Copper Theft and LPFM

[ZebraRadio]

Reading the RW article on copper theft, I was intrigued by the idea that since radio stations are licensed by the Feds and are participants in the EAS warning system that any theft of copper and resultant damage would make the crime a federal offense not a misdemeanor or a lesser crime. In the case of this station, the FBI took over the investigation, the perp was caught and tried in federal court, not a local or state court, where he was sentenced to 11 years in the “big house.” It’s possible that this AM station is an LP-1 or 2, the article doesn’t say. But it seems to me that LPFM stations would also be accorded this same status since we too are licensed by the Feds and participate in EAS warnings. Hence, any theft of copper or malicious damage an LPFM station sustains should be treated as a federal crime.

Letter: How We Caught Copper Thieves With an FBI Assist - Radio World

In this letter to the editor, the author replies to our story “Have You Been Hit by Copper Theft?” Radio World welcomes letters to the editor on this or any story.

www.radioworld.com

 

[Cold Coffee]

Sabatage of any station licensed with an EAS would be investigated. Remember though that it is AM stations that are targets of copper thieves. They have lots of copper in the ground.

 

[b-turner]

It is a felony, if I recall, to intentionally cause or disrupt the normal operation of a federally licensed broadcast station. Don't recall seeing any one case based on that, however.

 

[TheBigA]

It’s possible that this AM station is an LP-1 or 2, the article doesn’t say.

There is no such thing as LPAM in the US. Only in Canada.

The linked article says that the station in question was licensed at 5,000 watts.

The copper thing is only an issue for AM radio, not FM.

Here are the rules regarding EAS and LPFM:

EAS requirements for LPFM stations

 

[awsherrill]

Remember though that it is AM stations that are targets of copper thieves. They have lots of copper in the ground.

FM tower sites are targets too, even though there is generally less copper to be had.

One of my FM stations was hit by copper thieves. They stole the ground straps off the tower, the cable bridge, and the cable entrance bulkhead. That site tends to get hit hard by lightning during thunderstorm season, and we had significant lightning damage until we got the missing bits replaced.

The more brazen thieves will try to unbolt and remove rigid transmission line sections. I have never encountered that, but I've had spare line sections stolen from storage areas at FM sites.

 

[TheBigA]

FM tower sites are targets too, even though there is generally less copper to be had.

I doubt many LPFMs have free standing towers like full powers. This is where @Michi comes in.

 

[ZebraRadio]

There is no such thing as LPAM in the US. Only in Canada.

I wasn't referring to LPAM but stations that are designated as LP-1 and LP-2 under EAS requirements. Where I am, we have an FM station designated as an LP-1 and an AM station that is an LP-2 station. From what I've been reading, copper thieves are not picky. They will target any broadcast station.

 

[Cold Coffee]

Cameras, a six foot high fence, and a rottweiler would make a thief look elsewhere.

 

[davideduardo]

Cameras, a six foot high fence, and a rottweiler would make a thief look elsewhere.

Some of the AMs to the West of Krome Avenue in Miami (the technical edge of the Everglades" have resident gators as guards. "Trespassers will be Eaten".

 

[Michi]

In EAS context, LP1 and LP2 are Local Primary. This is the second to the last in the chain. They receive EAS from the Primary Entry Point (PEP) and from State primary and relay stations. They deliver EAS to all of the stations in their area which are designated as Participating National (PN). For a full understanding of the EAS structure, see §11.18 of the FCC Rules.

 

[Cold Coffee]

Those who have registered with FCC's ETRS know that LP 1 & LP 2 are the 2 stations that we monitor for EAS. We also monitor the National Weather service on audio input 3.

I wasn't joking about our security though.

 

[Bongwater]

There is no such thing as LPAM in the US. Only in Canada.

The linked article says that the station in question was licensed at 5,000 watts.

The copper thing is only an issue for AM radio, not FM.

Here are the rules regarding EAS and LPFM:

EAS requirements for LPFM stations

That's kinda what I thought when I read the post title; Copper theft is typically an AM problem because of all those big ground wires around the towers.

Of course even taking a headphone extension wire is bad juju at a radio station. But messing with EAS is just plain sewer level.

 

[davideduardo]

The copper thing is only an issue for AM radio, not FM.

FMs have a big copper problem also when they use rigid copper transmission line. In many cases, there are considerable lengths of rigid line, running from the transmitter building to the base of the tower, and then all the way up to the top. For someone who knows, it is easier to remove a bunch of transmission line segments, which have each a huge amount of copper in them than to dig up relatively thin wires that are part of the ground system.

There have been cases of copper thieves, climbing at least partway up a tower and removing section by section the copper transmission line

Some FM’s Their transmitter building right at the base of the tower but often in places where there can be falling ice from the tower the transmitter building can be a considerable distance away, and those big copper tubes are pure money to copper thieves. Of course, the same goes for television sites and TV has such high power that the sections can be very valuable.

 

[Bongwater]

FMs have a big copper problem also when they use rigid copper transmission line. In many cases, there are considerable lengths of rigid line, running from the transmitter building to the base of the tower, and then all the way up to the top. For someone who knows, it is easier to remove a bunch of transmission line segments, which have each a huge amount of copper in them than to dig up relatively thin wires that are part of the ground system.

There have been cases of copper thieves, climbing at least partway up a tower and removing section by section the copper transmission line

Some FM’s Their transmitter building right at the base of the tower but often in places where there can be falling ice from the tower the transmitter building can be a considerable distance away, and those big copper tubes are pure money to copper thieves. Of course, the same goes for television sites and TV has such high power that the sections can be very valuable.

I'm not saying FM stations don't have copper wires and such. It can happen anywhere. But most major market FM station transmitter/towers are on remote mountaintops and fairly secured (usually owned by third-parties, so security is a factor. I can't imagine any of the major radio players on West Tiger Mountain in Seattle signing any tower lease without that covered sufficiently)

It's those little local stand-alone AM stations that get targeted because it's visible there's no active security to anyone casing the sites (or at least they make the radio industry news the most.) Sometimes I see them when I'm driving and it bothers me sometimes. But it's not the stations out in the sticks I'm worried about. Chances are, somebody's even listening to them. It's the stand alone AM station sites in suburbia. Or bad parts of town.