It's almost Halloween! Could 106.3 FM in Maplesville rise from the grave? ;)

[passtheword]

The FCC is auctioning off up to 130 frequencies, one of which is for the 106.3 frequency that Valleydale Broadcasting (aka the Reynolds family) owned until WZNN's license was canceled two years ago for broadcasting from an unlicensed location. If a new station is granted for 106.3 in Maplesville (still a class A), the 106.3 translator for Calera is probably dead in the water, at least with the current facilities given in the construction permit, as FM translators are secondary service and must yield to primary service. Could the 106.3 translator slated for Calera be moved to another frequency (I'm not sure that's even possible at this point, without some "chess pieces" were moved). Not sure, but is it possible that once the station is granted, the licensee could possibly petition the FCC to relicense/move the station to Calera (or other south Shelby county city) as a class A? Here is a list of the frequencies set for auction in April, 2020.

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-19-1027A2.pdf

 

[R.D.P.]

If it does rise again, expect this signal to do either Classic Country, Southern Gospel or mix the two together.

Dan <><

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

If it does rise again, expect this signal to do either Classic Country, Southern Gospel or mix the two together.

Dan <><

No.... that isn't a given.. the licensee could do whatever they want with it.

 

[tomservo]

Who would want it? Maplesville is a greasy spot on the highway. I don't see how it could support a station unless it could be moved somewhere else.

 

[passtheword]

Who would want it? Maplesville is a greasy spot on the highway. I don't see how it could support a station unless it could be moved somewhere else.

That is why I postulated maybe a move to Calera or other south Shelby city, as the FM translator for Calera (W292FO) would no longer be able to stay/go on the air, as it would interfere with a 106.3 in Maplesville. As far as Maplesville, you're right...nothing there and I can't imagine why anyone would want to operate a station there. WAMI-AM in Opp is still (supposedly) going to re-license to Maplesville to feed W292FO in Calera, but I doubt either station will ever come to fruition. According to fccdata.org, WAMI's license was transferred in March, 2018 to the Reynolds who holds the license for W292FO as well, but the AM sale was never consummated, from what I could tell. More nonsense from Reynolds, Great South Wireless or [insert whatever other multiple names they use here]...

I noticed one of those frequencies in the auction was for 93.9 in Camden. So if a station were built on 93.9 there, that would make three stations licensed to Camden, a town which has been losing population for many years and is estimated to be around 1800 people in 2018, according to Wikipedia. Bizarre...