• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

High School losing station to Christian Broadcasters...

R

RockManAC

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=3088>http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=3088</a>

Today’s lesson: Don’t cross Christian broadcasting.

Maynard High School’s radio frequency, 91.7 FM, is being seized by a network of Christian broadcasting stations that the Federal Communications Commission has ruled is a better use of the public airwaves.

-A<P ID="signature">______________

</P>
 
Most of the FCC stuff makes sense.

Some is stupid. Like this.<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
> http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=3088
>
> Today’s lesson: Don’t cross Christian broadcasting.
>
> Maynard High School’s radio frequency, 91.7 FM, is being
> seized by a network of Christian broadcasting stations that
> the Federal Communications Commission has ruled is a better
> use of the public airwaves.

That's a disgrace.

How many political hacks has our "big religion"
president appointed to the Friendly Candy Company?

I'm starting to miss Howard Stern.

73s from 954 in Wilmaland<P ID="signature">______________
<center>South Florida Radio Pages</center></P>
 
> http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=3088
>
> Today’s lesson: Don’t cross Christian broadcasting.
>
> Maynard High School’s radio frequency, 91.7 FM, is being
> seized by a network of Christian broadcasting stations that
> the Federal Communications Commission has ruled is a better
> use of the public airwaves.
>
> -A
>

Read the story in the Boston Herald. Couple things shot out at me, particularly the 5 years between filing for the power increase and the receipt (apparently recently) of the re-allocation. I know the FCC works slow, but at W&J we moved into the non-comm band and increased power within a year (might have even been a matter of months).

Class D non-comm seeking to move to Class A non-comm status--I'm not sure about the automatic challenge the faculty advisor is talking about. If they were in the comm band at 10 watts, yes--no protection. But a power increase (essentially minor change in licensed facility) does not lead to a license challenge and re-allocation.

*IF* the story as written is true, it's a horrible injustice and a violation of due process. No hearing on the matter. That's unconstitutional.

Also, in my mind and studies (not knowing all the facts), "a better use of the public airwaves" is not grounds for a license revocation and re-allocation. The standard for license is public interest/convenience, and in a revocation, behavior unbefitting a licensee (rules violations, financial issues, etc.) The FCC cannot just up and transfer a license like that. Better use of the public airwaves, with these facts as presented, strikes pretty close to a First Amendment violation.

(Yes, true, in the past I have advocated a "format allocation" under the FCC auspices. I still wonder what the legal ramifications of that would be. I contend it might be legal. Others claim a First Amendment violation. They may be correct. That issue is similar to the one here.)

*IF TRUE* (can't stress that enough), the school has enough here to mount a severe challenge to the FCC's decision. I'd help out if I could. But there's a few holes in the story I'd like plugged first.
 
> http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=3088
>
> Today’s lesson: Don’t cross Christian broadcasting.
>
> Maynard High School’s radio frequency, 91.7 FM, is being
> seized by a network of Christian broadcasting stations that
> the Federal Communications Commission has ruled is a better
> use of the public airwaves.
>
> -A
>

I'm not surprised! This is the same FCC that 10 years ago screwed an Asheville, NC broadcaster out of their license after they were awarded the CP to put an new FM station on the air. Those that read the Charlotte board would know what I'm talking about.

Robyn
<P ID="signature">______________
"I'm not exactly in the mood for Mozart and all that kinda goings on"...Information Society-"Peace and Love Incorporated"</P><P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by RobynWatts on 10/19/05 10:04 PM.</FONT></P>
 
Not defending this action by any means, but I thought I had read that the stations that were ripe for the pickings are those with very limited schedules...maybe just a few hours a day with being off all summer. Might this have been the case?
 
> Not defending this action by any means, but I thought I had
> read that the stations that were ripe for the pickings are
> those with very limited schedules...maybe just a few hours a
> day with being off all summer. Might this have been the
> case?
>

Sheesh, I sure hope not. That sets a bad precendent and leaves a lot of other school-operated facilities very vulnerable.

Hard to say what the full story behind this particular action is, but in most cases, a lot of these stations exist to give students vocational training and a taste of the broadcasting field. Can't that be considered "in the public interest" enough?
 
> Not defending this action by any means, but I thought I had
> read that the stations that were ripe for the pickings are
> those with very limited schedules...maybe just a few hours a
> day with being off all summer. Might this have been the
> case?

The way I read it, it was a class D station. It applied for an upgrade to class A. Class D stations are secondary services and are not afforded any protection; they, like translators, may be bumped at will. So, when the station tried to put a class A license in at its same frequency, it created an open allotment, which means any qualified broadcaster who is interested may apply for the signal. The FCC would have used its normal criteria, and the school lost. It's perfectly legal and not without precedent.

Now, having said that, I don't like the decision either. The school is not likely to win on its appeal because the FCC almost certainly followed the rules it's required to follow. However, the school has several other options, including trying to relocate its class D license to another space on the dial. I don't know how feasible that is in its location, but it should be afforded a better situation than new LPFM applicants as it would not be subject to many of the same restrictions.
 
> > Not defending this action by any means, but I thought I
> had
> > read that the stations that were ripe for the pickings are
>
> > those with very limited schedules...maybe just a few hours
> a
> > day with being off all summer. Might this have been the
> > case?
>
> The way I read it, it was a class D station. It applied for
> an upgrade to class A. Class D stations are secondary
> services and are not afforded any protection; they, like
> translators, may be bumped at will. So, when the station
> tried to put a class A license in at its same frequency, it
> created an open allotment, which means any qualified
> broadcaster who is interested may apply for the signal. The
> FCC would have used its normal criteria, and the school
> lost. It's perfectly legal and not without precedent.
>
> Now, having said that, I don't like the decision either.
> The school is not likely to win on its appeal because the
> FCC almost certainly followed the rules it's required to
> follow. However, the school has several other options,
> including trying to relocate its class D license to another
> space on the dial. I don't know how feasible that is in its
> location, but it should be afforded a better situation than
> new LPFM applicants as it would not be subject to many of
> the same restrictions.
>

I think that's right. School might have a case if they can show that the FCC panel was relying on some bad criteria, or can make a decent argument AROUND the lost allocation--enough to confuse them into granting a hearing. At least get a chance to be heard and cry tears in front of them.

Oh, and bring some kids with sob stories.
 
Is the school in a location where all other available frequencies are taken?


There is a school station near here that has me mystified. Whenever I drive by it during school hours, all I hear is a dead carrier.

???

KL

<a href="http://home.nc.rr.com/gttyson/lastradio.html">The Last Radio Station<a>
<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
The school better hire a good athiest lawyer on this one.


> http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=3088
>
> Today’s lesson: Don’t cross Christian broadcasting.
>
> Maynard High School’s radio frequency, 91.7 FM, is being
> seized by a network of Christian broadcasting stations that
> the Federal Communications Commission has ruled is a better
> use of the public airwaves.
>
> -A
> <P ID="signature">______________
Stuff ignored by the newspapers found at
http://www.sandiegoradionews.com/
</P>
 
> The school better hire a good athiest lawyer on this one.

That's atheist.

Find a good ultra-liberal lawyer who'd be
willing to do a good deed to annoy the religious
right (pro bono).

Even liberals can do something worthwhile, once
in a while.

Especially if it's presented as an opportunity
to annoy the religious right and get free publicity
at the same time.

;-)

73s from 954 in Wilmaland<P ID="signature">______________
<center>South Florida Radio Pages</center></P>
 
> http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=3088
>
> Today’s lesson: Don’t cross Christian broadcasting.
>
> Maynard High School’s radio frequency, 91.7 FM, is being
> seized by a network of Christian broadcasting stations that
> the Federal Communications Commission has ruled is a better
> use of the public airwaves.
>
> -A

There MUST be a better way to get a frequency.

Yes, I'm a Christian, and no, I don't agree with what these people did to get a frequency. This is NOT the way to endear yourself to the community.<P ID="signature">______________
narniabanner.jpg
</P>
 
> Is the school in a location where all other available
> frequencies are taken?

I'm not sure. I actually have worked at one class D, KGSP 90.3 in Parkville, MO, and it was bumped from 92.3 by a religious broadcaster a little over 10 years ago. Something similar happened with KGSP. It was on 90.3 and was moving to 92.3. It hoped to get a full signal licensed to Parkville, but a religious broadcaster got that frequency allotted to Olathe, KS. KGSP ended up either returning to or never leaving 90.3 because KKFI 90.1 agreed to let it stay next door. An agreement like this might be permissible.
 
> > http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=3088
> >
> > Today’s lesson: Don’t cross Christian broadcasting.
> >
> > Maynard High School’s radio frequency, 91.7 FM, is being
> > seized by a network of Christian broadcasting stations
> that
> > the Federal Communications Commission has ruled is a
> better
> > use of the public airwaves.
> >
> > -A
>
> There MUST be a better way to get a frequency.
>
> Yes, I'm a Christian, and no, I don't agree with what these
> people did to get a frequency. This is NOT the way to
> endear yourself to the community.
>

Some people want "radio fame" badly enough that they're willing to suffer a bit of notoriety, if that what it takes to get your spot on the dial. Of course, I'm assuming that since this was all buried up in the non-comm band, they probably never thought this would create a fuss, and expected it would pass unnoticed.

Shortly after first reading this thread, I was surfing cable channels on TV and just happened to hit MS-NBC as Keith Olbermann was counting down his "Worst Of The Day" segment. This particular story happened to be number two. (A lawsuit between Sinclair Broadcasting and Joe Liebermann was numero uno.)
 
> > The school better hire a good athiest lawyer on this one.
>
> That's atheist.
>
> Find a good ultra-liberal lawyer who'd be
> willing to do a good deed to annoy the religious
> right (pro bono).
>
> Even liberals can do something worthwhile, once
> in a while.

The last time I checked, both sides of the political spectrum opposed outright theft.
 
> *IF* the story as written is true, it's a horrible injustice
> and a violation of due process. No hearing on the matter.
> That's unconstitutional.
>
> *IF TRUE* (can't stress that enough), the school has enough
> here to mount a severe challenge to the FCC's decision. I'd
> help out if I could. But there's a few holes in the story
> I'd like plugged first.
>

Given the religious group's absolute silence on the issue (on a site that seems to get weekly updates), it's clear that at least part of the story is true.

http://www.lproof.org/radio.asp
 
> > > The school better hire a good athiest lawyer on this
> one.
> >
> > That's atheist.
> >
> > Find a good ultra-liberal lawyer who'd be
> > willing to do a good deed to annoy the religious
> > right (pro bono).
> >
> > Even liberals can do something worthwhile, once
> > in a while.
>
> The last time I checked, both sides of the political
> spectrum opposed outright theft.

Theoretically, yes.

But both sides have been known to rationalize it if
the end justified it in their opinions.

73s from 954 in Wilmaland
<P ID="signature">______________
<center>South Florida Radio Pages</center></P>
 
> The way I read it, it was a class D station. It applied for
> an upgrade to class A. Class D stations are secondary
> services and are not afforded any protection; they, like
> translators, may be bumped at will. So, when the station
> tried to put a class A license in at its same frequency, it
> created an open allotment, which means any qualified
> broadcaster who is interested may apply for the signal. The
> FCC would have used its normal criteria, and the school
> lost. It's perfectly legal and not without precedent.

You're right.

It's still a terrible rule though, because it defies common sense. If a Class D applies to increase it's power, no one besides the FCC would consider that an "open allotment".

I can't really blame the Christian group that got the frequency though. They saw an open frequency and took legal steps to obtain it. It's the FCC policy that needs to change. Class D's upgrading to class A's should be given that opportunity.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom