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Double O Update-Panama City

S

stevemichaels

Guest
This is what I have heard, I have no factual basis other than to be quoting a very reliable un-named source. Other than my factual comments concerning the location and equipment installed. It seems pretty obvious that you'll read about it in the trades for sure! The Sunday morning of Dennis' arrival, a strong signal on 92.5mHz was being radiated from a three bay broadband antenna located on the Double O Panama City STL tower. Further investigation found a Bext 1KW frequency-agile transmitter operating on 92.5mHz with no modulation, however with a stereo pilot indicated on receivers. Interference to the WPAP signal was noted for about a five mile radius. At the time of the interference, hurricane Dennis was on the way, and the transmitter at the Double O studios was making it difficult to get the information being provided by the LP1 station in a mandatory evacuation zone. Law enforcement observed the transmitter in operation. There was only one person at the station when the improper operation was observed, a member of management, who I had trained in the proper operation of the transmitter in the event it was needed for an STA. It is my understanding that documents were transmitted to all parties involved, including the FCC in the last 48 hours. Someone who knows better than I, says an inspector from the field office in Tampa will make a visit to the Panhandle soon, and the Commission always makes the best of their time when away from home. Time to check EAS, operator knnowledge, logs, public files, etc.

Added note--the WAKT Kat Country studios were ruined when water flooded in through the ceiling during a storm this past Friday night....

Double O was very good to me and the staff was working hard to make some good radio, then the mistake that I feel will cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars was hired.

This is gonna get interesting....

Steve
 
In English for us non-engineers, please:

...so the error was that a Double-O person activated that transmitter on 92.5, which created interference to the primary EAS station (LP-1) 92.5 WPAP-FM during the hurricane?

Or was it that the error was caused by a Clear Channel person who activated that transmitter on 92.5 so as to create interference that would block Double-O from receiving hurricane information from the primary EAS station (LP-1) 92.5 WPAP-FM?

In other words, is the FCC fixin' send out a "Bill" or are they likely to "Woo" someone...
 
> This is what I have heard, I have no factual basis other
> than to be quoting a very reliable un-named source. Other
> than my factual comments concerning the location and
> equipment installed. It seems pretty obvious that you'll
> read about it in the trades for sure! The Sunday morning of
> Dennis' arrival, a strong signal on 92.5mHz was being
> radiated from a three bay broadband antenna located on the
> Double O Panama City STL tower. Further investigation found
> a Bext 1KW frequency-agile transmitter operating on 92.5mHz
> with no modulation, however with a stereo pilot indicated on
> receivers. Interference to the WPAP signal was noted for
> about a five mile radius. At the time of the interference,
> hurricane Dennis was on the way, and the transmitter at the
> Double O studios was making it difficult to get the
> information being provided by the LP1 station in a mandatory
> evacuation zone. Law enforcement observed the transmitter in
> operation. There was only one person at the station when
> the improper operation was observed, a member of management,
> who I had trained in the proper operation of the transmitter
> in the event it was needed for an STA. It is my
> understanding that documents were transmitted to all parties
> involved, including the FCC in the last 48 hours. Someone
> who knows better than I, says an inspector from the field
> office in Tampa will make a visit to the Panhandle soon, and
> the Commission always makes the best of their time when away
> from home. Time to check EAS, operator knnowledge, logs,
> public files, etc.
>
> Added note--the WAKT Kat Country studios were ruined when
> water flooded in through the ceiling during a storm this
> past Friday night....
>
> Double O was very good to me and the staff was working hard
> to make some good radio, then the mistake that I feel will
> cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars was hired.
>
> This is gonna get interesting....
>
> Steve
>

That about covers it from what I heard...I might add that the 3 bay antenna was not licensed as an auxilliary antenna. In effect making it a "pirate" signal
causing interference to a licensed station.
Some might even consider this an act of "reckless endangerment" as
potential storm victims were deprived of emergency storm information
from the LP-1 station.
Anyway, STUPID about sums it up and it WILL cost Double O.
In my opinion.
 
> In English for us non-engineers, please:
>
> ...so the error was that a Double-O person activated that
> transmitter on 92.5, which created interference to the
> primary EAS station (LP-1) 92.5 WPAP-FM during the
> hurricane?
>
> Or was it that the error was caused by a Clear Channel
> person who activated that transmitter on 92.5 so as to
> create interference that would block Double-O from receiving
> hurricane information from the primary EAS station (LP-1)
> 92.5 WPAP-FM?
>
> In other words, is the FCC fixin' send out a "Bill" or are
> they likely to "Woo" someone...
>

The former.
 
> the "error" was on the part of OO....I will say no more...
>
Obviously, Terry Bond, the CEO of Double O has a lot of 'splainin' to do to the FCC. CC has a very strong legal department, a political action committee, a lobbyist in Washington, so if they want to make a Federal case out of this, Terry and Double O have no chance...no chance. Bond's ego might have caught up with him, or he is getting bad advice from people out of Birmingham.
 
> This is what I have heard, I have no factual basis other
> than to be quoting a very reliable un-named source. Other
> than my factual comments concerning the location and
> equipment installed. It seems pretty obvious that you'll
> read about it in the trades for sure! The Sunday morning of
> Dennis' arrival, a strong signal on 92.5mHz was being
> radiated from a three bay broadband antenna located on the
> Double O Panama City STL tower. Further investigation found
> a Bext 1KW frequency-agile transmitter operating on 92.5mHz
> with no modulation, however with a stereo pilot indicated on
> receivers. Interference to the WPAP signal was noted for
> about a five mile radius. At the time of the interference,
> hurricane Dennis was on the way, and the transmitter at the
> Double O studios was making it difficult to get the
> information being provided by the LP1 station in a mandatory
> evacuation zone. Law enforcement observed the transmitter in
> operation. There was only one person at the station when
> the improper operation was observed, a member of management,
> who I had trained in the proper operation of the transmitter
> in the event it was needed for an STA. It is my
> understanding that documents were transmitted to all parties
> involved, including the FCC in the last 48 hours. Someone
> who knows better than I, says an inspector from the field
> office in Tampa will make a visit to the Panhandle soon, and
> the Commission always makes the best of their time when away
> from home. Time to check EAS, operator knnowledge, logs,
> public files, etc.
>
> Added note--the WAKT Kat Country studios were ruined when
> water flooded in through the ceiling during a storm this
> past Friday night....
>
> Double O was very good to me and the staff was working hard
> to make some good radio, then the mistake that I feel will
> cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars was hired.
>
> This is gonna get interesting....
>
> Steve
>
Sorry to read about the Kat Country studios. A friend of mine taped them while he was in the area and sent me a copy of it..sounded pretty good!

If the FCC field office sends up an inspector named Kim, you'd better have your act together! Last time she came through North Florida, a couple of stations in Tallahassee got fined - one for EAS violations, one for having a fence down on one side of the tower; and the little Blountstown station for similar conditions, plus not having a public file. Having been on duty through two of her inspections, I can tell you, she will look at a lot of things, so be ready! <P ID="signature">______________
..broadcasting from the land of bent towers, flooded studios and wind...Florida!!</P>
 
> > the "error" was on the part of OO....I will say no more...
>
> >
> Obviously, Terry Bond, the CEO of Double O has a lot of
> 'splainin' to do to the FCC. CC has a very strong legal
> department, a political action committee, a lobbyist in
> Washington, so if they want to make a Federal case out of
> this, Terry and Double O have no chance...no chance. Bond's
> ego might have caught up with him, or he is getting bad
> advice from people out of Birmingham.
>


Way to scoop mr michaels... thats why ya gotta check these boards
 
Reading this, and I don't know why I am, it's like the old Abbott and Costello "Who's on 1st!" Would you Panama City folks please tell the rest of is North Floridians what happened! We're not as concerned as confused!

The Soup

> > the "error" was on the part of OO....I will say no more...
>
> >
> Obviously, Terry Bond, the CEO of Double O has a lot of
> 'splainin' to do to the FCC. CC has a very strong legal
> department, a political action committee, a lobbyist in
> Washington, so if they want to make a Federal case out of
> this, Terry and Double O have no chance...no chance. Bond's
> ego might have caught up with him, or he is getting bad
> advice from people out of Birmingham.
>
 
> Watch Channel 7 news at 6pm....(Tuesday night)
>
Or read below, click this link to read what WJHG-TV already has posted on their website:

http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/1737932.html

It’s One of the Most Serious Charges a Radio Station Can Face - Deliberately Jamming a Competitor’s Signal, Especially During a Hurricane

A popular Panama City radio station says its ability to broadcast crucial emergency information during Hurricane Dennis two weeks ago was blocked by a competitor's jamming.

The information comes from a multi-page complaint from Clear Channel Communications filed with the Federal Communications Commission.

Many of area residents were glued to their TVs or radios during Hurricane Dennis, but if you we're listening to 92.5 WPAP the morning of July 10, you might not have heard anything but a hum.

According to a complaint with the FCC by Clear Channel and WPAP, its signal was blocked by one of their competitors that sits on Thomas drive at Gywn Drive.

That's double OO Radio Corp, which has several stations here including WASJ – 105.1, WPFM 107.9, WRBA Arrow 95.9, and Cat Country 103.5 WAKT.

The report says that Clear Channel Chief Engineer Charles Wooten noticed the interference and tracked it to the Double OO building. At that point he went with a sheriff's deputy inside the building, found a transmitter on the air and sending a blank signal over 92.5, which is the WPAP frequency. The report then says the device was then turned off.

WPAP is designated as a primary station under the Emergency Alert System which means they are responsible for broadcasting messages from the national weather service and other emergency management offices.

We asked for a comment from Double OO Radio, but they wouldn't speak with us and would not return our phone calls. Clear Channel would not comment either.

Depending on the FCC's investigation they could get either a slap on the wrist or fines in the hundreds of thousands of dollars or possibly even loose their broadcast licenses.
 
Ch 7 did a live shot from across the street from OO's Studios on the 5pm newscast.....they said OO had no comment....supposed to be another story at 6pm and they will probably repeat it again at 10pm...
 
> Depending on the FCC's investigation they could get either a
> slap on the wrist or fines in the hundreds of thousands of
> dollars or possibly even loose their broadcast licenses.

Looks like someone at the TV station slept through English class. Double O won't loose their license, but they could possibly lose their licenses if the Feds are angry enough.
<P ID="signature">______________
...co-moderator of the Satellite Radio, Phoenix, and San Diego boards...</P>
 
> > Depending on the FCC's investigation they could get either
> a
> > slap on the wrist or fines in the hundreds of thousands of
>
> > dollars or possibly even loose their broadcast licenses.
>
> Looks like someone at the TV station slept through English
> class. Double O won't loose their license, but they could
> possibly lose their licenses if the Feds are angry enough.
>

They should have just claimed it was a pirate radio station,
the FCC would have given them 5 more years before busting them.
 
Re: Double O Update-Panama City they have more trouble on the way

Seems Double O Is also being investigated by the State of Florida for their employment practices.






> This is what I have heard, I have no factual basis other
> than to be quoting a very reliable un-named source. Other
> than my factual comments concerning the location and
> equipment installed. It seems pretty obvious that you'll
> read about it in the trades for sure! The Sunday morning of
> Dennis' arrival, a strong signal on 92.5mHz was being
> radiated from a three bay broadband antenna located on the
> Double O Panama City STL tower. Further investigation found
> a Bext 1KW frequency-agile transmitter operating on 92.5mHz
> with no modulation, however with a stereo pilot indicated on
> receivers. Interference to the WPAP signal was noted for
> about a five mile radius. At the time of the interference,
> hurricane Dennis was on the way, and the transmitter at the
> Double O studios was making it difficult to get the
> information being provided by the LP1 station in a mandatory
> evacuation zone. Law enforcement observed the transmitter in
> operation. There was only one person at the station when
> the improper operation was observed, a member of management,
> who I had trained in the proper operation of the transmitter
> in the event it was needed for an STA. It is my
> understanding that documents were transmitted to all parties
> involved, including the FCC in the last 48 hours. Someone
> who knows better than I, says an inspector from the field
> office in Tampa will make a visit to the Panhandle soon, and
> the Commission always makes the best of their time when away
> from home. Time to check EAS, operator knnowledge, logs,
> public files, etc.
>
> Added note--the WAKT Kat Country studios were ruined when
> water flooded in through the ceiling during a storm this
> past Friday night....
>
> Double O was very good to me and the staff was working hard
> to make some good radio, then the mistake that I feel will
> cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars was hired.
>
> This is gonna get interesting....
>
> Steve
>
 
Double O Update-Panama City they have more trouble on the way

Where did you hear this? Is it on the web somewhere?


> Seems Double O Is also being investigated by the State of
> Florida for their employment practices.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > This is what I have heard, I have no factual basis other
> > than to be quoting a very reliable un-named source. Other
> > than my factual comments concerning the location and
> > equipment installed. It seems pretty obvious that you'll
> > read about it in the trades for sure! The Sunday morning
> of
> > Dennis' arrival, a strong signal on 92.5mHz was being
> > radiated from a three bay broadband antenna located on the
>
> > Double O Panama City STL tower. Further investigation
> found
> > a Bext 1KW frequency-agile transmitter operating on
> 92.5mHz
> > with no modulation, however with a stereo pilot indicated
> on
> > receivers. Interference to the WPAP signal was noted for
> > about a five mile radius. At the time of the
> interference,
> > hurricane Dennis was on the way, and the transmitter at
> the
> > Double O studios was making it difficult to get the
> > information being provided by the LP1 station in a
> mandatory
> > evacuation zone. Law enforcement observed the transmitter
> in
> > operation. There was only one person at the station when
> > the improper operation was observed, a member of
> management,
> > who I had trained in the proper operation of the
> transmitter
> > in the event it was needed for an STA. It is my
> > understanding that documents were transmitted to all
> parties
> > involved, including the FCC in the last 48 hours. Someone
>
> > who knows better than I, says an inspector from the field
> > office in Tampa will make a visit to the Panhandle soon,
> and
> > the Commission always makes the best of their time when
> away
> > from home. Time to check EAS, operator knnowledge, logs,
> > public files, etc.
> >
> > Added note--the WAKT Kat Country studios were ruined when
> > water flooded in through the ceiling during a storm this
> > past Friday night....
> >
> > Double O was very good to me and the staff was working
> hard
> > to make some good radio, then the mistake that I feel will
>
> > cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars was hired.
> >
> > This is gonna get interesting....
> >
> > Steve
> >
>
 
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