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Facility Upgrades

D

Da Mac QC

Guest
How long does it typically take to increase power at current facilities? I'm referring to WPZS, increasing power from 6 to 25 kw. It's been almost 3 months. I would think they'd be done by now, but I don't know how long these things typically take? The FCC website still has it as a construction permit.

Also, I am expecting a flip once the upgrade is complete. I saw pics from one of their events, and it all still says Praise 100.9.
 
Not want you want to hear but ....

it can take as long as ...
1. the owners cough up the $$$$
2. the chief engineer spends the $$$$
3. the manfacturers to manfacture the new equipment (antenna, transmitter, etc) That kind of stuff just doesn't sit on the shelf. Sometimes it takes 90+ days to get an antenna and a transmitter. (unless you go with a off-brand -- not recommended)
4. the upgrade is just on paper to make the station look better to a potential buyer.


Don't know the specifics of your upgrade, BUT my guess is #1 or #3 is in play. These things don't just happen overnight.

The upgrade has a date it must be done by and that's easily viewed on the FCC website.
 
Yeah, the expiration date is a year from when the app was approved. I really don't care, I was just more so curious. I'm not an engineer so I really had no idea.
 
When you figure the cost of a transmission facility upgrade (transmitter, processing and a few pieces of feed-line to make internal suite connections) can run around $150-$200K, it takes a fair amount of time for the capital project money to wind through the approval process.

Consider this stated amount does not include feed-line up the tower (possibly needed going from 6 to 25kw) new antenna, or higher powered port on a community combiner.

When you add in "incidental, wants, and needs" the price goes even higher.

As a poster stated earlier there are very few transmission items available off the shelve. The manufactures typically build to order, and that can cause a wait of 3 to 6 months alone...

Jay Walker
 
The CP doesn't expire for 3 years. It is a directional antenna and you have to be careful not to lose coverage to the south where it is good now. It will only gain signal to the north. Plus there are tower issues with loading and structural analysis is needed. They are on a City of Charlotte Tower so you have to deal with that also. Sometime in 2013 is probable. What else would you like to know?
 
Yeah, you're right it is 3 years. I remember seeing the date, was going off memory. But yeah, that answered my question. Thanks.
 
Not to be argumentative, but Capital approval should not be a part of the process at this point. Capital approval should in all cases be finalized before the application for CP is filed. It would be a waste of time and money to pay all the costs associated with filing a CP before you had final approval to actually spend the money to make the facility improvement. From working in a corporate environment for hte past 10 years, I know how long some requests for capital can take to get approved, disapproved, re-approved etc. Depending on the culture of the company, you could waste as much as a year of your CP time waiting on approvals to come.
 
jtudor said:
Not to be argumentative, but Capital approval should not be a part of the process at this point. Capital approval should in all cases be finalized before the application for CP is filed. It would be a waste of time and money to pay all the costs associated with filing a CP before you had final approval to actually spend the money to make the facility improvement. From working in a corporate environment for hte past 10 years, I know how long some requests for capital can take to get approved, disapproved, re-approved etc. Depending on the culture of the company, you could waste as much as a year of your CP time waiting on approvals to come.
Click to expand...

It really depends on the financials of the company.
Capital can be authorized, depending on the company on a fast track bases so it's not really an issue unless funds are tight. In most medium and small market situations I've worked regarding major facility changes money is funded AFTER the CP has been granted.

The application/engineering costs are far less than the hard costs of capital equipment.
But again it does depend on the level of "player" the company is. For some $200k is not much, for others it's a MAJOR investment that requires a trip to the investment banks/backers/etc and once you get the funds the clock is ticking on the re-payment/interest.

jwmarsh pointed out that the tower structural analysis for wind load has not been completed so this could be a major choke point with the project. Also being a leased tower there are further issues that come into play...
Jay Walker
 
Jay Walker said:
jtudor said:
Not to be argumentative, but Capital approval should not be a part of the process at this point. Capital approval should in all cases be finalized before the application for CP is filed. It would be a waste of time and money to pay all the costs associated with filing a CP before you had final approval to actually spend the money to make the facility improvement. From working in a corporate environment for hte past 10 years, I know how long some requests for capital can take to get approved, disapproved, re-approved etc. Depending on the culture of the company, you could waste as much as a year of your CP time waiting on approvals to come.
Click to expand...

It really depends on the financials of the company.
Capital can be authorized, depending on the company on a fast track bases so it's not really an issue unless funds are tight. In most medium and small market situations I've worked regarding major facility changes money is funded AFTER the CP has been granted.

The application/engineering costs are far less than the hard costs of capital equipment.
But again it does depend on the level of "player" the company is. For some $200k is not much, for others it's a MAJOR investment that requires a trip to the investment banks/backers/etc and once you get the funds the clock is ticking on the re-payment/interest.

jwmarsh pointed out that the tower structural analysis for wind load has not been completed so this could be a major choke point with the project. Also being a leased tower there are further issues that come into play...
Jay Walker
Click to expand...

Or could be they're trying to find a new tower....:)
 
Jay Walker said:
jtudor said:
Not to be argumentative, but Capital approval should not be a part of the process at this point. Capital approval should in all cases be finalized before the application for CP is filed. It would be a waste of time and money to pay all the costs associated with filing a CP before you had final approval to actually spend the money to make the facility improvement. From working in a corporate environment for hte past 10 years, I know how long some requests for capital can take to get approved, disapproved, re-approved etc. Depending on the culture of the company, you could waste as much as a year of your CP time waiting on approvals to come.
Click to expand...

It really depends on the financials of the company.
Capital can be authorized, depending on the company on a fast track bases so it's not really an issue unless funds are tight. In most medium and small market situations I've worked regarding major facility changes money is funded AFTER the CP has been granted.
Click to expand...
I believe we are talking about two different things here though Jay, Capital certainly can be funded after the CP is approved, but I believe it would still be approved prior to application, and it would be 100% certain that it would be funded at that point. I really don't think you want to be burning CP Time waiting aon an "Approval".
 
jtudor said:
Jay Walker said:
jtudor said:
Not to be argumentative, but Capital approval should not be a part of the process at this point. Capital approval should in all cases be finalized before the application for CP is filed. It would be a waste of time and money to pay all the costs associated with filing a CP before you had final approval to actually spend the money to make the facility improvement. From working in a corporate environment for hte past 10 years, I know how long some requests for capital can take to get approved, disapproved, re-approved etc. Depending on the culture of the company, you could waste as much as a year of your CP time waiting on approvals to come.
Click to expand...

It really depends on the financials of the company.
Capital can be authorized, depending on the company on a fast track bases so it's not really an issue unless funds are tight. In most medium and small market situations I've worked regarding major facility changes money is funded AFTER the CP has been granted.
Click to expand...
I believe we are talking about two different things here though Jay, Capital certainly can be funded after the CP is approved, but I believe it would still be approved prior to application, and it would be 100% certain that it would be funded at that point. I really don't think you want to be burning CP Time waiting aon an "Approval".
Click to expand...

You are correct, I should have been clearer... I've been lucky over the many years since when the CP is granted, I've always been able to "pull the trigger". Then I'm usually waiting for equipment to arrive. In past projects IF I'm certain there will be no issues, I'll even do a pre-order of cap items that require lead time such as transmitters etc. Nautel as an example takes about 60-90 days to build and ship a 40kw solid state FM transmitter (I highly recommend Nautel by the way)

Custom items, such as RF switcher controllers take more time depending on back-orders.

Have you seen how HIGH 3 1/8" rigid line sells for these days? Incredible :eek:
I paid $800 per 20ft section for Myatt last order....
and I didn't even get a kiss or a free meal ;D
 
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