KNMJ Eunice (Hobbs)

[Mark Roberts]

I don't find any announcement of this from Eastern New Mexico University, but, judging by the hourly IDs for KENW-FM online and by an FCC filing, KNMJ Eunice, currently owned by New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, is now repeating KENW-FM from Portales. It's a C2 covering much of the southeastern corner of New Mexico. It had been off the air since July 1 of last year due to staffing issues. An application to donate the license to ENMU was filed two weeks ago, and there was notification on the 16th that the station had resumed operations. That KENW network has become extensive: a full legal ID, including translators, now takes almost a minute and a half!

 

[AbqAnonymous]

I think KMTH 98.7 already provides a KENW satellite for Hobbs and surrounding areas. I don't know what NMJC ever did with KNMJ since it was never streamed. I suppose they couldn't raise enough revenue out there to keep it going. Additionally ENMU also has at least 2 new CPs, one for a class A in Roswell at 90.9 KENB and another for a C2 in Wagon Mound at 90.5 KENY. I think they currently use a translator in Roswell at 91.1 which may have to shut down or move when KENB goes on. Plus ENMU also has a Roswell satellite campus at the old Walker Air Force Base at the south end of town. The Wagon Mound station looks like it will cover a very desolate area. The only purpose I can see would be as a "highway station" for travelers on I-25.

 

[Mark Roberts]

I think KMTH 98.7 already provides a KENW satellite for Hobbs and surrounding areas.

KNMJ adds coverage for the southern part of Lea County, including the southeasternmost corner of New Mexico. So it does add some service.

I don't know what NMJC ever did with KNMJ since it was never streamed. I suppose they couldn't raise enough revenue out there to keep it going.

The station's Facebook page, last updated November 7, 2021, says it has "Music from the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s". There are lots of posts about local interview shows with officials, chambers of commerce, etc.

Additionally ENMU also has at least 2 new CPs, one for a class A in Roswell at 90.9 KENB and another for a C2 in Wagon Mound at 90.5 KENY.

Thanks for the tip! There's another one, for KENP Las Vegas, class A at 88.1, replacing K201IW on the same channel. This gives Las Vegas a Trifecta of New Mexico Public Radio, since APS (KANW) bought Highlands University's KEDP (91.1) and UNM (KUNM) has KRRE (91.9) as repeaters. Currently, there's no translator or repeater there for KANW-HD2.

I think they currently use a translator in Roswell at 91.1 which may have to shut down or move when KENB goes on. Plus ENMU also has a Roswell satellite campus at the old Walker Air Force Base at the south end of town.

Yes, that's correct. ENMU's philosophy is pretty clear: to replace as many translators as they can with full-service stations. This has been the case for Raton, Des Moines, Tucumcari, and possibly others. A representative statement in ENMU applications and waiver requests is this one from a KENM (Tucumcari) request:

In most cases, our translator network has provided the first NCE aural broadcast service
to remote Eastern New Mexico communities. The existing FM broadcast station network
should be preserved and protected from encroachment of non-local applicants whose
mutually-exclusive construction of full service reserved channel facilities will effectively
eliminate public radio service provided by long-established, CPB qualified stations in
these communities. Program content delivered solely by distant satellite providers is at
odds with Congressional intent and the ”localism” provisions of the Communications Act
and should not be permitted to displace established, local NCE public radio stations.

With the exception of Des Moines - not sure why it was treated differently - KENW has shut down translators once replacement full-service stations have been operational. A few translators in different localities were shut down altogether - for example, there was one in Montoya but that would now be covered by KENM; Montoya is just within its 60 dBu contour.

The Wagon Mound station looks like it will cover a very desolate area. The only purpose I can see would be as a "highway station" for travelers on I-25.

It's replacing a translator (K221DM). The permit application says it will provide first NCE service to 2,011 people over 5,099 square kilometers (1,969 square miles) and first aural service to 602 people over 1,479 sq km (571 sq mi). It does seem that KENW is determine to have coverage everywhere on I-25 between the Colorado state line and the Glorieta Pass.

Interesting operation, and one that seems very determined to match the bible-thumpers at their own game.