1600 WULM trying to screw over 1610 Info AM of Kettering

[SFIND]

And I quote from 1610's website:

Background

1. In early 2002, we applied for a license for Information Radio in order to provide emergency and local event communications to the Dayton south communities. We researched the best frequencies to be used in the area and came up with 1610 AM. However, we needed to get a waiver from WULM in Springfield who was operating on 1600 AM.

2. The owners of WULM (Urban Light Ministries) realized two things:

A. That they were primarily interested in covering the Springfield and Clark County areas.

B. That since WULM is only operating 1,000 watts during the day and 34 watts at night - the service into the greater Dayton area is marginal at best. In many cases the station can not be heard at all either because of a high noise level on the AM radio band in the Dayton area or the fact that it is night and the station can not be heard at all.


So, why does Information Radio need to move?

1. As mentioned above WULM gave us the wavier to operate on 1610 in the Kettering & Dayton areas because they knew they could not provide quality radio service in that area. Now advance to 2007 and a new group wants to buy the radio station. That group, "Holy Spirit Catholic Communications" is acting as the front for another Catholic broadcast group known as "Radio Maria". They want to purchase the Springfield station to not only service the Springfield area, but also the greater Dayton area as well. We have been told that "God" has given them the opportunity to service the Dayton area through this station in Springfield.

2. Since we are operating one channel above 1600 Kc they feel that our operation would cause interference to their station. Now, clearly that is a great un-answered question because they brought in an engineer from Italy who works for Radio Maria to check. He "determined" that we were causing interference to their operations. However, they never bothered to contact us to help them conduct the test. It would have been a simple matter to turn off our transmitter to see if their concerns were valid or not.

3. They are now putting pressure on Urban Light Ministries to have our operations move to another frequency before they buy the station. Radio Maria is very concerned about their reputation, as they could request the same thing from us once they owned the station. Instead they are making Urban Light act as the bad guy while they (Holy Spirit) still wears the halo.

4. We either have to move voluntarily or be forced to do so.

We have made the decision to move, even though our changing frequencies will have no effect on the poor reception of the Springfield station. But there are some things to consider:

A. The Springfield station can only be heard marginally in the Dayton area perhaps 30 per-cent of the time.

B. Once we move from 1610 Kc. there will be no improvement in the coverage into the Dayton area from the Springfield station.

C. There are 106,061 Catholics in Clark and Montgomery County, yet in just the few cities we serve there are 335,797 people.

D. Holy Spirit Catholic Communications wrote to the Cincinnati Arch-Diocese asking to be recognized. They were recognized as a private association of the faithful without juridic personality. That means that they are recognized by the diocese as any other lay group, such as a men's prayer group, or a rosary alter society. They are not, however, supported by the diocese, nor do they speak or act on the bishop's behalf. They are not an agency of the archdiocese.

E. Holy Spirit Catholic Communications is just acting as the front for the larger Italian Owned Radio Maria. According to Radio Maria's own website, they are an organization that wants "independence from the parish and a larger scale in its commitment to evangelization". So, basically Radio Maria is a group of zelate Catholics operating outside the local bishops and priests and putting their particular "spin" on the Catholic Religion. One of the ways they do this is by purchasing radio stations in the US. They currently own 6 stations in Louisiana, Texas and Ohio. This acquisition would make number seven.

Ok, so what happens next, and how can I help?

1. Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be working with the FCC and other governmental agencies in order to get the frequency change, along with signs.

2. We need to re-educate the public that we will be on the new frequency, so that they will know where to tune in the case of an emergency.

3. We are soliciting your help to help de-fray the cost. While both Urban Light and Holy Spirit will be benefiting from the sale, they have offered nothing to help us make the move that makes their sale possible. Therefore we are asking you for anything you can give. The cost of the move is yet to be determined, but let us assure you, it is too great for an all volunteer non-profit organization with very little money in the checkbook.

4. Anything you can give will be greatly appreciated. You will be supporting a truly voluntary organization with service to the local community in mind. Feel free to call us at:

5. Remember, since we are a 501c3 Chairtable Organization, anything you give is a tax deduction. If you wish, we can provide you documentation for your income tax filing.


937-299-7226



Or, you can send a check to:


Emergency Operations Center, Inc.
P.O. Box 291918
Kettering, OH 45429[

from www.1610.info

/quote]

This is bullcrap! I feel sorry for 1610 and hope that WULM doesn't get sold to those catholic nutheads becuase that will end all local programing!

 

[nmoore6676]

I would be dismayed by the sale of WULM and the turning of the station into what is proposed. I grew up listening to Smilin' Bob every morning in my childhood. But Mr. Yontz is gone and his son for whatever reason sold the station to Urban Light who have run it into bankruptcy so there is no other way to save it unless a corporate buyer wants it and in it's present state and with the state of radio in general it is not likely.

There were I believe engineering studies done at one point when Smilin' Bob was still alive and in charge about the possibility a power increase to 5,000 watts and that may be the reason why the potential owners seek the move of your operation. They would need to go to the higher power to get any significant coverage in Dayton. WBLY never had much coverage in my day, the overhead trolley wires and the static they generated wiped it out. In outlying areas you could get it on a car radio but very weakly. At that time the tower was located in the river valley with much better ground conductivity, later it was moved up the hill to benefit the FM (now WDHT) so the Dayton coverage is probably less than in my day.

In any event auxiliary services like your's are secondary and if the dominant station seeks to invoke their interference protection rights you have not much choice but to move. An inconvenience yes, but unfortunately a cost of doing business. And now that the AM band was pushed upwards from 1600 to 1700 the stations like yours are being moved up as well.

 

[kirkiefan]

Urban Light has struggled with getting into the Dayton market since purchasing the station. As an oldies station..they used to use the Springfield/Dayton ID until 2005.
The 1600 frequency is also bled over by a similar information service at 1610 in Troy...which also practically disallowed local listenership in Troy.

The 1600 frequency is needed to reach the lower portions of the Miami Valley. This would include Troy,Tipp City,West Milton,Huber Heights as well as Dayton as WHJM (88.7 FM's signal) only covers Shelby,Auglaize and surrounding counties with its 1,000 watt signal. The local Catholic community has welcomed RM since 2006 with open arms...however 88.7 fades out south of Piqua and north of Lima as 100,000 watt Canadian station("new rock" CIMX in Windsor) overpowers WHJM's signal once outside of Lima. South of Troy,WUFM in Columbus fades in and out in Dayton with its 5,000 watt signal as doews 12,500 watt WOBO in Cincinnati.

Urban Light has also struggled with an old transmitter which in itself barely gets the signal out since the former WBLY moved its transmiter site from east of the Upper Valley Mall(where the water table and the river close by made the AM signal more efficient) to its present site on Miller Road east of the mall. The new site was beneficial for the former WAZU(now WDHT). Should RM purchase 1600-AM from Urban Light a new transmitter should be purchased.

As for the "spinning" I would disagree. Either this individual may be referring to Polish-based Radio Maryja (which is not connected whatsoever with Italian-based RM) which is more notorious for its anti-Semitic "spinning" or has never heard of RM's founder Emanuelle Ferrario who was inspired tp create RM after listening to a late 1980s speech by the late Pope John Paul II addressing the need for a new evangelization. Mr. Ferrario is surely not putting his own political "spin" on catholicism and surely is not trying.

Urban Light's WULM has made strides to get local advertiser support for its news/talk from 2002 to 2003, 50s/60s/early 70s oldies from 2003 to 2006 and 70's/80s classic hits from that point until earlier this year...every time they have been given a deaf ear by the advertising community....even with reducing its ad rates to the bare minimum to entice new clients and operating with a overworked skeleton staff. This station has tried dearly to remain locally owned.

I am sure Rev. Williams (who is an ecumenical minister) would welcome RM's purchase of this station and help keep his local ministry intact. The station has been a financial burden.

 

[kirkiefan]

One more thing (to correct a typo) The Miller Road site is west of the mall....the former site near the river was east of the mall....which should be once again looked at along with the late Smilin' Bob Yount'z study made in the 1970s who at the time briefly considered moving the WBLY-AM transmitter moved to a newer site to the west towards Dayton with modifications made to allow full time power at night with a directional pattern.This document must be found and be given a good look to see if it would be feasible.

 

[nmoore6676]

One more thing (to correct a typo) The Miller Road site is west of the mall....the former site near the river was east of the mall....which should be once again looked at along with the late Smilin' Bob Yount'z study made in the 1970s who at the time briefly considered moving the WBLY-AM transmitter moved to a newer site to the west towards Dayton with modifications made to allow full time power at night with a directional pattern.This document must be found and be given a good look to see if it would be feasible.

I agree and likely more suitable transmitter site close to Dayton would have to be sought. Even if they stay at 1KW they could get better coverage to Dayton, the night power though would be useless unless they license to and site near Enon. The old valley site was also when WBLY FM at 102.9 was short spaced to WSAI FM at 102.7. They then had only 20KW ERP from a side mounted antenna on the lower HAAT AM tower.

 

[kirkiefan]

I remember that old tower back in the day when the WBLY callsign was on top of the tower as a neon sign before WBLY-FM became WAZU. Been past the old tower site a couple of times...the old xmtr building is still standing there with the door open and vegitation growing on it....it has seen better days.

What was the studio address of WBLY/WAZU before it moved downtown in the mid-80s and what is being done with the original studio site now?

 

[gr8oldies]

A directional antenna would allow night coverage, but try finding the land to build a 3 tower array in this day and age! I don't know how feasable it might have been to diplex the antenna with that of WIZE, but that still wouldn't allow night coverage. On a good day and with a good radio, WULM can make it to Dayton, as long as it's later than an hour or two after sunrise or earlier than an hour or two before sunset. I don't know how many people in Greater Dayton are going to struggle with that to get their novenas.

I wasn't even sure the Maria deal was still on the table, especially with WULM's flip to talk...though I certainly haven't heard any new advertising.

I believe "information radio" provides a valuable service (is it going to move to the other end of the AM band (530?) however IMO they operate outside their authority by running play-by-play and other broadcast programming.

 

[nmoore6676]

I remember that old tower back in the day when the WBLY callsign was on top of the tower as a neon sign before WBLY-FM became WAZU. Been past the old tower site a couple of times...the old xmtr building is still standing there with the door open and vegitation growing on it....it has seen better days.

What was the studio address of WBLY/WAZU before it moved downtown in the mid-80s and what is being done with the original studio site now?

The studios were located at 1711 West Main Street. Prior to that from the outset as WBLY it was on the second floor of the the old Chamber of Commerce Building at Spring and High downtown. At that time the FM antenna was on a short TV antenna type tower on the back of the building. When it moved to the AM tower the frequency changed from 103.9 to 102.9. I also vaguely remember another antenna site off Bechtel avenue behind what is now a shopping center. That may have been when they were still WJEL and the FM at 103.9 was WJEM. I think that the West Main building was sold but I do not know to whom or for what.

WIZE was at one time also on High Street further west in the Salvation Army Citadel, next to the Masonic Temple. At about the same time that WBLY moved WIZE also moved to the Miracle Mile location and increased power from 250 watts day and night to 1000 watts day, 250 night. The WIZE transmitter is still there and the studio space is now used by WULM.

By the way I think WBLY did operate for a brief period some time in the '70s, when a tornado or high wind storm took down the tower you remember with the call letters, from the WIZE tower until their's was rebuilt. The replacement tower did not have the letters on it. There were two buildings one in front, beside the tracks near the road which had the AM transmitters. The FM was located in a tall narrow building built to keep it high above flood waters which used to happen very couple of years. You had to climb a metal ladder to get into the transmitter room from the ground.

 

[KFodor]

Let's not mince words here.

The ultimate objective of the new owners would seem to be to move WULM out of Springfield and closer to the Dayton area...if...they can find a way to pull it off. Chalk up another "local" radio service gone from Springfield. However, I know Urban Light needed to divest the station...they were just too far in hock with the station not to.

Radio Maria might be able to make a move. I had at least one tech type suggest to me once WULM could be moved into Greene County. Don't know if it's really possible, but...

However, the track record of these Catholic stations seems to be they serve a small "niche" audience that is virtually unrateable by Arbitron. No real effect on the market pro or con.

 

[pbr]

I find the original posting to be rather vile, misleading and one-sided. Let's put the situation is perspective:

1. The Traveler's Information Station is a secondary service, and should have known their use of 1610 was not guaranteed forever. Fortunately, there are clear frequencies higher up in the AM band available for their use.

2. Drive in Kettering, Riverside, Dayton and Beavercreek, and often there is splatter from 1610 affecting reception of 1600. That is the nature of AM radio. Can you blame anyone owning 1600 from trying to add listeners in the Dayton area?

3. AM radio in general is hurting. A few regional broadcasters are doing well (WHIO and WLW come to mind). WULM was losing money and needed to be sold before it went dark. If Urban Light Ministries gets in excess of $200,000 (as rumored on this board) for this broken-down station, they should thank God and move on.

4. Even if I hit the lottery, I would not buy WULM. Its daytime coverage is fair; nighttime coverage next to nothing. If someone gave me the station, I would try to improve its coverage.

5. I remember the golden days of AM radio during the formative years of rock & rock - but they are gone. News, talk, sports, and religion now dominate the AM dial. The Dayton-Springfield area has how many Protestant Christian stations on both the AM & FM band? Do we need another K-Love satellator? I think we have room for a Catholic voice in the area.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

"I agree and likely more suitable transmitter site close to Dayton would have to be sought. Even if they stay at 1KW they could get better coverage to Dayton, the night power though would be useless unless they license to and site near Enon. The old valley site was also when WBLY FM at 102.9 was short spaced to WSAI FM at 102.7. They then had only 20KW ERP from a side mounted antenna on the lower HAAT AM tower."

Historical correction...102.7's calls have been WEBN since the day they signed on in the mid 60's. WSAI FM was on 94.1.

 

[hipporadio]

Even if I hit the lottery, I would not buy WULM.

Well I did—sorta’... It was known as the Telcom Act; and I was approached by another poster here in private off-site Email with a suggestion that I might enjoy my Emeritus status in radio a bit more by buying AND FIXING the former WBLY. He had to be joking, right? Much as I have enjoyed prior challenges on the AM band – mostly for “poops, giggles, and little profit” – I had to answer him with a couple choice analogies: First, I doubt I could drive a severely-rusted vehicle with a discontinued engine. That rusted body is what has become of the long-neglected WULM; and the discontinued engine is a fair synonym for AM radio in general [save the FEW-remaining “fortunate” – whose clocks are ticking-down also]. Furthermore, I had heard the commendable efforts on WULM during its “Rock ‘n Soul Oldies” era... If those wholehearted labors could-not win the affections of the locals in Springfield, I have difficulty fantasizing about WHAT WOULD! You see, for all practical purposes—Springfield is a political code-name for what in current-day reality is EXURBAN DAYTON. Save WHIO [now in FM simulcast], how would you characterize AM radio in Dayton-proper these days? 980 WONE? 1410 WING? Both were fulltime 5kw legends—now relegated to the broom closets of their corporate FM cluster-mates.

I think we have room for a Catholic voice in the area.

Likely so... And at the very-least, they’d manage to pay the light bill and maintain the transmitter! You can surly recognize a hint of “class” and peculiar “entertainment value” on 740 WNOP... I’m not Catholic, but I can... And why shouldn’t followers of that faith be served also? WNOP provides such a contemporarily-relevant service... I recall a family outing at Brookville Lake this past Labor Day when I was on the deck with my trusty Tivoli iPAL tuned to 740AM. Father Vicar was hosting a call-in program on the dire and sinful consequences of adolescent male self-gratification, when my Catholic sister-in-law reminded me that her grade-school twin boys were headed our way. “I don’t think they need to hear that on Uncle Hippo’s radio”, she suggested. Darn-it! ...I was missing my Howard fix because XM was tethered to my car ;D

 

[Elephant]

BOB....The WSAI call letters were on 102.7 BEFORE they were on 94.1. They got a better signal at 94.1 and gave up the 102.7 frequency. That's when the Wood family bought it.

Just an FYI...

 

[nmoore6676]

WULM, nee WBLY lost their value in the '80s when the FM was sold off. I think Ron Yontz gave it his best effort but the limitation of the signal, local economic trends and the general trend away from AM radio make it very unattractive as a commercial broadcast outlet. It is sad to me as I was a devoted listener to Smilin' Bob, Roger Sharp and "The Imperial Debubbah" back when I lived in Springfield. Even WIZE is now just a repeater for WONE/WCKY. When the younger Mr. Yontz sold WBLY to Urban Light I think it was with the hope that it could remain a local voice and in addition lend some support to the parent organization for their programs to aid the poor. Unfortunately for whatever reasons this could not be and now it is time to move on.

Perhaps if Smilin' Bob had proceeded with the plans to go to 5000 watts it could have had a better chance. I think at the time the Miller road site was purchased to get a higher elevation for the FM that an entire farm was acquired so the land was likely available to build a directional antenna. I do not know if that land is still a part of the parcel, it could have since been sold off to other owners. Also the Miller Road site is no longer owned by WULM but by the owners of WDHT. Now it is hard to find enough land for that type of usage, here in LA the joint 5 tower array for KTNQ and KTLK is actually embedded in an industrial warehouse complex (Scott Fybush's Tower of The Week site). Even the mighty KFI tower is surrounded by warehouses and the local authorities are blocking the replacement of the 750' tower which was felled by an airplane in December 2004. The point being that getting new AM antenna sites is extremely difficult with so many obstacles to overcome.

I say if Radio Maria wants the station more power to them (5kw) and God's blessings as well.

 

[nmoore6676]

BOB....The WSAI call letters were on 102.7 BEFORE they were on 94.1. They got a better signal at 94.1 and gave up the 102.7 frequency. That's when the Wood family bought it.

Just an FYI...

Although elephants are noted for their memories, I was alive an living in Springfield at the time and even though I may forget something from yesterday I do remember that at that time there was an article in the Springfield News Sun. Local listeners who had been listening to WSAI from Cincinnati were upset by the relocation of WBLY from 103.9 to 102.9. I would assume that the WSAI listeners were mostly in southern and western Clark County. I believe that later on some sort of trade was worked out to move WSAI to 94.1. The new occupants of the 102.7 channel then even later worked a mutual interference agreement with the the people at WAZU to allow the uphill move to Miller Road.

Incidentally I recall that living in Lawrenceville I could barely receive WBLY at 103.9 from the old Spring and High FM antenna. I was a geek and DXer so I did get WSAI before the move of WBLY.

I am supported by postings in the Greater Cincinnati Radio Guide at: http://home.cinci.rr.com/cincyradio/history.html

 

[Flying-Dutchman]

So Who is screwed here? If WULM was my station I'd think I was screwed! 1600 in Springfield was
there first. Their signal is supposed to go almost 60 miles. Dayton is less then half that.

I am a low power advocate. But fair is fair. TIS stations should not be on 1610 19 and 25 miles
away.

By the way I knew Smilin Bob. He and I were from the same neighborhood in Springfield.

Good luck to all of you!

 

[KFodor]

But, the fact here is: FCC law allows 1610 to be there. They were granted a license.

Now, agreed. They are a "secondary service". Thus, they can be forced, if you will, to move to another frequency. Usually, that's done with the assistance of the station that wants them to move. Hopefully, such an agreement can be reached if all this is the case.

As for their programming, about 95 percent, or better of the broadcast week amounts to: public service announcements, community news...yes, they (as I understand it) have an agreement with Armed Forces Radio to air their newscasts, they do weather forecasts, road construction information, police information, school lunch menus and school news (often anchored by the students themselves) and, are programmed to switch to the National Weather Service NOAA weather radio in the event of EAS style activations.

Other programming (such as remote broadcasts at community events) or the play-by-play they offer might technically be in the gray area, so to speak. But, all of those involved in the broadcast are volunteers, so it could be argued they are providing a broadcast workshop for prospective broadcasters to learn and perfect their trade. (The "farm team" commercial radio no longer has?) Add to that, the schools involved with these games (as I've heard) come to them for airtime, after being turned down by the local commercial broadcasters (who say the broadcasts won't reach a "wide enough" audience, or are unsponsorable). The fact that, in some cases, they've done what some people may think is a better or more competitive job at it could, potentially, speak to the level of commitment of some local commercial stations to their product.

And that's the point. The "information" they provide is, largely, information the commercial broadcasters will not, and do not give. They are a not-for-profit entity. They are a totally volunteer operation. That they try to offer their information in a professional manner is laudable. Such a station doesn't always have to sound like crap...as most of them do. (Or as commercial radio stations might wish.) And, they get support from the community for their broadcasts.

Again, I hope some reasonable agreement can come of this.

 

[pbr]

1610 Info AM of Kettering trying to screw over 1600 WULM

Now, agreed. They are a "secondary service". Thus, they can be forced, if you will, to move to another frequency. Usually, that's done with the assistance of the station that wants them to move. Hopefully, such an agreement can be reached if all this is the case.

When you hope to sell a really old beat-up house, and dream of getting top dollar for it - you spend a few bucks to dress the place up. Maybe paint the front door. You pick up some of the trash that you've thrown on the floors to make the place look liveable for the new owner. You hope the right person comes through the door to buy it.

Urban Life Ministries messed up badly by allowing TIS broadcasters to interfere within the WULM secondary coverage area. They are now hoping to get more for the station than it is worth. They need to clean up the mess they created. No one is obligated to throw money at 1610 Info Radio to change frequency and change highway signs- but if anyone does, it should be Urban Life Ministries.

 

[WCWalker]

I smell an opportunity for someone in the Springfield area. Why not start up a commercial Part 15 AM operation? Granted, it won't fully replace a 1 kw AM like 1600 but with multiple transmitters in synch such a station can cover a wide area. www.radiosandysprings.com in Georgia is using at least twelve Hamilton Rangemasters and they have received tremendous support from the listeners and sponsors in their area. Something similar could be developed in Springfield perhaps with fewer transmitters and then local radio could return to the city.

 

[Flying-Dutchman]

How would a commercial part 15 station help this situation? I'd hate to see Springfied trade a
1,000 watt full power station for this. That would be a big loss for the community.
They need support, not competition!