KOWA-LP and KCFL-LP: Licenses deleted

[valvashon]

Two local casualties in the LPFM world- KOWA-LP, a long running community powered station in Olympia that had run-ins with the FCC about their transmitter location, and KCFL-LP in Aberdeen. This one had been around since 2003 and had a dozen different call signs. According to FCCdata.org they had much better coverage of Aberdeen proper when using their earlier transmitter sites, but this last one had fringe coverage of Aberdeen at best, covering a small area along the Olympic Highway pretty well but also mostly covering the surrounding hills.

Did they move themselves out of existence? Any idea why the transmitter moves out to the hills?

 

[boombox4]

Maybe they couldn't afford to place the antenna in a better position?

 

[b-turner]

While I do not know of these stations on a personal level, speaking from general terms, LPFM has always been a tough road. The fact this is the first radio venture for applicants, there is a certain level of a lack of understanding of FCC Rules. Many applicants have no real world example of what to expect from their station. Many lack any management, programming or marketing experience as it pertains to radio in general. This sounds harsh but a DJ or a salesperson typically has only some on the knowledge needed to run a station.

The result is many LPFM stations struggle to fund themselves, attract enough of an audience to provide enough warm bodies to attend to all the duties and stay on top of requirements. I'd say an average LPFM is operating on less than $5,000 a year and that is pre-Covid. Certainly Covid wiped of some if not much funding and certainly many of the volunteer positions. Plainly put, without the financial support or enough volunteers, the workload and financial obligations typically ends up on a very few who eventually question if all that money and work is worth it. For many, the dream became a burden.

This might not be the case for these stations but the above statement certainly applies to many when turned in their license or have gone silent.

 

[Stephanie_S]

Thanks for the excellent assessment. There's a reason many LPFMs are religious. That's one of the few funding models that really seem to work on the micro-targeted audience with a small coverage area.

The LPFM I inherited in 2019 operated on less than $1000 annually and had for two years. They weren't aware of the Soundexchange streaming requirements, BMI/ASCAP, and let's not forget the whole renewal process. Plus, the EAS system was non-compliant. A TFT was still in place. I walked in unsure of there was going to be a allocation of resources to get the station legal in a basic operating environment. Luckily, my University has come through and through steady marketing and resources, we're on track to generate an attainable goal of community funding next year ($15k). Couple with my efforts to turn my station into a educational broadcast and multi-media lab, my station has a chance to mix internal funding and external funding to be viable. Plus, my University has gone all in for a C2 at 50kw in the NCE November filing window to take up a massive notch to develop it well beyond the shaky sustainability of the LPFM license, and the apparent certainty we'd lose our frequency anyway with this last NCE window in November.

I'm still a shop of one with a student PD and 5 student staff, but I'm holding my own. I'll likely get a few more paid warm bodies to where this thing has a long-term chance.

You are absolutely right in that situations like KOWA are victims of not knowing just how important it is to pay attention and understand that our operations require macro and micro attention to detail. I often put in 50-70 hours a week because that's what it takes. Basic license legality is your baseline. That's my #1. The marketing, student development, program development and facility development follow. I've spent a great deal of time befriending engineers and paying attention. What I don't know I ask. It's my duty to keep my plant legal and on track for upward development.

I marvel after two years with this LPFM, I've taken it from certain death to a fighting chance at life, and perhaps even thriving as a education lab and a full-power signal. I'm in the process of building it, but as of today, it's running a localized leaning AAA/roots format and is picking up significant listenership and interest in the community. The building blocks are there we when take the next marketing steps with a staff and business interns moving forward.

Cheers,

While I do not know of these stations on a personal level, speaking from general terms, LPFM has always been a tough road. The fact this is the first radio venture for applicants, there is a certain level of a lack of understanding of FCC Rules. Many applicants have no real world example of what to expect from their station. Many lack any management, programming or marketing experience as it pertains to radio in general. This sounds harsh but a DJ or a salesperson typically has only some on the knowledge needed to run a station.

The result is many LPFM stations struggle to fund themselves, attract enough of an audience to provide enough warm bodies to attend to all the duties and stay on top of requirements. I'd say an average LPFM is operating on less than $5,000 a year and that is pre-Covid. Certainly Covid wiped of some if not much funding and certainly many of the volunteer positions. Plainly put, without the financial support or enough volunteers, the workload and financial obligations typically ends up on a very few who eventually question if all that money and work is worth it. For many, the dream became a burden.

This might not be the case for these stations but the above statement certainly applies to many when turned in their license or have gone silent.

 

[fordranger797]

Sounds like the FCC probably did them a favor. To continue throwing good money at bad money is to their detriment.

 

[Bongwater]

When I heard about KOWA-LP's demise, it felt kinda sad, I remember the fanfare to which it went on.

 

[Roxanne]

KOWA lost their license because they hadn't transmitted from their licensed site in over a year, per FCC rules. They have been operating from their offices near the downtown post office most of their existence. They started out life from their licensed spot on the hills overlooking Black Lake. That didn't work out because of fear of vandalism to the generator powered school bus they were using as the TX building. Too many loose loonies use the area for .22 practice on anything that looks shootable. Unfortunately, the downtown office was too close to other stations to be legal by that week's FCC LPFM interference standards. But they decided their mission was more important than worrying about the Feds, so they moved into downtown.

Unfortunately, because of the controversial nature of some of their political shows, they drew the ire of the local Karen Patrol, which, after a few years, led to a visit by the regional FCC inspector. The KOWA folks were honest about their plight with the FCC guy, but it didn't save their bacon. After maybe a year or so, the FCC yanked their license.

As for KCFL-LP in Aberdeen, as the engineer and instigator of that station, I can speak with some knowledge as well. It just wasn't needed. There's precious little interest in doing community radio on The Harbor. I just couldn't find anybody who was willing to take on the time and expense of running it. After years of being on and off the air, I finally asked the FCC to just cancel the license. I figured that it would leave an open LPFM channel in the area in case anybody else decides they want to break their heart with LPFM for Metro Aberdeen. I'm guessing the FCC will hold another LFPM window sometime after they've cleared up the current full power noncommercial FM applications.