FCC Seeks To End Simulcasts

[Mediafrog+]

I’m in Houston where we have KGLK 107.5 and KHPT 106.9 simulcasting “The Eagle” Classic Rock format. There is significant overlap with the 60 dBu contours, especially over the urban core.

Yeah, Radio-locator maps, but they give you a good overview of the situation:

KGLK-FM Radio Station Coverage Map

radio-locator.com

KHPT-FM Radio Station Coverage Map

radio-locator.com

So would this be an arrangement affected by any new FM simulcast rule?

I agree that many AMs would be shut down or sold off should this come into effect.

 

[kevtronics]

This means the Y-107 Quadcast could never happen again. It was a Country music format simulcasting on four signals on 107.1 rimshotting the NYC market: WYNY (now WXPK, Westchester/Rockland County area), WWXY (now WLIR-FM, Long Island), WWYY (Northeast NJ/Lehigh Valley), and WWZY (Jersey Shore).

 

[lanceventa]

This means the Y-107 Quadcast could never happen again. It was a Country music format simulcasting on four signals on 107.1 rimshotting the NYC market: WYNY (now WXPK, Westchester/Rockland County area), WWXY (now WLIR-FM, Long Island), WWYY (Northeast NJ/Lehigh Valley), and WWZY (Jersey Shore).

No. It would have not affected that and the rule was in effect then. None of those signals had 50% contour overlap. It would prevent a simulcast of say WKTU and WLTW becoming a permanent simulcast.

As I said earlier in the thread, this was the rule eliminated in 2020.

"The current radio duplication rule prohibits any commercial AM or FM radio station from devoting “more than 25 percent of the total hours in its average broadcast week to programs that duplicate those of any other station in the same service (AM or FM) which is commonly owned or with which it has a time brokerage agreement if the principal community contours . . . of the stations overlap and the overlap constitutes more than 50 percent of the total principal community contour service area of either station.”

 

[lanceventa]

I’m in Houston where we have KGLK 107.5 and KHPT 106.9 simulcasting “The Eagle” Classic Rock format. There is significant overlap with the 60 dBu contours, especially over the urban core.

The rule was in effect until 2020. The simulcast started in 2011.

 

[semoochie]

I gave two specific examples of where it would affect K-Love above. In looking through markets where it would affect stations these are some of the only ones that would be affected.

Thank you, I just ass u me ed that the rule didn't apply to noncoms.

 

[davideduardo]

This means the Y-107 Quadcast could never happen again.

i don't think that the overlap exceeded the percentages I have seen cited.

 

[Michi]

So would AM stations no longer be allowed to simulcast other co-owned AM stations? Like WJIB and WJTO did, or WCMC and WMID in NJ.

As one who was involved in the Petition for Reconsideration to reverse this rule, I specifically asked to keep status quo (NO anti-simulcast rule) for AM. Mainly to permit analog + HD simulcast, but also because of the unique simulcasts and the reason why they exist. The only thing we are asking for is reconsideration where it comes to full-service FMs.

 

[Michi]

Would overlapping FM translators have to get a waiver?

Commonly owned translators already can't simulcast over 50% without a showing. That rule was never eliminated. There is no anti-simulcast rule if the translators are not commonly owned and this Petition for Reconsideration will not establish any new rules. It was not addressed as there was never a rule in the first place.

 

[Michi]

Here's what REC had to say about it in 2020:

19-310: In support of diversity and listener choice, REC & Music Industry team up to fight FM duplication rule repeal | REC Networks

recnet.com

 

[secondchoice]

Commonly owned translators already can't simulcast over 50% without a showing. That rule was never eliminated. There is no anti-simulcast rule if the translators are not commonly owned and this Petition for Reconsideration will not establish any new rules. It was not addressed as there was never a rule in the first place.

I know of an operation that has some explaining to do..

 

[TheBigA]

Follow-up: Today the FCC voted along party lines to reverse the 2020 simulcast rule:

FCC: Simulcast Limits On FMs Are ‘Useful Guardrail’ As It Revives Rules.

In a 3-2 party line vote, the FCC has partially reversed a 2020 decision to eliminate the simulcast rule for FMs while leaving it alone for AMs. The order says

www.insideradio.com

They're giving stations 6 months to undo changes they may have done in the last 4 years.

The change came partly because of a petition filed by MusicFirst and the Future of Music Coalition, both of which want to impose a new music royalty on broadcast radio..

 

[Kelly A]

That's what it is.

As I quoted before, this is the rule that was repealed in 2020:

"The current radio duplication rule prohibits any commercial AM or FM radio station from devoting “more than 25 percent of the total hours in its average broadcast week to programs that duplicate those of any other station in the same service (AM or FM) which is commonly owned or with which it has a time brokerage agreement if the principal community contours . . . of the stations overlap and the overlap constitutes more than 50 percent of the total principal community contour service area of either station.”

As far as using the examples of EMF stations, pretty sure this wouldn't have, nor will, apply to non-commercial stations anyway.

 

[Michi]

The repeal of this rule allowed stations to simulcast AM programming on FM, leading Audacy to simulcast its all-news AMs on FM signals in NY and LA. Most recently Cumulus has simulcast its talk station WBAP on FM.

Incorrect. The previous rule prohibited same service (FM & FM or AM & AM) simulcasting where there was more than a 50% overlap of community coverage contours. It had noting to do with cross-service (AM/FM) simulcasting. There were older rules that dealt with that that were long gone by the time the Pai administration repealed the same service duplication rule.

The reconsideration that was recently adopted only deals with two FM stations that want to duplicate more than 25% of their programming where the 70 dBu city grade contours overlap.

 

[Michi]

So would AM stations no longer be allowed to simulcast other co-owned AM stations? Like WJIB and WJTO did, or WCMC and WMID in NJ.

No. I support AM to AM simulcasts. This is because of the unique nature of the AM service and also to promote eventual transition to all-digital AM.

 

[Michi]

Aha! I get it now. So if EMF has two fringe FMs in the same market (as they will have in Denver), they can't duplicate K-Love if there is a certain amount of signal overlap. I know if a few other companies that do triple-casts in order to cover certain markets.

This rule does not apply to EMF as they are noncommercial educational. The original rule never applied to NCE stations, including those operating on non-reserved allotments (92~108).

 

[Michi]

Would overlapping FM translators have to get a waiver?

There has always been a prohibition on two overlapping translators carrying the same programming. A technical study needs to be provided to show why this should be allowed in a specific case (the most common is because one translator is rebroadcasting HD2 and the other is rebroadcasting HD3). The reinstatement of the FM anti-duplication rule does not impact FM translators.

 

[Michi]

I’m in Houston where we have KGLK 107.5 and KHPT 106.9 simulcasting “The Eagle” Classic Rock format. There is significant overlap with the 60 dBu contours, especially over the urban core.

So would this be an arrangement affected by any new FM simulcast rule?

No, it will not be affected, because the overlap area that is looked at is the 70 dBu (3.16 mV/m) city grade contour, not the 60 dBu (1 mV/m) service contour. At 70 dBu, there is less than 50% overlap.

 

[Michi]

REC statement on the reinstatement of the FM anti-duplication rule:

REC Statement: MB Docket 19-190: REC/music industry reconsideration on FM duplication rule granted on party lines. | REC Networks

recnet.com

 

[Michi]

The change came partly because of a petition filed by MusicFirst and the Future of Music Coalition, both of which want to impose a new music royalty on broadcast radio..

This has nothing to do with the music industry's efforts to impose a new royalty to the labels. This has to do with assuring that more music remains on the radio and that radio is still used for showcasing the diversity of music. Even if the FMs were simulcasting and the statutory exemption was repealed, the recording industry would still be collecting around royalties from both stations.

Keep in mind, the decision to file the Petition for Reconsideration originated from REC Networks, which has no skin in the recording industry game. The recording industry, which had similar opinions as REC during the rulemaking proceeding, was invited by myself to join in. I used their attorneys instead of doing the reconsideration myself because they were better versed in the Administrative Procedures Act. So even though this was an REC petition, I allowed the recording industry to take "lead chair" on the pleading. I was involved in many of the post filing ex parte presentations including trips to DC to meet in person with Chairwoman Rosenworcel.

 

[TheBigA]

This has nothing to do with the music industry's efforts to impose a new royalty to the labels.

Didn't say it did. Just giving context about those two groups. The fact is that this change will not 'assure that more music remains on the radio.' The way to do that is make better music. Radio stations have other choices for content besides music. If there's a choice between a weak music format and talk, the station will choose some form of talk. MusicFirst and the Coalition like to oppose the NAB, and that's what they did here.

Keep in mind, the decision to file the Petition for Reconsideration originated from REC Networks, which has no skin in the recording industry game.

Yes I know, the article I posted said that. The FCC likes diversity, and they think more stations and more formats mean more diversity. That's not always how things end up.