More Hanky-Panky from First Broadcasting (ie. Ch. 283)

[Radiobub]

Hey boy's and girls, check this supplement out from First Broadcasting. They're in a bit of a squeeze on channel 283 104.5Mhz. Seems like they are getting desperate as the Commission has ruled that backfilled vacant allotments are no substitution for actual service. So what do they do to cure/remedy this little "problem"? Why they went out and bought themselves an allotment in po-dunk Oregon (Oh, I'm sorry, Condon, Oregon population 745), which at 100,000 watts at 288 meters HAAT, they will take care of triple-bogey's (KDUX) objection of leaving 1800 people without radio service in the "Covington" KMCQ filing. So, question is, will the FCC see through this charade? Would YOU build a 100,000 watt FM in the middle of nowhere? I think not. It's more manipulation
from our friends from First Broadcasting, LLC.

See for yourself: http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6517997582

And this case that started it all: http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6516887101

And the Petition for Recon:http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6516887821

 

[Randy_in_Eugene]

> will the FCC see through this charade?

The FCC believes First will provide the first "local service" to Covington, don't they? 'Nuff Said.

The FCC is run by morons who are outright opposed to "Serving in the public interest as a public trustee."

 

[Radiobub]

> > will the FCC see through this charade?
>
> The FCC believes First will provide the first "local
> service" to Covington, don't they? 'Nuff Said.
>
> The FCC is run by morons who are outright opposed to
> "Serving in the public interest as a public trustee."
>
Yes, but there is so many things wrong with this proposal, it's not even funny.
First and formost, they "forgot" to reinstate their continuing interest in Covington after they switched from "Kent, WA. back to "Covington". This is a no-no is not allowed, though, golly gee, the FCC allowed it. Secondly, First Broadcasting said they'd only cover 8.8 percent of the Seattle-Tacoma urbanized area with their 70 dbu. KMIH, with Dataworld's help totally proved them wrong. It's more like 39% of the 70 dbu, and 69% of the 60 dbu in the urbanized area.
So what did the commission do, well, uh...er...they disregarded this fact. First Broadcasting's only hope here is if KMIH finds a new home (which they might have, we'll see), and settles up. If First cannot use unbuilt backfilled allotments as providing "service", and the Condon, Oregon (pop 745) stooge 100,000 watt allotment doesn't fly with the Commission, then I truly believe we're looking at a D.C. Circuit Court lawsuit against the FCC. So, if I were First Broadcasting, I would treat the Mercer Island School District very nicely and put together a sweet settlement package immediately.

 

[eastsidah]

> > > will the FCC see through this charade?
> >
> > The FCC believes First will provide the first "local
> > service" to Covington, don't they? 'Nuff Said.
> >
> > The FCC is run by morons who are outright opposed to
> > "Serving in the public interest as a public trustee."
> >
> Yes, but there is so many things wrong with this proposal,
> it's not even funny.
> First and formost, they "forgot" to reinstate their
> continuing interest in Covington after they switched from
> "Kent, WA. back to "Covington". This is a no-no is not
> allowed, though, golly gee, the FCC allowed it. Secondly,
> First Broadcasting said they'd only cover 8.8 percent of the
> Seattle-Tacoma urbanized area with their 70 dbu. KMIH, with
> Dataworld's help totally proved them wrong. It's more like
> 39% of the 70 dbu, and 69% of the 60 dbu in the urbanized
> area.
> So what did the commission do, well, uh...er...they
> disregarded this fact. First Broadcasting's only hope here
> is if KMIH finds a new home (which they might have, we'll
> see), and settles up. If First cannot use unbuilt backfilled
> allotments as providing "service", and the Condon, Oregon
> (pop 745) stooge 100,000 watt allotment doesn't fly with the
> Commission, then I truly believe we're looking at a D.C.
> Circuit Court lawsuit against the FCC. So, if I were First
> Broadcasting, I would treat the Mercer Island School
> District very nicely and put together a sweet settlement
> package immediately.
>
Ummm...the way I understand it KMIH doesn't have any kind of protection of their signal. No one HAS to offer them anything. Would it be nice if they did? Sure, but it ain't gonna happen.

 

[chokesman-review]

> Ummm...the way I understand it KMIH doesn't have any kind of
> protection of their signal. No one HAS to offer them
> anything. Would it be nice if they did? Sure, but it ain't
> gonna happen.

Thats my understanding too. Zero protection incase someone wants to swoop in and take the frequency. KMIH should've made a move years ago to at least go class A.

Continuing on with the lack of protection of signals. LPFM in Spokane KYRS 95.3 is about to get whacked. How so you ask? KPND 95.3 out of Sandpoint, ID has an approved CP to boost to 56kw (from 9800w) and move 35 miles closer to Spokane. Radio-Locator's estimated coverage of KPND at 56k will put a decent signal into Spokane. KYRS LPFM's fate? Plug pulled and move - they'll have to go so far south with the new KPND signal the won't be able to hit thier 92.3 translator in Spokane.

Whitworth's college 90.3 class D KWRS has already had one brush with losing thier frequency to Spokane Public Radio. They are sitting ducks for it to happen again.

I've maintained this for years. The long touted line by the FCC to serve the community is #1 - its great PR. Originally that ideal may have been sound. Now though, there is a more powerful unwritten element. Cash talks. The lack of protection of the small stations is unjust. The abuse of the translator service by stations with no local connection. Its been a debacle. The FCC is more interested in cashing a check than community service.

Makes me fondly remember the days of the pirate FM in the Tri-Cities. All 50 beautiful stereo watts of it. Would never do it again, oh the memories.

 

[Radiobub]

> > Ummm...the way I understand it KMIH doesn't have any kind
> of
> > protection of their signal. No one HAS to offer them
> > anything. Would it be nice if they did? Sure, but it
> ain't
> > gonna happen.
>
> Thats my understanding too. Zero protection incase someone
> wants to swoop in and take the frequency. KMIH should've
> made a move years ago to at least go class A.
>
> Continuing on with the lack of protection of signals. LPFM
> in Spokane KYRS 95.3 is about to get whacked. How so you
> ask? KPND 95.3 out of Sandpoint, ID has an approved CP to
> boost to 56kw (from 9800w) and move 35 miles closer to
> Spokane. Radio-Locator's estimated coverage of KPND at 56k
> will put a decent signal into Spokane. KYRS LPFM's fate?
> Plug pulled and move - they'll have to go so far south with
> the new KPND signal the won't be able to hit thier 92.3
> translator in Spokane.
>
> Whitworth's college 90.3 class D KWRS has already had one
> brush with losing thier frequency to Spokane Public Radio.
> They are sitting ducks for it to happen again.
>
> I've maintained this for years. The long touted line by the
> FCC to serve the community is #1 - its great PR. Originally
> that ideal may have been sound. Now though, there is a more
> powerful unwritten element. Cash talks. The lack of
> protection of the small stations is unjust. The abuse of the
> translator service by stations with no local connection. Its
> been a debacle. The FCC is more interested in cashing a
> check than community service.
>
> Makes me fondly remember the days of the pirate FM in the
> Tri-Cities. All 50 beautiful stereo watts of it. Would never
> do it again, oh the memories.
>
Yes. Heard about the Spokane LPFM. As for KMIH, this is simply a large speedbump as the school district has filed a Petition for Reconsideration. But the Commission looks favorably to settlements such as this, even as it flies in the face of current Commission policy (of not allowing backfilled vacant allotments to remedy loss of service area). See Sells, AZ. docket 02-376.

 

[eastsidah]

>Honestly, I feel the pain that KMIH must be feeling over their impending doom, i really do. But seriously, how does KMIH serve the community any more than the Covington move in will? its a little station, covering a little island, with the same commercialized type of music that you can hear on other stations, just with high school kids at the controls. I hate to see a fantastic educational (and just fun!) tool get killed, but neither station is the good guy, neither one does any more for the community as a whole.

I guess the question is, is it better to "serve" over three million people? or maybe 50,000?

 

[jason97]

Everyday, I can't help but to think that the hokey-pokey is really what it's all about.

> >Honestly, I feel the pain that KMIH must be feeling over
> their impending doom, i really do. But seriously, how does
> KMIH serve the community any more than the Covington move in
> will? its a little station, covering a little island, with
> the same commercialized type of music that you can hear on
> other stations, just with high school kids at the controls.

At least they are giving the "high school kids" a little fun... I had to go to a ultra-conservative high school and completely envied the kids at KBPS-AM when I was in H.S... anyone else ever use a cheap boombox to make "DJ tapes?" Almost 10 years later, I still think it's really cool that some high school kids somewhere have the opportunity.

For example, a few weeks ago, I dialed up and thought I'd check out C89-5... enjoyed all 3 hours I listened enough to give whoever was on the air a call to say I really liked the station and hoped they don't become a pulpit for some religious whacko.

I guess what I'm saying is at least someone that's in the community is actually on the air, rather than a station that's either voice-tracked by someone who's only seen pictures and read websites of whatever city they're broadcasting to, or, a 24/7 overglorified MP3 player or satellite download station.<P ID="signature">______________
"Oregon, welcome to California!" - Bob Barker
Moderator at <a target="_blank" href=http://freedomlist.com/>Freedomlist</a> (not radio related)</P>

 

[radioplayer]

> Everyday, I can't help but to think that the hokey-pokey is
> really what it's all about.
>
> > >Honestly, I feel the pain that KMIH must be feeling over
> > their impending doom, i really do. But seriously, how
> does
> > KMIH serve the community any more than the Covington move
> in
> > will? its a little station, covering a little island,
> with
> > the same commercialized type of music that you can hear on
>
> > other stations, just with high school kids at the
> controls.
>
> At least they are giving the "high school kids" a little
> fun... I had to go to a ultra-conservative high school and
> completely envied the kids at KBPS-AM when I was in H.S...
> anyone else ever use a cheap boombox to make "DJ tapes?"
> Almost 10 years later, I still think it's really cool that
> some high school kids somewhere have the opportunity.
>
> For example, a few weeks ago, I dialed up and thought I'd
> check out C89-5... enjoyed all 3 hours I listened enough to
> give whoever was on the air a call to say I really liked the
> station and hoped they don't become a pulpit for some
> religious whacko.
>
> I guess what I'm saying is at least someone that's in the
> community is actually on the air, rather than a station
> that's either voice-tracked by someone who's only seen
> pictures and read websites of whatever city they're
> broadcasting to, or, a 24/7 overglorified MP3 player or
> satellite download station.
>


What one must remember in comparison to KMIH or KMCQ is, KMIH has served their community for over 35 years and is doing an outstanding job with the little resources given to it. KMCQ is also serving The Dalles, Oregon very well.
What everyone should remember is that the Commission set up these stations to service their local communities and now we get this cash rush to "move" and push off anyone who's doing the respectable jobs in their towns.

Let's get down to the real nuts and bolts. First will stand to make a huge profit that only benefits their shareholders. Nothing more. In this process, KMIH and Mercer Island will lose their only true local station, and The Dalles loses it's only decent FM that runs 100Kw and is the prime EAS station in the Gorge. All for the sake of money and cramming yet another station into the Seattle metro. (not Covington or anything like it)

FM Steve points it out correctly; it's about the sly effort by the lawyers at First to "shoe in" a station to cover their butts after the Sells, Az decision.

If I was First, I'd shore up a deal with KMIH immediately because the tide is turning on this kind of stuff and what better way to look good than to help an NCE station if for nothing else than to please the Senator's office and to look good in the eyes of the public.