KSPA-AM 1510 files to change transmitter sites

[K.M. Richards]

In January 1994, our home was damaged in the Northridge quake. Not only was power out for days, we had no water service. So, we drove back and forth to a friend's home in Reseda to shower, etc. I distinctly remember hearing a number of cars tuned to KNX and the former all-news KFWB. Yes, I realize that was more than 20 years ago, and before internet/cellphone usage became widespread. But even then, AM listening was not huge. People were desperate for quake info, and with power outages KNX was the perfect source.

KFWB also fed several FMs the morning of the quake. I remember them doing all the stations' legal IDs at the TOH. Two that I specifically remember were KTWV and KZLA (now KLLI).

 

[davideduardo]

In a major disaster, if power outages were widespread (and they didn't have a battery-operated radio in an emergency kit), some of those 3.3 million would probably find KNX on their car radio. Maybe not many, but in a disaster some people will go to great lengths to get info.

I don't know the answer, but a good question is "How many people under 35 even know that their car radio has an the ability to get an all news station, either on AM of FM?"

In January 1994, our home was damaged in the Northridge quake. Not only was power out for days, we had no water service. So, we drove back and forth to a friend's home in Reseda to shower, etc. I distinctly remember hearing a number of cars tuned to KNX and the former all-news KFWB. Yes, I realize that was more than 20 years ago, and before internet/cellphone usage became widespread. But even then, AM listening was not huge. People were desperate for quake info, and with power outages KNX was the perfect source.

That was 31 years ago. And AM radio had about a third of all listening in LA still, even though it was mostly older people, Hispanics, Persians and Asians who listened.

Of the two, KFWB had much better coverage. I even called them from KKHJ to get permission to use sound bites from their audio.

 

[vchimpanzee]

In a major disaster, if power outages were widespread (and they didn't have a battery-operated radio in an emergency kit), some of those 3.3 million would probably find KNX on their car radio. Maybe not many, but in a disaster some people will go to great lengths to get info.

After Helene, radio was the one way to get news in parts of Western North Carolina. The Internet was out in most areas, and power took a while to come back too.

 

[secondchoice]

Back in the early 1980s the owner of two AMs in western NC tolded me the FCC ground conductivity chart was wrong. It really was 25 to 50% worse (lower) than what the FCC had. That was before all the RF pollution we have now.

 

[davideduardo]

Back in the early 1980s the owner of two AMs in western NC tolded me the FCC ground conductivity chart was wrong. It really was 25 to 50% worse (lower) than what the FCC had. That was before all the RF pollution we have now.

One can do a special study of conductivity in a region and file for greater power based on that.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Back in the early 1980s the owner of two AMs in western NC tolded me the FCC ground conductivity chart was wrong. It really was 25 to 50% worse (lower) than what the FCC had. That was before all the RF pollution we have now.

In one county the AM wasn't working but they did get the translator on the air, and it was more useful.

 

[davideduardo]

In one county the AM wasn't working but they did get the translator on the air, and it was more useful.

Of course, as stated here over and over, a translator is not free-standing. Unless linked to a licensed station (AM, FM, HD Channel) it can not operate independently. If the "mother-ship" is not on the air, the translator is supposed to stop broadcasting.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Of course, as stated here over and over, a translator is not free-standing. Unless linked to a licensed station (AM, FM, HD Channel) it can not operate independently. If the "mother-ship" is not on the air, the translator is supposed to stop broadcasting.

Normally. But in this case it was the only source of news and information for a lot of people in that county.

A voice in the dark: how WPTL got back on air against all odds after Helene

Dawn was just starting to break when Teryll Evans was forced to abandon ship at WPTL in downtown Canton and make fast tracks for home. Little did she know the

www.themountaineer.com

Getting the word out as waters rose

What do you do when your job is to communicate about emergency situations with the public, but communications are down region wide?

www.themountaineer.com

 

[K.M. Richards]

In one county the AM wasn't working but they did get the translator on the air, and it was more useful.

Of course, as stated here over and over, a translator is not free-standing. Unless linked to a licensed station (AM, FM, HD Channel) it can not operate independently. If the "mother-ship" is not on the air, the translator is supposed to stop broadcasting.

While that's true, I doubt the FCC would slap their wrist if they did it to provide emergency information if they advised the Media Bureau afterwards.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

While that's true, I doubt the FCC would slap their wrist if they did it to provide emergency information if they advised the Media Bureau afterwards.

A louisiana AM thats part of a cluster had its tower crumpled by a hurricane, it has a translator.. they verbally asked (called the FCC) for an STA to keep the translator on while they spend the next 2 to 3 days getting the AM back on temporarily.

The FCC denied it.

 

[K.M. Richards]

A louisiana AM thats part of a cluster had its tower crumpled by a hurricane, it has a translator.. they verbally asked (called the FCC) for an STA to keep the translator on while they spend the next 2 to 3 days getting the AM back on temporarily.

The FCC denied it.

I have a feeling that a case of just going ahead and then advising the FCC after the fact would have worked out better. Too easy for the Media Bureau to say "no" to a verbal request; much harder to justify a NAV when emergency communications are the reason and it comes as a written filing and comes from the station's legal counsel. (Especially if said emergency communications carried no commercials while the AM was off the air.)

In any event, I am still of the opinion that translators presently connected to AMs will end up as something like a Class A1 down the road, conditioned on taking the AM permanently silent and a minimum period of operation before any ownership change could occur.