New NCE in Amherst (Buffalo suburb)

[aaronread]

The FCC released the latest round of communities that they will be accepting applications for new NCE-FM service in the non-reserved band (i.e. "commercial" freqs 92.1 - 107.9) There are only two in NYS: Amherst (a suburb of Buffalo) Class A (6kW @ 100m HAAT or equivalent) on Channel 221 (92.1FM) and Rhinebeck (on the Hudson, near the Catskills) also Class A, on Channel 273 (102.5FM).

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-2220A2.pdf

Can Buffalo support another NPR outlet? That's a serious question; I don't know the Buffalo market terribly well.

 

[caveman-97]

This has been in the works for several years. There was a competing proposal to put the station in Lockport.

NPR is very unlikely. A much better bet would be religious junk.

 

[Bob1370]

Best case scenario might be for Buff State's communications department to apply to move lower powered WBUF (now on 91.3 with 100 watts as essentially an LPFM) up to a 3 kW to 6 kW class A. It'd be a AAA station and laboratory for developing new talent studying media. Wouldn't necessarily be super-polished but it'd be local and creatively programmed, and that's something. Or perhaps one of the other local colleges might do likewise.

I don't know if this is possible, but perhaps a nonprofit student group could even raise the cash to build a station it would operate commercially to pay the bills and to teach the students to do radio in a practical, competitive context. It's not unheard of. Stations like WVBR-FM in Ithaca (Cornell U.), WBRU in Providence, RI (Brown) and WUVA in Charlottesville, VA (U. of Virginia) are owned by 501c3 non-profit student groups connected with but legally independent of the universities where their staffs are registered students, licensed commercially, and operated as teaching tools funded by the proceeds of commercial time sales.

Worst case scenario? Yet another relay of the out-of-town mail order preachers with no local service, no contribution to the community and no appreciable audience.

I'm not sure but I think the FCC still has power to give a preference to someone who'll give the region a genuine local public service.

 

[fybush]

Best case scenario might be for Buff State's communications department to apply to move lower powered WBUF (now on 91.3 with 100 watts as essentially an LPFM) up to a 3 kW to 6 kW class A. It'd be a AAA station and laboratory for developing new talent studying media. Wouldn't necessarily be super-polished but it'd be local and creatively programmed, and that's something. Or perhaps one of the other local colleges might do likewise.

Buff State can certainly apply for 92.1, but they'd have to do so as a new station. There's no mechanism to "move" WBNY up the dial.

I don't know if this is possible, but perhaps a nonprofit student group could even raise the cash to build a station it would operate commercially to pay the bills and to teach the students to do radio in a practical, competitive context. It's not unheard of. Stations like WVBR-FM in Ithaca (Cornell U.), WBRU in Providence, RI (Brown) and WUVA in Charlottesville, VA (U. of Virginia) are owned by 501c3 non-profit student groups connected with but legally independent of the universities where their staffs are registered students, licensed commercially, and operated as teaching tools funded by the proceeds of commercial time sales.

No, this channel is reserved specifically for noncommercial operation.

Worst case scenario? Yet another relay of the out-of-town mail order preachers with no local service, no contribution to the community and no appreciable audience.

I'm not sure but I think the FCC still has power to give a preference to someone who'll give the region a genuine local public service.

They do not, at least not in the form of a comparative hearing. There's a "points system" that awards preferences based on local ownership and several other factors, including whether the applicant owns any other stations (which works against Buff State) and whether the proposed station would be a first or second noncom service to a significant chunk of population. Keep in mind that neither 970 nor 94.5 qualify as "noncom service" in this case, since they're both operating on commercial channels.

This is very complex stuff, and anyone applying needs to know all the rules in order to have even a modest prayer of winning. A good consultant is a must.

 

[aaronread]

Buff State can certainly apply for 92.1, but they'd have to do so as a new station. There's no mechanism to "move" WBNY up the dial.

Well, it's not like I've done the research on this...but at first glance it rather looks like WBNY could move to 92.1 with two successive minor change applications. OTOH, they're right on the border and I know all too well how easy it is for unbuilt Canadian allocations to really screw things up.

Keep in mind that neither 970 nor 94.5 qualify as "noncom service" in this case, since they're both operating on commercial channels.

And neither is licensed as a non-commercial/educational license...which is possible for them to do even though they're operating in the "commercial band" (aka the non-reserved band). I wonder why they stayed "commercial"...? I mean, besides the obvious (it gives you a lot more flexibility in what you can say on-air).

However, between WBFO and WFBF, most of the area that any Amherst-licensed Class A FM station would cover is already getting 60dBu service from an existing NCE license, though. Just glancing at it, I'd say it'll be next to impossible to demonstrate any first-local service at all, much less more than the minimal requirements. And even second-local will be difficult to accomplish. Well, not without putting a signal so far outside of Amherst/Buffalo that it starts not being worth it.

 

[fybush]

Buff State can certainly apply for 92.1, but they'd have to do so as a new station. There's no mechanism to "move" WBNY up the dial.

Well, it's not like I've done the research on this...but at first glance it rather looks like WBNY could move to 92.1 with two successive minor change applications. OTOH, they're right on the border and I know all too well how easy it is for unbuilt Canadian allocations to really screw things up.

Except that the way the application window works, you have to file a fresh app for 92.1. There's already a freeze in place on any minor-change apps that would have an impact on the Amherst allotment, so you couldn't do that first 91.3-to-91.7 move - and you couldn't do it, anyway, because there's a 91.7B right across the border in Welland, Ontario.

Keep in mind that neither 970 nor 94.5 qualify as "noncom service" in this case, since they're both operating on commercial channels.

And neither is licensed as a non-commercial/educational license...which is possible for them to do even though they're operating in the "commercial band" (aka the non-reserved band). I wonder why they stayed "commercial"...? I mean, besides the obvious (it gives you a lot more flexibility in what you can say on-air).

However, between WBFO and WFBF, most of the area that any Amherst-licensed Class A FM station would cover is already getting 60dBu service from an existing NCE license, though. Just glancing at it, I'd say it'll be next to impossible to demonstrate any first-local service at all, much less more than the minimal requirements. And even second-local will be difficult to accomplish. Well, not without putting a signal so far outside of Amherst/Buffalo that it starts not being worth it.

In order for 92.1 to be reserved for noncom use, they had to demonstrate first or second NCE service to a certain percentage of the population covered. WFBF's 60 doesn't go that far north, leaving a big chunk of territory for second-service consideration.

And the public notice makes it clear you can't change the 92.1 allotment coordinates, so you can't move it very far out of Amherst anyway.

(And any further detail gets reserved for paying clients...)

 

[TheBigA]

NPR is very unlikely. A much better bet would be religious junk.

NPR has opposed the new stations. I doubt any would be able to meet their membership requirements, in terms of staffing and budget. The biggest problem for any applicant is the ability to provide "genuine local public service" with a limited signal and therefore limited budget. Typically, the only ones who can afford it are colleges or churches. I'd say about 70% of the applicants are religious.

 

[fybush]

NPR has opposed the new stations. I doubt any would be able to meet their membership requirements, in terms of staffing and budget. The biggest problem for any applicant is the ability to provide "genuine local public service" with a limited signal and therefore limited budget. Typically, the only ones who can afford it are colleges or churches. I'd say about 70% of the applicants are religious.

These are not LPFMs. This window is for full-power NCE allocations on the "non-reserved" (92.1-107.9) band, some of them pretty big ones (a class B in Terre Haute, for instance), many of them set aside for NCE use at the specific request of local public broadcasters.

It's unlikely that there will be many brand-new public radio players coming out of the woodwork, but a near certainty that many existing public broadcasters will be eyeing some of these channels for expansion of their existing services.

 

[TheBigA]

These are not LPFMs.

Whoops...you're right. That's what I get for not reading the link.

 

[w9wi]

Except that the way the application window works, you have to file a fresh app for 92.1. There's already a freeze in place on any minor-change apps that would have an impact on the Amherst allotment, so you couldn't do that first 91.3-to-91.7 move - and you couldn't do it, anyway, because there's a 91.7B right across the border in Welland, Ontario.

Not sure where I recall seeing this (so it's possible I *didn't* see it!) but isn't it possible, during a filing window, to file a major change application that would be mutually-exclusive with new-station applications being accepted in the same window? (i.e., couldn't WBNY file for a major change to move from 91.3 to 92.1 and change its C-O-L from Buffalo to Amherst, competing with the various applicants who file for completely new service) As a major change, the intermediate step to 91.7 isn't necessary.

Only possible (if I understand it properly) because a filing window is to be opened. They couldn't go the other way (say, to 90.5), even if there was nothing technical in the way, because there is no window opening for new NCE stations/major changes in general, only on the specific assignments specified.

I wonder how many of these >92MHz NCE assignments will be theoretically unnecessary by the time they're awarded, due to the disappearance of TV-6 stations? (the Class B assignment in Terre Haute certainly comes to mind!)

 

[aaronread]

It's unlikely that there will be many brand-new public radio players coming out of the woodwork, but a near certainty that many existing public broadcasters will be eyeing some of these channels for expansion of their existing services.

Exactly. I'm sure WNED is eyeing 92.1 hungrily as an FM outlet for 970AM; they'd be fools not to.

 

[Bob1370]

One thing we should keep in mind, is that the entity that secures a CP is by no means 100% certain to be the entity that actually builds the station or operates it long term.

CPs get traded just like operating stations do, all the time...so whatever organization wins initially may have nothing to do with who ends up operating the station once it's built, up and running. Between the time they buy on WDCX and the translators and relays they run below 92.1, the religious broadcasters are already at the saturation point in the Buffalo market, bordering on overexposure. They're all good enough businesspeople that they know the law of diminishing returns. So you'd have to figure there are strong odds the operator of 92.1 will be a secular community organization (maybe an existing pubcaster), or a college offering a communications major (if not Buff State, then maybe Medaille or Daemen if they have the cash to spare). Cash on hand could be key. Between studio construction, transmitter construction and all the preparation you need to line up people and launch a station, it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a class A FM station these days, even if they put the antenna on a pre-existing tower.

Now who would have the money to build studios, line up at least a core of a few professional staffers, locate a transmitter site, build studios, and rent space to hang the antenna and park the transmitter at a good location (maybe the HSBC building, the Rand building, or the Elmwood Avenue tower 97 Rock and WBUF use)? Answer that, and you've got your most likely eventual station operators.

 

[fybush]

One thing we should keep in mind, is that the entity that secures a CP is by no means 100% certain to be the entity that actually builds the station or operates it long term.

Maybe not "long term," but at least three years in this case. If you win an noncom CP on the point system (as whoever ends up with 92.1 inevitably will), you have to operate it yourself for three years before you can sell.

 

[alw]

Exactly. I'm sure WNED is eyeing 92.1 hungrily as an FM outlet for 970AM; they'd be fools not to.




[/quote]

aaronread:

You're a smart man!

 

[audio4tv]

One thing we should keep in mind, is that the entity that secures a CP is by no means 100% certain to be the entity that actually builds the station or operates it long term.

Maybe not "long term," but at least three years in this case. If you win an noncom CP on the point system (as whoever ends up with 92.1 inevitably will), you have to operate it yourself for three years before you can sell.

Don't they have a 4 year hold? I know this was the case in MX situations in the recent non-comm windows.

 

[audio4tv]

Exactly. I'm sure WNED is eyeing 92.1 hungrily as an FM outlet for 970AM; they'd be fools not to.

aaronread:
You're a smart man!
[/quote]

I think Scott already stated what the scenario would be. Unless their application somehow was technically superior, WNED will not get this allocation, due to owning two stations already. This also will rule out Family Life, Holy Family, and any other group god squad stations, if it goes to points. In the MX settlements, the FCC has found a clear winner based on coverage area and population. So, all applicants will have to do their homework to max out these scenarios and not have any errors.
The most likely winners will be a local religous, community, or educational group/instituion, with no other stations. However, I would fully expect every Tom, Dick, and Harry that wants a station to apply, even though they will not even come close to getting it. Who should apply? Every College in Buffalo that does not have a station. Perhaps even the NYS Thruway Authority will go for it...Town of Amherst? I think anything is possible.

 

[JakeLongwell]

While most posters here are hoping for a new student radio station, I personally would like to see this frequency awarded to an independent community group who will run it as an independent, community oriented radio station for the Buffalo market.

We don't need another student-run station playing "alternative music". While I have nothing against college radio in principle, I am disappointed that, in many markets, there are only one or two non-NPR and non-religious NCE stations. In most cases, these remaining stations are controlled by 18-22 year old kids who are only interested in broadcasting "cool music" to their buddies on campus. They are not really interested in providing a service to the community at large. In which case, a carrier current or a webcast is more than sufficient.

There are many underserved or unserved audiences in Buffalo I am sure. I think of the ethnic groups who currently have to pay an unreasonable amount to Citadel if they want to provide service to their communities on either WBBF or WHLD. Surely, they could benefit from a station where they could broadcast free of charge.

Granted, a local student station would be better than a satellite fed godcaster any day. But, in all likelihood, this new college station would be for students only. So, unless you've paid your tuition and are registered for classes, you don't have a chance in hell of getting on this station. In this era of limited programming choices on the radio dial, I hardly think this is fair.

I'd be happy with a "hybrid" student/community station, but this is generally deemed non-viable by most schools for a variety of reasons.

If Buffalo State were to win the application, and WBNY moved to 92.1, I would hope they'd sell/donate the 91.3 frequency to someone else.

 

[Bob1370]

It could be a mistake to assume that if a college won the license, it would automatically create yet another outlet for "cool music" catering to campus tastes exclusively.

Remember, this could become a station with faculty guidance and probably professional management of a college got the license. Even if it's a totally student-run station there are plenty of examples of community-conscious signals run in a professional way. At the U. of Virginia they run a full-service rhythmic CHR. At Cornell it's a full service classic rocker similar to 97 Rock or WCMF but with a significant daily local news commitment. They find a formatic hole in the market that will appeal to 18-34 adults, like any professionally run station should, and fill it.

In Buffalo, where the rhythmic (WBLK), new rock (WEDG) and classic rock (WGRF) formats are already well represented by strong competitors, and every major format genre is represented by somebody, what format could use competition the most? Two come to mind; country and talk. I doubt country is likely to be the choice, but they might choose to try a talker with an alternative approach to the format to WBEN. It is a growth format and training young adults entering the broadcast field to present and produce talk programming would probably be the best choice for a station tied to teaching future communications pros their craft.

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

Th 92.1 allocation might be a good match for Erie Community College, which serves the WNY community with three campuses, one in the city of Buffalo, Orchard Park and Amherst. The college already has an established technology department. A radio station on 92.1 would offer an opportunity to combine that department with the efforts of its communications department. IMPO, I'd rather see a bona fide college-university (or high school) operate a new NCE facility than another pray for pay outfit like Family Strife - EMF.

 

[TheBigA]

Surely, they could benefit from a station where they could broadcast free of charge.

I doubt very much that a community run radio station will just give away air time "free of charge." They, more than anyone, will need income from some source. At the very least, the ethnic group would be expected to do on-air fundraising with their audience, with the money going to the station.