News from north of the border.

[Dan Sys]

Thought I'd let you all know that the CRTC approved an application for a new Triple A station today in Vancouver at 104.1 with 8,000 watts ERP. I guess you might say that's the final nail in the coffin for those earlier plans by KAFE Bellingham to move from 104.3 to 104.1 to facilitate the new KMCQ 104.5 Covington.

Approval was also given today for Vancouver's CKBD 600 to flip to 100.5 with 11,000 watts ERP. The station will be reborn as CKPK (The Peak) also with a Triple A format.

However CBU 690 Vancouver will be remaining on the air. The CBC had applied for an outright flip to 88.1 with 19,500 watts ERP along with a repeater on Gabriola Island at 98.7 with 20,000 watts ERP. 88.1 was approved as a "nested repeater" for 690, but the 98.7 proposal was rejected. There was a huge public outcry about the potential demise of 690, so apparently the CRTC listened.

New stations were also approved in suburban Port Moody and in the Fraser Valley community of Chilliwack. Port Moody will be getting (yet another) Triple A station on 98.7 with 1,000 watts ERP, calls will be CKPM. Just to prove we haven't all gone Triple A mad up here, Chilliwack is getting a new Rock station at 89.5 with 1,600 watts ERP. Calls here will be CHWK.....the old heritage calls have returned to Chilliwack.

 

[FMSteve]

Hey Dan, thanks for the great update. Wow! That was fast considering the hearings were presented in February. I wish our own FCC were so efficient.

I think the game plan right now would be for Alta/First (104.5) to see about flipping the 104.1 allocation to 104.3, enabling KAFE to move. But I don't think this is technically feasible. If I were them I'd try for the flip and a change of antenna coordinates no as not to disturb 104.9 CKVX. But that move might mean a degradation of the channel as Mt. Seymour is a great broadcast location for CKVX. We'll let the engineers try to work things out, if they can.

 

[e-dawg]

Is there any chance that 104.1 in Vancouver to be move to 104.3? Also, can the owner of KAFE 104.3 negociate with the owner of the new 104.1 to move to 104.3 so 104.3 can move to 104.1?

 

[FMSteve]

Re: News from north of the border 104.1 allocation

Well, that needs to be studied. I'm not sure what else is in the way between 104.3 and 104.9 in Vancouver. Under our rules down here, full power stations covering the same location need to be spaced by 4 channels or 800 khz. If this new allocation can stay away from 104.9 by the order of maybe 10 to 16 kilometers (100 dbu signal), then there could be some possibilities. But my guess is that there is someone in a nearby town that is broadcasting on like 104.5 or 104.7. The engineers will need to take a look. This appears to be Alta's only way through this, if any.

Here's a new newspaper article I found regarding this grant, courtesy of NW Broadcasters' website:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/serv...IO31/TPStory/?query=agent+gets+new+fm+station

 

[Dan Sys]

FM Steve.....104.5 & 104.7 are actually pretty clear up here, there are some low powered repeaters on those frequencies up the coast a bit. A CBC repeater in Campbell River on 104.5 with 88 watts, and two Mountain FM (CISQ-107.1) repeaters in Sechelt and Pender Harbour (both on 104.7 with 350 watts).

 

[Bongwater]

Thought I'd let you all know that the CRTC approved an application for a new Triple A station today in Vancouver at 104.1 with 8,000 watts ERP. I guess you might say that's the final nail in the coffin for those earlier plans by KAFE Bellingham to move from 104.3 to 104.1 to facilitate the new KMCQ 104.5 Covington.

Approval was also given today for Vancouver's CKBD 600 to flip to 100.5 with 11,000 watts ERP. The station will be reborn as CKPK (The Peak) also with a Triple A format.

However CBU 690 Vancouver will be remaining on the air. The CBC had applied for an outright flip to 88.1 with 19,500 watts ERP along with a repeater on Gabriola Island at 98.7 with 20,000 watts ERP. 88.1 was approved as a "nested repeater" for 690, but the 98.7 proposal was rejected. There was a huge public outcry about the potential demise of 690, so apparently the CRTC listened.

New stations were also approved in suburban Port Moody and in the Fraser Valley community of Chilliwack. Port Moody will be getting (yet another) Triple A station on 98.7 with 1,000 watts ERP, calls will be CKPM. Just to prove we haven't all gone Triple A mad up here, Chilliwack is getting a new Rock station at 89.5 with 1,600 watts ERP. Calls here will be CHWK.....the old heritage calls have returned to Chilliwack.

Move KMCQ from The Dalles to Seattle? What a PROFITABLE idea!

Anyone got a shoehorn for this FM dial?

 

[only1moore]

One has to wonder if KAFE's owners and the FCC will file papers in court to challenge the CRTC's decision to place the 104.1 frequency in Vancouver. And from the way it looks, this situation is going to be difficult and its going to be hard to force one of the stations to find a different frequency.

 

[FMSteve]

The fact remains that the KAFE change application came in one month AFTER our own FCC gave approval and acquiescence for the 104.1 allocation to the CRTC. This is the sticky wicket that will govern this legal issue.

 

[Bongwater]

The fact remains that the KAFE change application came in one month AFTER our own FCC gave approval and acquiescence for the 104.1 allocation to the CRTC. This is the sticky wicket that will govern this legal issue.

Oh great. Mount Vernon/Skagit County was once an FM radio wonderland, but the closer you shoehorn in these new Canadian frequencies, it becomes a big fat mess. So you have to get even better and more sensitive/selective tuners and with HD creeping in out of Seattle, creating more strange noises on the side frequencies and killing some distant Canadian stations on those 200 kHz away, it just takes the joy away...

HD...Oh God, now you got me started....brace yourselves

Don't even get me started on some of crap leaking off the Seattle HD channels. If HD was a TRUE alternative and something WORTH buying even a $100 HD tuner off of, then why the hell don't they just put a lot of more spunk into it?

It's like what my old 4th grade teacher used to say "Kid, what you get out anything in life is what you put into it." And she was right.

Had to relearn it myself the hard way sometimes, I admit. But it definately applies to HD radio. And I still see a potential future for it. A few local crystal clear AM simulcasts (especially the few AM music stations - don't even THINK of HD on AM - it sounds AWFUL) may be a start, but in itself, a false start....

So how 'bout a universal compromise - simulcasting Canadian stations and LPFMs (and maybe some of those "tribute" stations, those like KHIT107.com off the web?-Would be PERFECT for 106.9) The current rank of the majority of HD 2/3 channels are worthless as they are. Why not reach out to the most possible listeners? And while you're at it - PROMOTE IT!

Do I have to draw everybody here a picture?! It should be so obvious by NOW!

This is why I respect KPLZ. They are putting out good radio sans HD and that's all they need for now. Careful crafting is what it takes to really make HD successful and if you haven't got the budget for it these days, why even bother with it?

In fact, why even invest in it if you are already up to here in analog radio stations to manage and deal with? Technology for technology's sake? In this RARE case, Grandpa WAS RIGHT...

It's not like TV, which is going to go all digital on February 17, 2009 (even though 95% of these stations haven't figured out what to do with all their sub-channels yet.) To say nothing of the difficult FM, or even more dramatic DTV signal limitations to outlying areas (and sans local DTV translators even...tsk, tsk.....) And without gas to get anywhere (you call $4 a gallon AFFORDABLE?), I feel we're in for much more than the rest of us can stand at this rate...

Didn't they once say we could recycle trash into energy? OK President Obama, I'm counting on you....don't let us down..

I can say more, but there's nobody listening....Oh well, you live and eventually you WILL learn....

Cheers!

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

Been awhile since we talked HD so I can't remember if I already raised these points before ... and apologize if I did and this is redundant.

1. HD is mostly being pushed by the consortium that invested in it ... and they are pushing it collectively so no caveats about web directory pages that send people to your direct competitor because it's what the consortium mandated. PD's are going nuts because the promotion essentially says "go check out EVERYONE and come back here if you like us".

2. Alternatives are just as bland as tracked bland stations because they come from some central group that makes a handful of formats available so they have to be like satellite formats sans ANY local inserts (else it would cost something and who wants to take it THAT far??)

3. Reminds me of when CD-ROM drives were introduced...Microsoft annoyed because people didn't buy any. Chicken and egg for a long time...and ironically MSFT was too chicken to set the lead by introducing GOOD app's to lead the drive sales. Finally it resolved itself (thanks largely to porn releases on CD, actually) ... and the app's began to become more mainstream. Still ... an interesting "content vs. carrier" lesson from history.

I agree with many others that the future is not about HD or Satellite radio ... but likely a 'net-based solution that gets delivered via cable, wi-fi, etc. It's how people TREAT those assets that will determine the future of any given content provider. Find it threatening and quash it? You lose. Find it complementary to good content? You win. I do see a likely model where there may be a lot less "live" content ... but making components available online where software does mix & match to the taste of the person downloading is a compelling model ... lots of Bob Rivers "bits" and as much depth as you want for any artist in the library ... and you have some compelling content to draw from. But the thing that separates the content producer from "joe average" downloading from stock library is the BOB RIVERS part of the equation ... someone who knows how to connect doing a great job at it. Has much to do with why so many internet stations aren't getting traction --- EVERYONE seems to think their own content is extremely compelling simply because THE ORIGINATOR finds it so. Also why so many web destinations failed when they were little more than someone's personal interest site ... now blogs and communities have that need covered and it is not dependent on the "cume" for those destinations to succeed.

 

[Dan Sys]

Back to the original issue at hand, I dug up this website from a group in Toronto (CARN) that got the go ahead to start up a Caribbean/African black oriented station several years ago. Their original application for 98.7 was denied due to the proximity of the CBC at 99.1 in Toronto. However it appears that CARN has been struggling to find a suitable frequency since then with no luck:
http://www.carnradio.com/
The grammar on this site leaves a bit to be desired as well as the unfounded racial insinuations directed at the CBC, but it illustrates the problem in Canada with potential new stations having to be sandwiched in on that FM dial somewhere. I also have a feeling a similar situation would occur in Vancouver if the new cp at 104.1 attempted to swap frequencies with KAFE 104.3. Instead of the CBC objecting over possible interference issues, we'd have Rogers raising the roof in this case (owners of CKCL 104.9).

 

[FMSteve]

Dan, I think any proposal would need to provide a showing that a new 104.3 service contour in Vancouver would have to be away from 104.9 on the order of 10-15 kilometers, which would decrease coverage in North Vancouver dramatically, so why do it at the beck and call of us Yankees? It makes no sense, thus this goose is likely cooked, in my humble opinion.

 

[e-dawg]

So is 104.1 upgrade is gone for good or is there still a chance?

 

[FMSteve]

I'm sure the engineers are looking at this. In any event, I think there should be a conclusion to this matter no later than September 20, 2008 as KMCQ's 25,0000 watt Enumclaw, WA Contruction Permit expires on that date, just 2.5 months from now. They might be able to get an extension from the Commission by making a pleading that the Canadians held them up, but that would be disingenuous on their part as both KMCQ and KAFE entered their contingent application into the system one month too late. Simply put, the cause of this delay were they themselves, not the Canadians. So if I were the FCC I'd see through this and force them to get on the air serving Covington promptly. I am not making this up...it's in the record.

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/1019258.pdf

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

Now that would be cool on two fronts
- Forces the hand of someone who filed an app with CLEAR intent of doing Market 13 move-in but disguised
- will give us a chance to see if the FCC has any b@lls left (don't bet the kid's college fund on this)

 

[Kelly]

Wouldn't this whole move-in fiasco with 104.5 be a shame if the CP expired and they were stuck back in The Dalles? What a colossal waste of money and effort on a lost wager.

I don't see why they just didn't build the CP in Enumclaw, and hope a solution is found down the road with further negotiation. 25kW from 1,984.4 feet isn't too shabby as a start. Worst case is they could sell the station licensed to Covington, WA., and recover their expenses. They risk losing the whole thing if not built and ready to license in a couple months.

 

[FMSteve]

The problem is the capital expense of putting up the facility on Radio Hill. They're planning a 4-panel ERI up there. They'd probably be into it nearly $750,000.

Kelly, as an alternative to selling the CP, do you think they could move this to Browns Point (KBSG's old site) using contour-to-contour methodology and running a directional array nulling out towards Aberdeen's KDUX?
If Bonneville is the buyer for this, then this is a no brainer to use the existing tower, and even the old KBSG transmission equipment. They could get on the air fairly quickly with limited capital expense. I'll have to look at the mileage tables for that location.

Whoa.........I'm on to something.............maybe that's their plan!

 

[Kelly]

Well Steve based on what I know, (which isn't that much in this case), I'm not sure how they could make that move for one reason, that being the Browns Point tower is slated for removal in the near future, and there is no application in the hopper to amend the existing CP to that location. They are clearly running out of time here.

They've had ample opportunity to figure this thing out, or just build it as is.

More than likely, I wonder if they're hoping the commission will act on their amended application filed on last year to construct the station at 47, 32, 36.90 N 122 06 35.20 W (NAD27), which appears to be Cougar Mt., but not either the Entercom nor Ratelco sites. Either that, or they filed the wrong coordinates, and it IS either the Entercom or Ratelco site. The height and general coordinates are Cougar Mt., but with an omni-pattern. That leads me to believe they plan on using one of the existing towers previously used by KRWM from the old KUBE tower, or the old KJR-FM tower near the center of the Ratelco lot. Either way, their filed coordinates are off slightly.

 

[Bryant]

Don't get so excited by the prospect of 104.5 getting stuck back at The Dalles. First isn't at any risk of losing this if their current CP expires.

The reason is that the move from The Dalles to Covington was approved by a rulemaking decision. That action changed the community of license to Covington, and any continued operation at The Dalles is considered temporary. The 104.5 allotment at Covington will remain even when the permit expires, and First is obligated to move the station to Covington.

Even if First wanted to return 104.5 to The Dalles, to do so they would have to find some other station willing to relicense to Covington. And they would have to find an alternate frequency for the 104.5 allotment that has been added at Moro, Oregon.

Normally in this situation, First could simply turn around and file for a new permit on the day the permit expires. But they already have a pending application for the C2 upgrade. In all likelihood, when the current permit expires, the FCC staff will simply consider the pending application to modify that permit to instead be an application for a new 3-year permit.

 

[fybush]

Even if First wanted to return 104.5 to The Dalles, to do so they would have to find some other station willing to relicense to Covington. And they would have to find an alternate frequency for the 104.5 allotment that has been added at Moro, Oregon.

I'm not certain I agree with the first part of this statement. My understanding is that until a license to cover has been granted for first local service at a new community, the FCC doesn't consider there to be an "expectation" of local service from that community. Since KMCQ has never been licensed at Covington, there has never been first local service at Covington, hence KMCQ could pull out and return to The Dalles.

The allotment at Moro is dependent upon KMCQ no longer being licensed at The Dalles, and KMCQ is still licensed at The Dalles, as best I can read the database.

That said, I don't expect KMCQ to be heading back to the banks of the mighty Columbia, either.