it, there’s no reason to file for a Class B which would look bad as a move in to Sacramento, move move it as an A first, then upgrade.

C. If and when it’s approved, Bustos can build the little facility and obtain a license to cover.

D. Farms of Amador or their new owner withdraws their application to move KCYF.

E. Bustos then applies for an upgrade to full Class B , KZSZ in Robbins with a tower in Elverta, putting a full Class B facility into the Sacramento market and thus circumventing the auction.


In conclusion, the FCC being as feckless as they have been with FM auctions would miss out on some revenue.

If I were, Sue Wilson (the one that championed the deletion of KDND) or Entravision, Lazer or Lotus, I would file a Petition to Deny so fast.

Entravision must have seen this coming and made a preemptive move with 101.9.

 

[seattlesarchiebunker]

This is so suspicious.

1. The Sutter Creek move is invalid since it’s a two station frequency time share and and only one station is proposing the move it, making two stations in a second adjacent short space locally.

2. Bustos is petitioning the deletions of two Class B allotment in favor of a Class A, whose proposed facility is WAY under the the maximum ERP and HAAT of such said Class. Come on really? 4kw at 44 meters ERP serves virtually no-one and they would have you believe that sacraficing two full Class Bs, one that would serve 2,000,000 people for an under built Class A that serves a tiny town and a bunch of cows is in the public interest.

3. As Dave pointed out, this is more than likely a two step move....

A. Bustos would have a hard time convincing the FCC that a move of the allotment of 298B from Colusa to 300B Robbins without it appearing like a Sacramento move-in.

B Bustos may have approached the Farms of Amador to request channel 300 in lieu of 298A to make their proposal make sense. Think about it. Without the Sutter Creek proposal, it would make no sense to propose only 300A for Robbins as without it, there’s no reason to file for a Class B which would look bad as a move in to Sacramento, move move it as an A first, then upgrade.

C. If and when it’s approved, Bustos can build the little facility and obtain a license to cover.

D. Farms of Amador or their new owner withdraws their application to move KCYF.

E. Bustos then applies for an upgrade to full Class B , KZSZ in Robbins with a tower in Elverta, putting a full Class B facility into the Sacramento market and thus circumventing the auction.


In conclusion, the FCC being as feckless as they have been with FM auctions would miss out on some revenue.

If I were, Sue Wilson (the one that championed the deletion of KDND) or Entravision, Lazer or Lotus, I would file a Petition to Deny so fast.

Entravision must have seen this coming and made a preemptive move with 101.9.

This is kinda greasy. It makes sense why Farms of Amador (soon to be Blue Mountain Players) proposed 300 on Mt. Zion in Pine Grove instead of a minor change with a mildly directional antenna on 298. There should be no issue (assuming they want to move to Mt. Zion because it’s an established broadcast site) putting a directional antenna there at 107.5 when their proposed site 2-3 miles away allows full spacing. That was the first sign something was amiss.

This smells like Bustos had a major hand in this stuff. Heck, if it doesn’t work, they’ve spent a few grand in engineering studies and delayed a rural non-comm from signing on for a few months to a year. Wouldn’t be surprised if Bustos is helping Sutter Creek with equipment donations so long as they’re helping them play the FCC shell game. All of it is kinda small potatoes if they have a better than remote shot at a multi-million dollar license.

Something tells me the FCC will miss the payday. Expect both the Robbins and Sutter Creek proposals to be denied...Sutter Creek stays on 298A, Colusa as well, and the Feds auction 300B for a princely sum.

 

[Big D]

I'm not familiar with the FCC's rules concerning vacated frequencies. I assumed the former KDND license, under its operating parameters would still remain in effect, not unlike a "placeholder" until a new owner took over. The license would be auctioned based on the former operating parameters (city of license, class, HAAT, tx location, etc.). The translator application for KSTE on 107.9 was approved, I assumed, only because translators are secondary licenses; that translator would be allowed to use the frequency only until 300B went on air.

With that said, I don't see how the FCC would ever approve anything other than a translator on 107.9, as Bustos is requesting.

 

[stewie]

Essentially would the FCC chose to drop the auction of 300B Sacramento and lose 10 million dollars plus in revenue to allow a move in of a station from Colusa the Bustos got for nothing?

By the way forget 107.5 as a Class B for Sacramento as a replacement as it’s too close to the Livermore 107.3.

Is 107.3 still in Livermore? I thought it had been moved into the greater bay area.

 

[beej65]

Is 107.3 still in Livermore? I thought it had been moved into the greater bay area.

The COL is still Livermore, but the transmitter moved west about 10 miles so that monster signal now covers much of the Bay Area, even east to Tracy.

 

[seattlesarchiebunker]

I'm not familiar with the FCC's rules concerning vacated frequencies. I assumed the former KDND license, under its operating parameters would still remain in effect, not unlike a "placeholder" until a new owner took over. The license would be auctioned based on the former operating parameters (city of license, class, HAAT, tx location, etc.). The translator application for KSTE on 107.9 was approved, I assumed, only because translators are secondary licenses; that translator would be allowed to use the frequency only until 300B went on air.

With that said, I don't see how the FCC would ever approve anything other than a translator on 107.9, as Bustos is requesting.

That is what I understand as well. My only experience with this was watching the 15 year saga of 298B in Terre Haute, IN. After the Feds deleted WZZQ in 2001, the station was treated as an existing station (DWZZQ) with the coordinates being the original WZZQ tx site.

Granted, Terre Haute is a much smaller and less desirable town for radio than Sacramento. I would not be surprised if we get a new full powered station in less than 5 years instead of the decade plus it took the Commission to get around to auctioning Terre Haute’s frequencies.

 

[beej65]

http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=92250

Bustos dismissed. Not coincidentally, channel 300B was formally declared to be a vacant allotment by the FCC:

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-19-885A1.pdf

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=92250

Bustos dismissed. Not coincidentally, channel 300B was formally declared to be a vacant allotment by the FCC:

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-19-885A1.pdf

Good to know that the FCC is paying attention and stopped this obviously sneaky move by a broadcaster.

 

[seattlesarchiebunker]

Well, that also dismisses 107.9 for Sutter Creek as well (technically not...I suppose 300 could be temporarily allotted to Sutter Creek until Sacramento signs on. That has happened in the past). It would likely require a new application from KCYF. My guess is they’ll sign on from Mt. Zion on 107.5 with a mildly directional antenna (that was the official reason for moving to 107.9 —Mt. Zion, the main broadcast site in Amador, was apparently short spaced by a mile or two to 107.5 in Colusa.)

I can’t imagine the FCC really would’ve let this one slide from the get-go. Traditionally, they change the table of allotments every couple years to reflect stations who have gone dark/unbuilt CPs/etc. Bustos just beat them to the punch this time. That being said, as a revenue “creator” for the government, the potential loss of tens of millions in revenue from not auctioning off a full class B in a large market would look especially bad if it were handed out for the cost of filing fees!

 

[Frequency1]

Well, that also dismisses 107.9 for Sutter Creek as well (technically not...I suppose 300 could be temporarily allotted to Sutter Creek until Sacramento signs on. That has happened in the past). It would likely require a new application from KCYF. My guess is they’ll sign on from Mt. Zion on 107.5 with a mildly directional antenna (that was the official reason for moving to 107.9 —Mt. Zion, the main broadcast site in Amador, was apparently short spaced by a mile or two to 107.5 in Colusa.)

I can’t imagine the FCC really would’ve let this one slide from the get-go. Traditionally, they change the table of allotments every couple years to reflect stations who have gone dark/unbuilt CPs/etc. Bustos just beat them to the punch this time. That being said, as a revenue “creator” for the government, the potential loss of tens of millions in revenue from not auctioning off a full class B in a large market would look especially bad if it were handed out for the cost of filing fees!

KCYF-FM has an application to go back to 107.5 and change sites to about 3 miles East of Sutter Creek north of Ridge Road.
https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_list.pl?Arn=20190724AAR

 

[seattlesarchiebunker]

This sounds like a temporary fix until they can get to a better site. 20w at 113m HAAT isn’t that impressive. Looks like it’ll cover Jackson, Sutter Creek, Ione, and not much else. Looks like the Upcountry will be terrain blocked. That being said, it’s better than nothing. We are lacking in local radio out here.

My hope is they figure out a way to get onto Mt. Zion or Butte Mountain (former KNGT and KSAC home) and get “more power to the tower”.

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

This sounds like a temporary fix until they can get to a better site. 20w at 113m HAAT isn’t that impressive. Looks like it’ll cover Jackson, Sutter Creek, Ione, and not much else. Looks like the Upcountry will be terrain blocked. That being said, it’s better than nothing. We are lacking in local radio out here.

My hope is they figure out a way to get onto Mt. Zion or Butte Mountain (former KNGT and KSAC home) and get “more power to the tower”.

If you read between the lines, this is probably to help KZSZ maximize it's facility to make it a rim shot into Sacramento.

 

[seattlesarchiebunker]

If you read between the lines, this is probably to help KZSZ maximize it's facility to make it a rim shot into Sacramento.

Hmm...fascinating. I didn’t think about that possibility. I assumed 20w ERP, 1 Bay antenna, on what appears to be on a ridge that offers a great view of East Sacramento but is actually undeveloped (no cell tower or anything else) means trying to slap together a working station before the CP expires in November. The folks at KQBM (KCYF’s soon-to-be owners) are not necessarily flush with cash, and I don’t think were expecting to construct a full-power station.

That being said, if this is KZSZ trying to move into Sacramento, where would they go? They are hemmed in to a certain degree where they are even if you take KCYF out of the picture. They might be able to move to the KSAC 105.5 site with current protections

 

[DaveBayArea]

That being said, if this is KZSZ trying to move into Sacramento, where would they go? They are hemmed in to a certain degree where they are even if you take KCYF out of the picture. They might be able to move to the KSAC 105.5 site with current protections

There are going to be B-to-B mileage separation rules between 107.5 and the allocated-but-not-built 107.9. Bald Mtn (the KSAC site) is 35 miles from Elverta Road. The existing 107.5 site is 62 miles from Elverta Road. The B-to-B mileage separation limit is 46 miles. They might be able to get a little closer, but not much.

Dave B.

 

[seattlesarchiebunker]

There are going to be B-to-B mileage separation rules between 107.5 and the allocated-but-not-built 107.9. Bald Mtn (the KSAC site) is 35 miles from Elverta Road. The existing 107.5 site is 62 miles from Elverta Road. The B-to-B mileage separation limit is 46 miles. They might be able to get a little closer, but not much.

Dave B.

They may be better off waiting until the auction in hopes 107.9 gets out to one of the tower sites in the foothills. That’s about 15 miles further away to the east and may allow for a Sacramento rimshot from the KSAC site. That would be about the extent of it unless they were able to downgrade to an A and ensure a station keeps Colusa as their COL.

That being said, I don’t think Sutter Creek is any longer an issue in this potential KZSZ move-in game. This seems to be an issue with the new allocation for 107.9 being in North Sacramento (Elverta Rd site is where I’m assuming the allotment according to the FCC is located) and possibly 107.3/107.7 out of the Bay Area. There should be little issue (save for funding) that would prevent KCYF from full class A facilities at an acceptable tx site.