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Application for new Full Power Station in Newbury, MA

M

MickeyD

Guest
NEW ENGLAND BROADCASTING EDU. GROUP INC. has filed an application for a new station on 88.3 Mhz. They plan to share time with WBMT in Boxford, MA
 
As mentioned on other board; they are citing an FCC rule about school non-comm stations who may be forced to share their frequency with another station if they do less than 12 hrs per day. The proposed Newbury station would be a bit further north than WBMT Boxford. 'BMT is Masconomet High and is on 3-9 pm weekdays; probably similar on weekends. As has been pointed out the FCC says they can be off air during vacations if they wish but if they can't muster a broadcast for 12 hrs each day they can be forced to share the space. Student-run (most if not all shows by students) and they prob have a school rule, no shows before 3 pm (at least by students).

WBMT has 660 watts and covers quite a bit of ground
 
As my post mentioned they are supposedly on 3-9 pm and I have picked them up on occasion

sites.google.com/site/wbmtmrhs/
 
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Any word on what NEBEG would program? I wish that stupid rule about non-comms having to be on 12 hours a day at least should go away. The last thing we need are more NPR regurgitators or religious satellators.
 
No idea what they would program, but discussion on this on another board mentioned such things as the station is basically an after school program (660 watts...) and they haven't tried to do automation or bringing in outside people to get them on
for more hours and avoid a challenge or a time-share. Also the contours of the proposed station don't overlap too much with what BMT puts out--and it's said BMT has problems re: fines and public files. The FCC's 12 hr rule may be to prevent frequencies from being wasted...sorry, we know you'd like to do a station on 88.3, but this high school has that freq
which they only use 6 hours a day...
Agreed about the NPR/religious situation.
 
Even though they are without a license, they keep filing FCC forms such as changes in board of directors, I guess every time there is a new school board member that has to be done. I had to do it when there were new Trustees at the University of Lowell.
 
Even though they are without a license, they keep filing FCC forms such as changes in board of directors, I guess every time there is a new school board member that has to be done. I had to do it when there were new Trustees at the University of Lowell.

They did this recently right after they filed for licenses renewal. Their public file did not have the filings so for a second time their public file was not complete.
 
No idea what they would program, but discussion on this on another board mentioned such things as the station is basically an after school program (660 watts...) and they haven't tried to do automation or bringing in outside people to get them on
for more hours and avoid a challenge or a time-share. Also the contours of the proposed station don't overlap too much with what BMT puts out--and it's said BMT has problems re: fines and public files. The FCC's 12 hr rule may be to prevent frequencies from being wasted...sorry, we know you'd like to do a station on 88.3, but this high school has that freq
which they only use 6 hours a day...
Agreed about the NPR/religious situation.

In it's day WBMT was run like a real radio station. It had a full time manager and they actually did remotes! It is exclusively an after-school program that relies on whether or not the students show up for a shift.
 
I read the application, and some of thew supporting documents. WBMT is in deep doggy doo doo.

Not only is it a forced time share issue, they are challenging WBMT's "license" not that they have had one in what...EIGHT years?

If that application came across my desk, with an 8 year refusal by the licensee running under a STA to file a complete application for one or more reasons, and the applicant that seems to have their act together, I would say screw WBMT.
 
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Application for new Full Power Station in Newbury, Ma

As you may or may not know, a non-commercial station cannot be owned by an individual. The FCC is considering a license for a corporation and there are no restrictions preventing it. Alan Weiner operated a real pirate station off the shores of NY and now owns a full power FM.

Based on what I read on their application, they are certainly more qualified, will serve the community, and will be on the air more than WBMT.
 
Part of licensing application process identifies who the individuals are behind the corporation.

This not an LPFM and as Mr. /Ms. Unregistered noted Alan Weiner made a career out of pirate radio and was still a license holder.
 
I never said it was.



Never understood that. But I don't think anyone contested his applications in "Monticello Maine"...and Mr. Weiner appears to have endless money for attorney's and lawyers (thanks to his dad).

Contest it or not, I looked at "Commission Document" and could not see how much he was fined. Which leads me to believe that there was no fine. Why not? It is a pity that Mr. or Ms. Unregistered didn't analyze WBMT's character. The reason that they have not had their license renewed is because they were waiting for a hearing for obscenity, which is still present if you can ever find them on the air. They refuse to allow the community to use the radio station or do any public service. They haven't completed a Public file in more than 8 years. What EAS equipment. A school funded by taxpayers is funding this? WBMT is the pillar of the community. A community that does not even know that they exist.
 
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