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Dark Stations and Cancelled Licenses

W

WCWalker

Guest
Anyone know of an online resource that lists every AM and FM station that has gone dark or may go dark? If so, where can I find it?
 
The pattern seems to be that stations go dark, then when they have been dark long enough they realize they cannot go back on after that long and not let the FCC know about it, then they make official notification. So the FCC list will sometimes not list (yet) the station down the street you know is dark.

I seriously doubt if you will find a listing of stations about to go dark. Nobody shares that. Nobody admits that. Your hired help begins scattering. Your advertisers will back away.

If your inquiry relates to the idea that you would like to be in contact with a broadcaster faced with going dark to try to make a deal to take over the station, you have to keep in touch with existing broadcasters. You will find some of them live in silos and never look beyond their own station. You will also find SOME broadcasters who are very well plugged into the grapevine and they know who is floundering, who is cheating on his wife, and who is solid gold.

What you are looking for is one of these "plugged-into-the-grapevine" broadcasters who is willing to share with you. (They get plugged-in by knowing when to share and when not to share. If you get the reputation of primarily being a gossip, you lose your ability to be plugged-in.)
 
To be listed on that site requires a silent STA to be filed. A station can stay off 10 days with no notification. Up to 30 days with just an informal notification and after 30 days they must file for a silent STA.

There are also some stations that pull the plug and never notify the FCC. There is a LPTV station that has been off for a couple of years, no STA. There was also a small AM off for a year, no STA.
 
The FCC link was a help. Thanks.

Yeah, I've heard of stations going dark but not notifying the FCC. Probably more common than we realize.
 
Listen to the Cowboy....a "plugged in" broadcaster usually knows these things.....BUT....it is sometimes difficult to identify these,,,AND, they must have confidence in YOU...all this gets complicated and a known "Tire Kicker" almost never gets this connection....
 
jboyd said:
Listen to the Cowboy....a "plugged in" broadcaster usually knows these things.....BUT....it is sometimes difficult to identify these,,,AND, they must have confidence in YOU...all this gets complicated and a known "Tire Kicker" almost never gets this connection....
Click to expand...

I never stated why I wanted access to this list and saw no need to. Thus, most of what the Cowboy has stated is irrelevant to the reason why I wanted to find out which stations are dark or would be going dark. Point noted about stations potentially going dark. Some industries have businesses that will have a going out of business sale while others do not. :D
 
Stations go dark for a number of reasons. Outside of broadcast, businesseses close for "remodeling", etc. What makes broadcast a bit different is the pesky little FCC policy to delete "license and call letters", after being dark for one year.

Anyone remember the station in Concord, CA (I think Concord)? The late Chester Coleman couldn't find a transmitter site and likely couldn't afford to build, so every year he would hoist an antenna wire with a crane, fire it up, notify the commission, then file for another STA.
 
Bill Wolfenbarger said:
What makes broadcast a bit different is the pesky little FCC policy to delete "license and call letters", after being dark for one year.
Click to expand...

FWIW that FCC policy didn't originate with the FCC. An Act of Congress required the Commission to establish that policy.
 
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