semoochie said:
Apparently, such rules do not apply to noncommercial stations. On top of that, a Class C is not a translator.
Very true.
You see radioplayer, what they use is a loophole in the rules that says non-commercial stations can use translators in areas beyond their normal coverage because basically of A) Interfering local stations B) Because of terrain and C) Where it matters (by public demand.)
CSN/AFR/EMF have interpreted these rules to imply that A) We can set up one full power, non-commercial station (like KLOP) to use it to B) Apply for MORE translators.
Not that there was a HUGE demand either.
These religious networks are basically milking what was intended for educational and public service into a pulpit for religious dogma. That is ABUSE. Because the rules did not intend it this way.
I'll give you an example: KPLU
KPLU is a Tacoma licensed station. It has been a full power jazz station and one of the very few of it's kind in the USA since 1984. While it is owned by Pacific Lutheran University, it does not preach religion. PLU's main focus is education and they're very good at it - I personally know a couple millionaires that went to PLU (in other courses.) KPLU has translators up and down Western Washington. Their main 88.5 signal can be heard, but not clearly in those areas where the translators come in. They are a valid use of radio translators. Not long ago, a Canadian station began operating on 88.5, so KPLU had to get another fully licensed station, KVIX on 89.3 to serve the Port Angeles and Victoria, BC areas where KPLU was being outblasted by the new Canadian station on 88.5
I can understand where this comes in. KPLU is a Puget Sound station - or one located in and serving the Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca is technically a part of that.
A not-so-valid use of translators occurs when a non-commercial radio station that cannot be heard for THOUSANDS of miles away on it's main operating frequency decides on it's own that it needs as many "translators" as it can get.
So it applies for all these translators, mentioning in the app they're only going to rebroadcast KUOW, or KPLU, Or KNHC. And here's the bomb: If it's a non-commercial station you're planning to rebroadcast and even if you're just a third party, not even related to a forementioned station, you can STILL apply for one.
That's how EMF does it. They have plenty of toadies who also sign their names in place of EMF, but all with the same goal (I'll get to that in a minute.)
Then the translators come on. some with aforementioned stations in the first week, some straight from CSN/EMF altogether, usually the latter. All at the expense of LEGITIMATE public broadcasters who were not even notified of these so-called "translators" use or seek of actual CONSENT of their stations to rebroadcast their programming.
So to get around that, you set up a lone station with full license (albeit 1000% coming off the bird) and then set up all your "translators" around it. Voila! Instant mega network!
And it's all under the same rules and regulations that keep KPLU going. However, KPLU is coming from A) An educational institution. B) Provides local content and C) Although it does have professional broadcasters on the air, it also has polished upstarts on and off the air. And while KPLU is coming from Pacific Lutheran University (you just haven't been to Tacoma until you've seen the PLU campus.), far away from say, Port Angeles, it's still a shorter drive than to Twin Falls, Idaho.
BUT...
Neither KPLU, KUOW, KNHC or other of our LOCAL public/community stations feel the need for translators THOUSANDS of miles away. Would be nice, of course. But they take the less cheesy way out and provide translators to the areas their main signal cannot be heard clearly (or in the case of Port Angeles/Victoria, at all, by default from a sovereign nation.) and use the internet to cover the rest.
CSN/AFR/EMF, et all, use the main network and sub-network web of translators to blanket the country with their OWN network programming (no locally originating stuff, nothing free-form or independent.) They do not settle for just the fact they have internet feeds themselves outside of Idaho, in the case of CSN. Their main purpose is to A) Take any and all available FM frequencies to keep (or at least discourage) future local public/community broadcasters and their respective translators from coming on the air. B) Twist the meaning of "educational" radio to mean "educating in religion". Not about demonstrating the nuts and bolts to students or volunteers at each fully licensed station. C) To kill LOCAL religious radio.
I don't listen to KCMS much, but I know enough about them to know they didn't get their high ratings for nothing. They pioneered the CCM music format and they are STILL the undisputed leaders at it. They are the best example of good LOCAL religious radio (at least when a board op makes a mistake, they don't perform a full blown exorcism or speaking in tongues on him/her. Or force them to say ten Hail Marys.)
Not saying CSN/AFR/EMF does this behind the scenes. They do worse. They keep applying and applying for more and MORE translators in states hundreds and thousands of miles away. KCMS does not do this. Nor does it's Northwest Washington sister station KWPZ. KCMS had to get serious about CHANGING people's entire perception on religious radio. And CSN and the rest have been riding on the coattails of that. And with that, how dare CSN or "K-Love" cross OUR state lines.
What gives?
Is there a SHORTAGE of religious radio? Yes. If you're Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Wiccan, Native American, Sanitarian, Hindu, Sikh, Rastafarian, etc, you bet there is. But absolutely no shortage of LOCAL Christian (or derivatives) radio whatsoever. Local Christian stations are EVERYWHERE. There is no NEED for one or two national stations to replace them.
Yeah, you may be this Christian slacker guy who likes The Effect (a second CSN network that plays Christian Alternatrive on TOP of their Dogma channel or whatever it is ) But last I heard, Jesus wasn't a slacker. Or greedy.
And this is total slacker, greedy radio........
