FCC Says "F-U" To KUSF

DToTheJ · Mar 17, 2011

The FCC has shot down KUSF's request to move its transmitter.
http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2011/0...-franciscos-request-to-move-kusf-transmitter/

In a letter dated March 15, the FCC denied USF’s request, stating that USF did not provide sufficient arguments in support of a waiver of FCC contour overlap provisions. The letter from the FCC states, “KUSF has provided insufficient justification in support of its request for waiver. Consequently, waiver of Section 73.509 is not warranted, and the request for waiver IS DENIED.”

uncamark · Mar 17, 2011

DToTheJ said:
The FCC has shot down KUSF's request to move its transmitter.
http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2011/0...-franciscos-request-to-move-kusf-transmitter/

In a letter dated March 15, the FCC denied USF’s request, stating that USF did not provide sufficient arguments in support of a waiver of FCC contour overlap provisions. The letter from the FCC states, “KUSF has provided insufficient justification in support of its request for waiver. Consequently, waiver of Section 73.509 is not warranted, and the request for waiver IS DENIED.”

I would argue that they actually said F-U to KDFC. KDFC wanted to move the transmitter out to near the old 102.1 transmitter in an attempt to get their old range back and the FCC turned them down.

However, I wouldn't interpret this as the USF getting KUSF thrown back in their lap or if that's going to happen--and if the transfer is not approved, I assume that USF and SCCR would just extend the LMA.

recto101 · Mar 17, 2011

Mark Jeffries said:
DToTheJ said:

The FCC has shot down KUSF's request to move its transmitter.
http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2011/0...-franciscos-request-to-move-kusf-transmitter/

In a letter dated March 15, the FCC denied USF’s request, stating that USF did not provide sufficient arguments in support of a waiver of FCC contour overlap provisions. The letter from the FCC states, “KUSF has provided insufficient justification in support of its request for waiver. Consequently, waiver of Section 73.509 is not warranted, and the request for waiver IS DENIED.”

Click to expand...

I would argue that they actually said F-U to KDFC. KDFC wanted to move the transmitter out to near the old 102.1 transmitter in an attempt to get their old range back and the FCC turned them down.

However, I wouldn't interpret this as the USF getting KUSF thrown back in their lap or if that's going to happen--and if the transfer is not approved, I assume that USF and SCCR would just extend the LMA.

Isn't KDFC still waiting for a San Jose FM purchase?

quadraphonic · Mar 17, 2011

Man I hope every rejection letter I've ever gotten didn't actually have "F-U" behind the subtlety of the motivations.

Lou_S · Mar 17, 2011

A minor technicality. I'm sure KUSF/KDFC will just pull in their power a few tenths of a db towards KALX, refile, and everything will be fine.

DaveBayArea · Mar 17, 2011

Lou_S said:
A minor technicality. I'm sure KUSF/KDFC will just pull in their power a few tenths of a db towards KALX, refile, and everything will be fine.

What about KWMR on 90.5? I would think that would be worse. Seems to me they'd be better off trying to move 89.9 up to Mt. Beacon. But there must be a reason that doesn't work either.

Dave B.

Lou_S · Mar 18, 2011

What about KWMR on 90.5?

The high ground between Mt. Beacon and KWMR limits each station's coverage towards the other enough that it's not a concern. There's no overlap of either station's 54 dbu to the other's 60 dbu contour, except over the Pacific Ocean. And overlap that happens over water doesn't count.

Here's a link to the copy of their engineering exhibit on the FCC web site if you're interested...

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101414867&qnum=5160&copynum=1&exhcnum=1

And notice how small an area of overlap there is with KALX. A minor tweak of the directional pattern will take care of that problem.

SML · Mar 18, 2011

It is a simple case of sloppy engineering. I looked at the application and found very little detail in the request for waiver, and it was no surprise that the FCC turned them down on the request. Turn down the power, or pull in the pattern, re-file, problem solved.

DavidKaye · Mar 18, 2011

Don Mussell said:
It is a simple case of sloppy engineering. I looked at the application and found very little detail in the request for waiver, and it was no surprise that the FCC turned them down on the request. Turn down the power, or pull in the pattern, re-file, problem solved.

Hi Don,

Do you have any idea why they decided to apply for Beacon? With KNDL and the present site they already have some good coverage up there. If they're going to move it off-campus, they should just move it to somebody's nearby roof or something.

Man, if there's ever an argument for extending the non-comm band down to TV channel 6 (which I have advocated for years 'n' years, it's definitely this situation. It looks like each and every non-comm FM in central Bay Area is locked in tightly. There are a boatload of these crammed in.

weav · Mar 18, 2011

Beacon is way too high. Bellaire Tower or Clay/Jones, say I. Negotiating the deal will be an interesting exercise but hey...

recto101 · Mar 18, 2011

DaveBayArea said:
Lou_S said:

A minor technicality. I'm sure KUSF/KDFC will just pull in their power a few tenths of a db towards KALX, refile, and everything will be fine.

Click to expand...

What about KWMR on 90.5? I would think that would be worse. Seems to me they'd be better off trying to move 89.9 up to Mt. Beacon. But there must be a reason that doesn't work either.

Dave B.

how about a string of translators on 89.9 fm?

SML · Mar 21, 2011

DavidKaye said:
Don Mussell said:

It is a simple case of sloppy engineering. I looked at the application and found very little detail in the request for waiver, and it was no surprise that the FCC turned them down on the request. Turn down the power, or pull in the pattern, re-file, problem solved.

Click to expand...

Hi Don,

Do you have any idea why they decided to apply for Beacon? With KNDL and the present site they already have some good coverage up there. If they're going to move it off-campus, they should just move it to somebody's nearby roof or something.

Man, if there's ever an argument for extending the non-comm band down to TV channel 6 (which I have advocated for years 'n' years, it's definitely this situation. It looks like each and every non-comm FM in central Bay Area is locked in tightly. There are a boatload of these crammed in.

KDFC is already at Wolfpack Ridge. Adding 90.3 up there was part of the negotiations. It will improve coverage in Marin and San Francisco, simply from the elevation. With 101 going right under the site, and a clear shot at the Richmond Bridge, commuters will get a clear signal.
And yes, the bay area is crammed full. When KPOO was squeezed in back in the early 1970's, I was sure that was the last station to be added. It was not far from the truth.

DavidKaye · Mar 21, 2011

weav said:
Beacon is way too high. Bellaire Tower or Clay/Jones, say I. Negotiating the deal will be an interesting exercise but hey...

From the way I understand it, almost any elevation above the USF campus is too high. This is why I'm wondering why they even bothered to apply for the change to begin with, that plus they already have Marin coverage.

Lou_S · Mar 21, 2011

they already have Marin coverage

Not really. Yes, you can hear 89.9 driving Hwy 101. But go westward into the populated valleys and it disappears in a hurry.

semoochie · Mar 21, 2011

They modified and reapplied.

jprg · Mar 21, 2011

They should have looked into buying KALW from SF School Disrtict. The station had to borrow money from the district. Any school district could use some extra cash and selling KALW would have helped them a lot

uncamark · Mar 22, 2011

Tom Taylor reports that CPRN wants to park the KDFC calls at KNDL, while changing KUSF's calls to KOSC. Interesting (and of course, if the unlikely happens and the sale isn't approved, perhaps no call change, although I still say that if that happens USF will give the KUSF radicals the middle finger and arrange for a long-term LMA with CPRN.

w9wi · Mar 22, 2011

Mark Jeffries said:
Tom Taylor reports that CPRN wants to park the KDFC calls at KNDL, while changing KUSF's calls to KOSC. Interesting (and of course, if the unlikely happens and the sale isn't approved, perhaps no call change, although I still say that if that happens USF will give the KUSF radicals the middle finger and arrange for a long-term LMA with CPRN.

Those changes are official, both callsigns (KDFC and KOSC) have been reserved by Classical Public Radio for use at the stations you (Tom) cite.

HenryOchs · Mar 22, 2011

Lou_S said:
they already have Marin coverage

Click to expand...

Not really. Yes, you can hear 89.9 driving Hwy 101. But go westward into the populated valleys and it disappears in a hurry.

They're is another radio station broadcasting on 89.9 in the East Bay! It is KCRH, which is owned and operated by The Chabot-Los Positas Community College District. I hope nobody messes up this radio station.

Lou_S · Mar 23, 2011

Unfortunately, KCRH is a 10 watt Class D station. They are a secondary service, like a translator, and have zero protection against interference or being forced off the air.