New format - dead air

[stan]

KOLE (1340 AM in Port Arthur) has been on the air now for nearly a week, broadcasting their new format - "dead air". No IDs, nothing. Perhaps its called the "Sounds of Silence".

Is there any fine that can be levied for broadcasting like this?

 

[foursider]

The 1140 in Conroe stays on all night with dead air. So, I guess the FCC doesn't care about that any more.

 

[kenglish]

KOLE (1340 AM in Port Arthur) has been on the air now for nearly a week, broadcasting their new format - "dead air". No IDs, nothing. Perhaps its called the "Sounds of Silence".

Is there any fine that can be levied for broadcasting like this?

Probably depends on if the FCC thinks the station even HAS any money.

 

[purpledevil]

KOLE (1340 AM in Port Arthur) has been on the air now for nearly a week, broadcasting their new format - "dead air". No IDs, nothing. Perhaps its called the "Sounds of Silence".

Is there any fine that can be levied for broadcasting like this?

As long as it says "KOLE, Port Arthur" once an hour at the top of the hour they can broadcast dead air all they want. Not smart, but not illegal either. Now, if there isn't a top of the hour ID for 1340 you've got something that you can report, stan.

On the subject of KYOK, foursider, could you tell me when this occurred? KYOK is a daytimer, not authorized for night service and I am rather vigilant on checking the stations up and down the dial and have yet to see KYOK on at night. There are days that KYOK don't even go on the air, so it's hard for me to imagine them running night time. The folks at KZNE won't be too happy about this, if correct.

 

[gabigley1]

KOLE (1340 AM in Port Arthur) has been on the air now for nearly a week, broadcasting their new format - "dead air". No IDs, nothing. Perhaps its called the "Sounds of Silence".

Is there any fine that can be levied for broadcasting like this?

As long as it says "KOLE, Port Arthur" once an hour at the top of the hour they can broadcast dead air all they want. Not smart, but not illegal either. Now, if there isn't a top of the hour ID for 1340 you've got something that you can report, stan.

I take it that not IDing at the top of the hour is a violation of the FCC rules, the same as using the wrong call letters.

Via the FCC MB:

Using a call sign that has not been assigned to that particular broadcast station would be a violation of FCC rules. According to the FCC’s Audio Division, this type of allegation typically is addressed when the station submits an application to renew its broadcast license.

 

[foursider]

I've been driving back from Huntsville, or points North, on many nights and heard a dead carrier on 1140, while channel surfing. One evening, I drove over towards their transmitter site; just off of IH-45. The closer I got to the site; the stronger the dead carrier was. So, there's no doubt in my mind. They may not start their programming up some days; but the transmitter is still on.

 

[edriskill]

I've worked at stations where the management thought they could sell dead air... maybe somebody's finally stepping up and trying to do it.

 

[foursider]

Kinda like when your older sister and her boyfriend paid you to "keep quiet"; after you caught them kissing.

 

[stan]

Still going this morning. No ID at top of hour, but I'm not listening for a full hour and it could be at another time.

 

[WCJ]

They were programming Spanish language music the past two afternoons between 4:00 & 5:30 PM with no ID.

 

[purpledevil]

I've been driving back from Huntsville, or points North, on many nights and heard a dead carrier on 1140, while channel surfing. One evening, I drove over towards their transmitter site; just off of IH-45. The closer I got to the site; the stronger the dead carrier was. So, there's no doubt in my mind. They may not start their programming up some days; but the transmitter is still on.

I checked for it Tuesday night and last night as well before retiring for the evening. Nothing at 1140 except the Mexican station in and out. Checked it again this morning (Thursday) at 4:30 and there was KYOK in all its silent glory. Someone is getting an early jump on firing up KYOK and I am not sure why. The dead air lasted until sometime after 9:00am this morning when I scanned by it. Another check at just before 10am had KYOK with regular programming. I imagine they are doing some type of testing, which this morning interrupted their regular schedule.

To tell you the truth, foursider, KYOK has been flaky for quite awhile now. I have seen complete days go by without KYOK on the air, for well over a year the audio at KYOK was unlistenable, and now you've caught them on the air at night. I know this company has had issues with keeping KANI/Wharton functional over the past couple of years, and stan can attest to the mess that is KZZB/Beaumont. I believe that only KWWJ/Baytown (Martin's flagship) is given any real engineering attention. At least it appears that way.

 

[everydayguy]

Martin's Austin radio station -- KFIT 1060-AM -- actually sounds pretty good but is a true daytimer by FCC decree -- yet it broadcasts well into the evening every time I listen to it, fighting it out with a station in Mexico -- I thought that daytimers were supposed to sign off around 5:30 pm this time of year, but it was still going strong at 8 o'clock tonight with gospel programming -- like it has been for months.

 

[stan]

They were programming Spanish language music the past two afternoons between 4:00 & 5:30 PM with no ID.

Same thing today. Tonight, back to transmitter on with dead air. Reported to FCC.

 

[edriskill]

KYOK, Houston's first all-silence radio station... all silence, all the time. Coming up this hour, another 50 minutes of solid silence (with 8 silent :60's and 2 minutes of silent news headlines).
Maybe AM is good for sign language broadcasts...

 

[mrbeasley]

You know you might just be onto something there. That may very well be what they are doing. We already have reading channels for the blind. Why not a radio station the deaf. You'd probably have lots of radio station general managers and owners listening to it. :

 

[Henry McClurg]

There are radio stations who sell their sign-off to sign-on silence to funeral homes.
"WXXX now leaves the air. The next 5 hours are brought to by Johnson Funeral Home."