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FCC's Approval of WAIT 820AM App.

F

flip_flop_fly

I hope someone here can help me out regarding a particular matter...

I was at the FCC website, and read that NewWeb's WAIT 820AM was granted approval to change the COL from Chicago to Willow Springs, and also granted a construction permit to build a new tower. But it appears that the new tower is slated to be built in the same spot as the old tower, and they have yet to receive word on their request to broadcast at night as well.

Does getting the COL changed to Willow Springs bode well for WAIT, when it comes to getting approval for a nighttime license? Did NewsWeb actually need to get approval to improve their existing tower, or does it have more to do with the COL? And is everyone here of the opinion that this is all being done for the sake of Starboard and Relevant Radio, or is there a sliver of a hope that NewsWeb may move AAR to 820AM? I was thinking that considering WCPT went from oblivion to .7 in less than two ratings periods, and with a horrendous signal at that, Harvey Wells be willing to put AAR on a decent signal, or am I hoping for too much here?
 
> I hope someone here can help me out regarding a particular
> matter...
>
> I was at the FCC website, and read that NewWeb's WAIT 820AM
> was granted approval to change the COL from Chicago to
> Willow Springs, and also granted a construction permit to
> build a new tower. But it appears that the new tower is
> slated to be built in the same spot as the old tower, and
> they have yet to receive word on their request to broadcast
> at night as well.
>
> Does getting the COL changed to Willow Springs bode well for
> WAIT, when it comes to getting approval for a nighttime
> license? Did NewsWeb actually need to get approval to
> improve their existing tower, or does it have more to do
> with the COL? And is everyone here of the opinion that this
> is all being done for the sake of Starboard and Relevant
> Radio, or is there a sliver of a hope that NewsWeb may move
> AAR to 820AM? I was thinking that considering WCPT went from
> oblivion to .7 in less than two ratings periods, and with a
> horrendous signal at that, Harvey Wells be willing to put
> AAR on a decent signal, or am I hoping for too much here?

One would think that Wells and Eyechaner would want to move WCPT to the better signal, especially if they can get nighttime authority. I'm assuming that if there's anything standing in the way, it might be that Relevant's contract may state that they can only be on 820. Don't know for sure, but that is a possibility.
 
> >
> Even with the new tower, how much could they improve the
> signal without bumping into WBAP 820(D-FW) at night?
>
With a tower in Elmhurst, Century Broadcasting was able to broadcast at night on 820 for a decade (at reduced power, I assume). Is the new location much different?
 
> With a tower in Elmhurst, Century Broadcasting was able to
> broadcast at night on 820 for a decade (at reduced power, I
> assume). Is the new location much different?
>
The construction permit shows the "new" daytime tower location to be in the exact same spot as their current tower, the northwest side of Chicago. The yet-to-be-approved application for the nighttime towers has them located somewhere between Joliet, Lockport, and Mokena. The nighttime signal would not be powerful enough to cover the entire city of Chicago, which, I assume, explains why they changed the COL from Chicago to southwest suburban Willow Springs. I also noticed that they also have an application on file for a 3,200 watt auxiliary tower, which will be diplexed with WSBC on a building on Milwaukee Ave in Chicago. I just don't know whether the app for the aux tower has anything to do with the daytime construction permit, or whether there is, in fact, no construction slated to take place, that it's just a formality needed to get the COL approved.

Wells had mentioned to a number of us in the past that if NewWeb's WNDZ received it power boost to 15,000 watts, which they now have a construction permit to do, that they would consider moving AAR onto WNDZ's 750AM. But I also know that they are trying to get the COL for WNDZ changed from Portage, IN, to Calumet City, and that work has not started on the new tower and signal boost. He also mentioned simulcasting WCPT with WCFJ 1470AM, but he has since reneged on that.
 
The application shows the current location becuase it's required on any FCC form 301. They're not moving the day site. They have THE signal reaching into the caverns of the loop and city/metro center. 2nd place goes to 1KW WNTD (950) because their tower at 15th and Western is so close to downtown.

The proposed night pattern is SO tight towards WBAP that you will be in sections of Joliet and not hear the station...at all. If I read the application correctly, they will have less than 25 watts towards WBAP.

When in Elmhurst, there were areas near the site where the station could not be heard eaither when they ran 500 watts at night. The proposed power is 2.5 KW.

GR


> > With a tower in Elmhurst, Century Broadcasting was able to
>
> > broadcast at night on 820 for a decade (at reduced power,
> I
> > assume). Is the new location much different?
> >
> The construction permit shows the "new" daytime tower
> location to be in the exact same spot as their current
> tower, the northwest side of Chicago. The yet-to-be-approved
> application for the nighttime towers has them located
> somewhere between Joliet, Lockport, and Mokena. The
> nighttime signal would not be powerful enough to cover the
> entire city of Chicago, which, I assume, explains why they
> changed the COL from Chicago to southwest suburban Willow
> Springs. I also noticed that they also have an application
> on file for a 3,200 watt auxiliary tower, which will be
> diplexed with WSBC on a building on Milwaukee Ave in
> Chicago. I just don't know whether the app for the aux tower
> has anything to do with the daytime construction permit, or
> whether there is, in fact, no construction slated to take
> place, that it's just a formality needed to get the COL
> approved.
>
> Wells had mentioned to a number of us in the past that if
> NewWeb's WNDZ received it power boost to 15,000 watts, which
> they now have a construction permit to do, that they would
> consider moving AAR onto WNDZ's 750AM. But I also know that
> they are trying to get the COL for WNDZ changed from
> Portage, IN, to Calumet City, and that work has not started
> on the new tower and signal boost. He also mentioned
> simulcasting WCPT with WCFJ 1470AM, but he has since reneged
> on that.
>
 
> I also noticed that they also have an application
> on file for a 3,200 watt auxiliary tower, which will be
> diplexed with WSBC on a building on Milwaukee Ave in
> Chicago.

Is that, by any chance, the old WCRW/WEDC antenna?

Fybush makes mention of it <a target="_blank" href=http://www.fybush.com/site-010718.html>here</a> (it's the last thing on the bottom of the page).

-A<P ID="signature">______________

</P>
 
> > I also noticed that they also have an application
> > on file for a 3,200 watt auxiliary tower, which will be
> > diplexed with WSBC on a building on Milwaukee Ave in
> > Chicago.
>
> Is that, by any chance, the old WCRW/WEDC antenna?
>
> Fybush makes mention of it here (it's the last thing on the
> bottom of the page).
>
> -A
>
Yes, I believe it is, which further leads to me to believe that all this "construction", of both the aux tower and daytime tower, will take place on paper only.

I'd still welcome predictions from everyone regarding the future of 820AM. Does getting the COL changed to Willow Springs help NewsWeb's chances of getting their nighttime license? If they do get nighttime approval, will it continue to broadcast Relevant Radio for Starboard? Will it sell WAIT to Starboard? Will AAR ever appear on that station?
 
> > I also noticed that they also have an application
> > on file for a 3,200 watt auxiliary tower, which will be
> > diplexed with WSBC on a building on Milwaukee Ave in
> > Chicago.
>
> Is that, by any chance, the old WCRW/WEDC antenna?

No it is not.

WCRW used to broadcast from the rooftop at 2756 N. Pine Grove in Chicago, while WEDC used to broadcast from a tower located near the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Catalpa.

You can see photos of WCRW tower here:

http://www.nrcdxas.org/pictures/WCRW-1240-1.jpg
http://www.nrcdxas.org/pictures/WCRW-1240-2.jpg
 
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