New signal almost ready in Portland

[RickRose]

93.7 KPDQ has just started promoting their move to 93.9 in the near future so that means the move-in of 93.1 will also soon launch in Portland. Salem happens to own both stations along with 104.1 in the Portland market. The 93.1 that will be licensed to Gladstone just picked up the KTRO call letters while sending their longtime KAST-FM calls to another signal.

 

[Radiobub]

Re: New signal almost ready in Portland/(Not quite)

> 93.7 KPDQ has just started promoting their move to 93.9 in
> the near future so that means the move-in of 93.1 will also
> soon launch in Portland. Salem happens to own both stations
> along with 104.1 in the Portland market. The 93.1 that will
> be licensed to Gladstone just picked up the KTRO call
> letters while sending their longtime KAST-FM calls to
> another signal.
>
Sounds like this involves the KMCQ, The Dalles move-in to Seattle, which will allow these Portland upgrades and downgrades. It seems premature to be promoting these moves when this deal is far from done, despite the fact that not only has KMIH, Mercer Island(WA)not yet removed their Petition of Reconsideration to the FCC, but the Condon, Oregon construction permit that First Broadcasting(assignee to KMCQ)is counting on to serve the 1800 persons left with no radio service whatsoever by The Dalles move to Seattle, KHAL, Condon, is subject to at least 4 contingencies. The FCC warned KHAL that to build the station would be at their own risk, as shown in the CP's of KHAL and KMCQ. Even though the KMCQ minor change has been approved it is still subject to the allocation of that station to Seattle. The Saga continues, pun very intended, because we know that there will never be a "Covington" station, as SAGA Communications(KAFE, Bellingham)has a deal for millions to switch frequencies from 104.3 to 104.1, as First Broadcasting's Forks' station nearby (KBDB)will switch to 105.5. This will allow a Cougar Mtn (Seattle) transmitting site for Clear Channels' KFNK, and the FCC will be the fools for allowing a Class C FM in the Dalles, Oregon to travel 248 kilometers, skipping one urban center (Portland) to the more wealthy Seattle-Tacoma urbanized area.

 

[semoochie]

Re: New signal almost ready in Portland/(Not quite)

> > 93.7 KPDQ has just started promoting their move to 93.9 in
>
> > the near future so that means the move-in of 93.1 will
> also
> > soon launch in Portland. Salem happens to own both
> stations
> > along with 104.1 in the Portland market. The 93.1 that
> will
> > be licensed to Gladstone just picked up the KTRO call
> > letters while sending their longtime KAST-FM calls to
> > another signal.
> >
> Sounds like this involves the KMCQ, The Dalles move-in to
> Seattle, which will allow these Portland upgrades and
> downgrades. It seems premature to be promoting these moves
> when this deal is far from done, despite the fact that not
> only has KMIH, Mercer Island(WA)not yet removed their
> Petition of Reconsideration to the FCC, but the Condon,
> Oregon construction permit that First Broadcasting(assignee
> to KMCQ)is counting on to serve the 1800 persons left with
> no radio service whatsoever by The Dalles move to Seattle,
> KHAL, Condon, is subject to at least 4 contingencies. The
> FCC warned KHAL that to build the station would be at their
> own risk, as shown in the CP's of KHAL and KMCQ. Even though
> the KMCQ minor change has been approved it is still subject
> to the allocation of that station to Seattle. The Saga
> continues, pun very intended, because we know that there
> will never be a "Covington" station, as SAGA
> Communications(KAFE, Bellingham)has a deal for millions to
> switch frequencies from 104.3 to 104.1, as First
> Broadcasting's Forks' station nearby (KBDB)will switch to
> 105.5. This will allow a Cougar Mtn (Seattle) transmitting
> site for Clear Channels' KFNK, and the FCC will be the fools
> for allowing a Class C FM in the Dalles, Oregon to travel
> 248 kilometers, skipping one urban center (Portland) to the
> more wealthy Seattle-Tacoma urbanized area.
>
KAST et al have asked to be separated from KMCQ et al and I believe that request was granted before the various CPs were granted.

 

[Radiobub]

Re: New signal almost ready in Portland/(Not quite)

> > > 93.7 KPDQ has just started promoting their move to 93.9
> in
> >
> > > the near future so that means the move-in of 93.1 will
> > also
> > > soon launch in Portland. Salem happens to own both
> > stations
> > > along with 104.1 in the Portland market. The 93.1 that
> > will
> > > be licensed to Gladstone just picked up the KTRO call
> > > letters while sending their longtime KAST-FM calls to
> > > another signal.
> > >
> > Sounds like this involves the KMCQ, The Dalles move-in to
> > Seattle, which will allow these Portland upgrades and
> > downgrades. It seems premature to be promoting these moves
>
> > when this deal is far from done, despite the fact that not
>
> > only has KMIH, Mercer Island(WA)not yet removed their
> > Petition of Reconsideration to the FCC, but the Condon,
> > Oregon construction permit that First
> Broadcasting(assignee
> > to KMCQ)is counting on to serve the 1800 persons left with
>
> > no radio service whatsoever by The Dalles move to Seattle,
>
> > KHAL, Condon, is subject to at least 4 contingencies. The
> > FCC warned KHAL that to build the station would be at
> their
> > own risk, as shown in the CP's of KHAL and KMCQ. Even
> though
> > the KMCQ minor change has been approved it is still
> subject
> > to the allocation of that station to Seattle. The Saga
> > continues, pun very intended, because we know that there
> > will never be a "Covington" station, as SAGA
> > Communications(KAFE, Bellingham)has a deal for millions to
>
> > switch frequencies from 104.3 to 104.1, as First
> > Broadcasting's Forks' station nearby (KBDB)will switch to
> > 105.5. This will allow a Cougar Mtn (Seattle) transmitting
>
> > site for Clear Channels' KFNK, and the FCC will be the
> fools
> > for allowing a Class C FM in the Dalles, Oregon to travel
> > 248 kilometers, skipping one urban center (Portland) to
> the
> > more wealthy Seattle-Tacoma urbanized area.
> >
> KAST et al have asked to be separated from KMCQ et al and I
> believe that request was granted before the various CPs were
> granted.
>
Hi Semoochie. Unfortunately for New Northwest Broadcasters, your assertion is not correct. In the second Report and Order, the Commission stated that severance by NNW would not be necessary:

"To remove this conflict, New Northwest suggests the allotment to alternate channel 236A, Trout Lake. As discussed below, we are allotting alternate 236A to remove the conflict with NNB's proposed 226C3 allotment at Gladstone. Even though there is no longer any conflict between the NNW counterproposal in this proceeding, it is NOT NECESSARY to sever the NNW counterproposal because this Report and Order grants the counterproposal and terminates this proceeding."
(See DA-04-2054).

When Mercer Island filed the Petition for Recon, and the KDUX people filed their Application For Review, this whole deal became frozen and subject to review. The most important issue here is that New Northwest's proposal also rely's upon the Trout Lake's vacant "backfilled" allotment. Vacant "backfilled" allotments (unbuilt stations) are not allowed anymore; thus the Condon, Oregon (pop 759) Class C1 contingency is real, even though they have a CP. And on 12/10/04, NNW filed a motion to sever. The FCC has not yet acted on this. Here it is:

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6516886174

Finally, the issue of vacant "backfilled" allotments is on review. If this is overturned, then everybody can proceed with the Seattle and Portland plan. If not, they have KHAL to turn to, but this has 4 contingencies and puts millions of dollars at risk if built. In final desparation, docket 05-210 was born to "streamline" the FM service. Who's behind 05-210? Why First Broadcasting! Hey, what a surprise! The essence of the Streamlining docket is to make a Change in Community of License go from a "Major" change which includes public comment, to a "Minor" change, which would bypass the Allocations branch and let Staff in Audio Services make decisions without public input. Personally, I feel this action would be unconstitutional. Let's see what happens.

 

[Justyelf]

Re: New signal almost ready in Portland/(Not quite)

on 12/10/04, NNW filed a motion to sever. The FCC has not yet
> acted on this. Here it is:
>

I'm not "in the loop" with regard to the bigger picture of all the frequency shifts, but I can tell you that KAST-FM will stop broadcasting at 92.9 and move to 99.7 on Monday, January 30th.

The KAST 92.9 frequency range was sold to Salem Broadcasting, (they will be using 93.1,) and as part of the deal, NNB gets to bump their KAQX 94.3 transmitter to 6,000 watts and change tower locations slightly. To allow for the power boast, KAQX had to move to 99.7. 99.7 will be broadcasting from a tower atop a hill in Megler Washington, across the Columbia from Astoria. Since the KAST calls have been associated with the area for a very long time, NNB is dropping the KAQX calls and adopting the KAST calls for their new 99.7 frequency. So, this particular facet of the deal in done. I don't know, but my guess is with the removal of the 92.9 frequency from the Astoria market, the 93.1 Portland move-in is coming soon. I know they have been interviewing for station management. Basically, I think this motion to sever was acted on, and approved.<P ID="signature">______________
And if you don't believe it, then you'd better kill me now, because I'll put a jihad on you, too</P>

 

[Radiobub]

Re: New signal almost ready in Portland/(Not quite)

> on 12/10/04, NNW filed a motion to sever. The FCC has not
> yet
> > acted on this. Here it is:
> >
>
> I'm not "in the loop" with regard to the bigger picture of
> all the frequency shifts, but I can tell you that KAST-FM
> will stop broadcasting at 92.9 and move to 99.7 on Monday,
> January 30th.
>
> The KAST 92.9 frequency range was sold to Salem
> Broadcasting, (they will be using 93.1,) and as part of the
> deal, NNB gets to bump their KAQX 94.3 transmitter to 6,000
> watts and change tower locations slightly. To allow for the
> power boast, KAQX had to move to 99.7. 99.7 will be
> broadcasting from a tower atop a hill in Megler Washington,
> across the Columbia from Astoria. Since the KAST calls have
> been associated with the area for a very long time, NNB is
> dropping the KAQX calls and adopting the KAST calls for
> their new 99.7 frequency. So, this particular facet of the
> deal in done. I don't know, but my guess is with the
> removal of the 92.9 frequency from the Astoria market, the
> 93.1 Portland move-in is coming soon. I know they have been
> interviewing for station management. Basically, I think
> this motion to sever was acted on, and approved.
>
Interesting. I've been following this docket 02-136 for quite some time, and from my research, the Commission has not yet acted because of the reasons stated. Remember, 1800 people will lose all radio service in this deal, and the FCC is not too happy about this fact. But there is a way out for the Portland people, and that is to activate Channel 236A (95.1 Mhz) at Trout Lake, Washington as a real, on-air radio station in spite of the fact that Trout Lake is located in a rural area. Of course, in the original KMCQ app, Trout Lake was "touted" as a community deserving of FM radio service. Trout Lake has a population of around 450 persons. So I say to the parties to shut up and build these stations out,so Portland can move forward and KMCQ can get their Cougar Mountain (Seattle) station at 104.5 MHz deep in the heart of the Seattle-Tacoma Urbanized Area.

 

[Radiobub]

Re: New signal almost ready in Portland/(Not quite)

> > on 12/10/04, NNW filed a motion to sever. The FCC has not
> > yet
> > > acted on this. Here it is:
> > >
> >
> > I'm not "in the loop" with regard to the bigger picture of
>
> > all the frequency shifts, but I can tell you that KAST-FM
> > will stop broadcasting at 92.9 and move to 99.7 on Monday,
>
> > January 30th.
> >
> > The KAST 92.9 frequency range was sold to Salem
> > Broadcasting, (they will be using 93.1,) and as part of
> the
> > deal, NNB gets to bump their KAQX 94.3 transmitter to
> 6,000
> > watts and change tower locations slightly. To allow for
> the
> > power boast, KAQX had to move to 99.7. 99.7 will be
> > broadcasting from a tower atop a hill in Megler
> Washington,
> > across the Columbia from Astoria. Since the KAST calls
> have
> > been associated with the area for a very long time, NNB is
>
> > dropping the KAQX calls and adopting the KAST calls for
> > their new 99.7 frequency. So, this particular facet of
> the
> > deal in done. I don't know, but my guess is with the
> > removal of the 92.9 frequency from the Astoria market, the
>
> > 93.1 Portland move-in is coming soon. I know they have
> been
> > interviewing for station management. Basically, I think
> > this motion to sever was acted on, and approved.
> >
> Interesting. I've been following this docket 02-136 for
> quite some time, and from my research, the Commission has
> not yet acted because of the reasons stated. Remember, 1800
> people will lose all radio service in this deal, and the FCC
> is not too happy about this fact. But there is a way out for
> the Portland people, and that is to activate Channel 236A
> (95.1 Mhz) at Trout Lake, Washington as a real, on-air radio
> station in spite of the fact that Trout Lake is located in a
> rural area. Of course, in the original KMCQ app, Trout Lake
> was "touted" as a community deserving of FM radio service.
> Trout Lake has a population of around 450 persons. So I say
> to the parties to shut up and build these stations out,so
> Portland can move forward and KMCQ can get their Cougar
> Mountain (Seattle) station at 104.5 MHz deep in the heart of
> the Seattle-Tacoma Urbanized Area.
>
I checked on this and found DA-05-1304:

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-1304A1.pdf

This shows the KAST reallocation, but as you see in footnote #2 on the first page, it is indeed subject to the final outcome of 02-136, the KMCQ app., which is still under review and not final.

 

[semoochie]

Re: New signal almost ready in Portland/(Not quite)

.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-1304A1.pdf
>
>
> This shows the KAST reallocation, but as you see in footnote
> #2 on the first page, it is indeed subject to the final
> outcome of 02-136, the KMCQ app., which is still under
> review and not final.
>
It seems to me that if they asked to be separated from the KMCQ portion of the preceding and were told it wasn't necessary, they acted on good faith and should not be responsible for any consequences in case of a change of heart from the FCC. I believe the FCC will take that into consideration and there will not be a problem.

 

[Bryant]

Re: New signal almost ready in Portland/(Not quite)

> I checked on this and found DA-05-1304:
>
http:/> /hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-1304A1.pdf
>
>
> This shows the KAST reallocation, but as you see in footnote
> #2 on the first page, it is indeed subject to the final
> outcome of 02-136, the KMCQ app., which is still under
> review and not final.
>
Technically, true. However, no part of the "Portland shuffle" was controversial. In other words, there were no objections filed against the changes at Astoria/Gladstone/Portland/Springfield-Eugene/Coos Bay/Tillamook/Long Beach. The petitions for reconsideration pending against the "Seattle shuffle" portion of 02-136 do not directly pertain to the Portland stations.

Thus, it is highly unlikely that the final resolution of 02-136 will affect the Portland shuffle in any way. Theoretically possible, yes, but highly unlikely.

Note that no part of the Portland shuffle relies upon KMCQ moving to Seattle. The only point of intersection between the Portland and Seattle move-ins is the allotment of a new channel at Trout Lake. The KMCQ people had proposed a new allotment at Trout Lake in order to replace some of the service presently provided by KMCQ. The channel they suggested conflicted with the Portland move-in, so the Portland people suggested an alternate channel for Trout Lake, a channel that works in any scenario.

 

[Radiobub]

Re: New signal almost ready in Portland/(Not quite)

> .fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-1304A1.pdf
> >
> >
> > This shows the KAST reallocation, but as you see in
> footnote
> > #2 on the first page, it is indeed subject to the final
> > outcome of 02-136, the KMCQ app., which is still under
> > review and not final.
> >
> It seems to me that if they asked to be separated from the
> KMCQ portion of the preceding and were told it wasn't
> necessary, they acted on good faith and should not be
> responsible for any consequences in case of a change of
> heart from the FCC. I believe the FCC will take that into
> consideration and there will not be a problem.
>
I agree with nearly all of this discussion, but the only thing missing is that the Trout Lake allocation is vacant and backfilled, and vacant backfilled allotments are currently not allowed, but under review. To cure this would be to build out the Trout Lake allocation with a real station, not one in theory. That was my point in an earlier post.