FCC Busts Nassaus WVPO-AM for Multiple Violations!

[plooker]

A friend of mine just passed this to me. Seems like a growing trend in Radio due to the economic downturn, and the wholesale deletion of Engineering staffs has led to many smaller AM & FM signals falling into disrepair and getting caught by FCC inspectors for rules violations. This happened locally back in September 2009 when an FCC inspector found multiple (and some serious) violations at Nassaus WVPO. I noticed this past summer driving thru the area that it was off air, or at reduced power, I guess they were, according to the FCC, they were only doing 45 watts daytime.

Really is ashame what Nassau has done to their properties, but again, since Goldman Sachs owns them, looks like they are just letting them goto seed before they sell.

Anyways, heres the actually FCC Doc.

http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-293422A1.html

 

[Seltzer]

Someone's head at Nassau should roll over this. If you don't want the responsibility of this small station, then sell it to some religious outfit and be done with it. Or sell it to a casino.

 

[plooker]

I dunno about heads rolling. I hear they have 1 Engineer looking after all these stations, and it sounds like they have alot of issues financially, so this is probably bound to happen..

AM is just a waste pit, what Nassau should do, is sell off their AM's to a local interest in those communities...

Just get rid of the headache, I mean this is what seems to be a major industry trend now, and now that Goldman owns them, I would suspect this is probably going to happen.

My Nassau insider also says that they have several other AM properties that are just violations waiting to happen, and basically held together with spit and bailing wire... But I have insiders from Citadel and Clear Channel telling me the same thing about their AM's.. AM is just to expensive to operate in todays market. Especially for a half ass attempt at Programming like Nassau and Citadels properties....

My recommendation, sell NOW!! Before the FCC starts dropping bombs!

 

[rdcuffpa1]

AM is just a waste pit, what Nassau should do, is sell off their AM's to a local interest in those communities...

Just get rid of the headache, I mean this is what seems to be a major industry trend now, and now that Goldman owns them, I would suspect this is probably going to happen.

One wonders if we'll see more commercial-to-non-profit station sales as a result. There are a fair number of NPR AM stations that are all-spoken word around the country.

Richard in Allentown

 

[radiophiler]

Not a bad idea. Nassau has any number of AMs that would bring NPR news/talk programming to unserved areas 24/7. In the Lehigh Valley, WDIY only carries Morning Edition and ATC. Sell off 1230-1320 combo to a nonprofit which would air NPR N/T 24/7.

Heck, for that matter, throw in the AMs in Flemington, Lehighton, Stroudsburg and Mt. Pocono. Make an east-central PA/western NJ NPR network.

 

[DToTheJ]

The ultimate violation of WVPO was from former programming provider Air America. They used to pass the station off as their "Philadelphia" affiliate.

 

[Radiodeity]

{snip}
The ultimate violation of WVPO was from former programming provider Air America.
{snip}

So what you're says is Air America twisted their arm to reduce the power to 45 watts?

(Guess I'm missing something...)

 

[Tommy Roberts Jr]

This is the Correct info for WVPO

WVPO-AM Technical Info:
Status Licensed Class D AM Station
Hours of Operation Daytime Operation Only
Antenna Mode Non-Directional - Daytime Only
Power 250 Watts
Number of Towers 1

 

[Dan Davis]

"The ultimate violation of WVPO was from former programming provider Air America. They used to pass the station off as their Philadelphia affiliate"

You're an idiot! WVPO didn't have Air America programing.