NCE FM app with co-channel/2nd adj. waiver reqs

[ssnake]

In the NCE FM filing window, Georgia Public Broadcasting applied for a new C3 license for 88.1 in Atlanta, with a transmitter site only about 60 miles from WJSP-FM, their class C station also on 88.1. Needless to say, there would be a LOT of prohibited overlap, including overlap of 60 dBu contours!

To make this possible, GPB proposed using Harris Synchrocast technology to run a simulcast on both.

Additionally, the Atlanta 88.1 would be short-spaced to 88.5, so they also sought a waiver so that 88.1 and 88.5 would be at the same transmitter site!

The FCC quickly rejected the proposal, of course.

What do you think about the technical merits of this proposal?

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_list.pl?Facility_id=176170

See also the letter from the FCC in the Info -> Correspondence.

 

[LA_Guy]

It makes WAY too much sense!

Which is (of course) why the FCC would dismiss it. Hmm..adding NPR service to a couple million people? NAH!!

Trashing service to MILLIONS of listeners with IBOC- YAH YAH YAH!!

 

[ssnake]

Re: It makes WAY too much sense!

Which is (of course) why the FCC would dismiss it. Hmm..adding NPR service to a couple million people? NAH!!

Trashing service to MILLIONS of listeners with IBOC- YAH YAH YAH!!

Atlanta already has one 100kW NPR station, WABE. But that's owned by the Atlanta Public Schools, and GPB is the statewide network. The programming would be largely duplicative.

Seems to me that the proposal would create a lot of co-channel interference on the two 88.1s that would sound like bad multipath. There isn't any terrain obstruction here, so if the FCC were to grant it, it would basically permit FM boosters anywhere. Moreover, they'd get a flood of 2nd adj. waiver requests.

 

[MonsterFM-KBKH]

Re: It makes WAY too much sense!

Which is (of course) why the FCC would dismiss it. Hmm..adding NPR service to a couple million people? NAH!!

Trashing service to MILLIONS of listeners with IBOC- YAH YAH YAH!!

Atlanta already has one 100kW NPR station, WABE. But that's owned by the Atlanta Public Schools, and GPB is the statewide network. The programming would be largely duplicative.

Seems to me that the proposal would create a lot of co-channel interference on the two 88.1s that would sound like bad multipath. There isn't any terrain obstruction here, so if the FCC were to grant it, it would basically permit FM boosters anywhere. Moreover, they'd get a flood of 2nd adj. waiver requests.

This window (the results thereof) should be very interesting. I've got about a dozen applications that are MX'd to work on and, in most instances, the applicants absolutely, positively, insist that they're planning to "fight to the bitter end" even after being advised that they have no grounds for even attempting a fight.

It's almost as if they all see this as "the last land grab". One guy has been so determined that he even wanted to file a co-channel app that was almost "on top of" (within 10 miles of) the co-chanel station! He kept insisting that "a directional antenna will solve the problem."

In some cases, I've given up even trying to explain the laws of physics to the applicants. Let them hire someone else who is willing to bend the rules beyond the point of breaking. I'm sticking to what's possible.

Keith Hammond
MonsterFM.com / Broadcast Services
(806) 256-1221