Stupid CP mistakes or no new FM station for Rosedale

[Carmine5]

Here's another incident that is going into my folder of dumb CP mistakes. This one involves CSN International and a CP they had for a new FM station in Rosedale.

Here's the background from the FCC report:

"The Commission granted CSN a construction permit (the “Construction Permit”) for KOGR(FM) on October 29, 2003. By its terms, the Construction Permit expired on October 29, 2006, if CSN failed to construct the station. CSN, however, did not start construction until October 24, 2006.

When it began to install its antenna that day on the American Tower Corporation (“ATC”) tower specified in the Construction Permit, CSN learned that the United States Forest Service (“USFS”) prohibited installation of broadcast antennas at that location. The following day, CSN filed a request with the Commission to toll the Construction Permit expiration date."

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-1851A1.pdf

Tolling is hard to get with the FCC anyway but this circumstance is amazing in its stupidity. Why did CSN start to construct so late? How could they have not known that the USFS would not allow them to construct a tower and why did they identify that site on the application in the first place?

The Commission denied the tolling request and the CP has expired.

To quote Madge in the movie, "Vertigo": "Stupid, stupid, stupid."

C5

 

[DaveBayArea]

While I have to agree wholeheartedly with this post, it runs deeper in my mind. What is up with CSN? It seems like they should be anxious to put this station on the air and generate revenue. If not, why apply in the 1st place? I know - there could be any number of reasons. But if they managed to build it at the end it seems like they could have done it two years before. Come on - let someone who WANTS to broadcast have the license. Even selling the CP for a very low profit is better than just losing it. Sheesh.

Dave B.

 

[Carmine5]

A little background check revealed that CSN International is part of the whole Jeff Smith/Calvary Chapel mess.

It appears they made the same mistake with an FM CP for Logansport, Indiana a year earlier; identifying a tower site that couldn't possibly be used and waiting till the last minute to file an extension. They lost that CP as well.

Not to worry, though, these folks have a mess of non-com stations and translators around CA. And they have a great deal of money, so losing a couple of CP's is just part of the cost of doing business--a tax write off.

There are a lot of unflattering words I could use for these people, but I have to admit they know how to work the FCC's filing process.

C5

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Not to worry, though, these folks have a mess of non-com stations and translators around CA. And they have a great deal of money, so losing a couple of CP's is just part of the cost of doing business--a tax write off.

If they are operation non-coms and having successful applications for non-coms, the we know they are not-for-profit, tax exempt. How does a tax exempt organization do a "tax write off?

 

[Carmine5]

Not to worry, though, these folks have a mess of non-com stations and translators around CA. And they have a great deal of money, so losing a couple of CP's is just part of the cost of doing business--a tax write off.

If they are operation non-coms and having successful applications for non-coms, the we know they are not-for-profit, tax exempt. How does a tax exempt organization do a "tax write off?

Just because an organization is non-profit does not mean they are exempt from filing with the IRS. They must still report gross income, expenses, losses, etc. and net income. They must also show that none of their income is unrelated business income.

That last point is significant. Having worked for a non-profit for 15 years, I can tell you that if your net income is high, the IRS will do an audit to make sure that this income is not from unrelated business sources.

C5

 

[radiofreqk1]

Why would they wait to build ?? Because "selling CP's" is still big business. Take the new C1 CP for KZRO - FM in northern California. The owner paid chump change for the class C3 CP. Now he wants all of the gold in California for an un-built C1, that he has no cash to build. CSN has sold off lots of CP's, even to other religious groups. Money. Big money.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Sam: I having trouble fitting your post into this thread. The rest of us have been talking about NON-COMMERCIAL EDUCATIONAL construction permits that don't get built on time. How much can someone afford to pay for a permit to build a NON-COM? Why would someone let such a CP expire, unbuilt.

You are correct. There is quite a market under the current FCC for TRAFFICING in construction permits... at big profits. (I believe the licensed station which has a cp to upgrade is a COMMERCIAL station which is a slightly different circumstances.)

The original post was about a NEVER BUILT, never licensed station. Let the CP expire and you zero, zilch, nada, nothing.

Let the UPGRADE CP expire for an existing LICENSED station and you still retain the license that has considerable value. You come back two, three years later when you have enough money to build and you apply again if someone has not blocked your channel with another station.

So, we are back to the original question. If I own a CP for a NON-COM and for health reasons, for lack of cash reasons, for whatever, I cannot, I will not get it built. Why wouldn't I sell to someone else and at least get part of engineering and legal costs back. Getting even half my expenses back is considerably more valuable than putting your expired CP in a picture frame on the wall.

 

[radiofreqk1]

KZRO was first licensed as a "Non-Com" on a commercial channel -- and then sold the CP -- to a commercial operator. Why ?? -- Lots of good reasons. Not everyone operates on "putting the ducks in a row". When the FCC opens a filing window -- there is not much time to do a complete background on every possible "open area". The big educational groups use the "Shotgun" approach -- which is promoted by lots of radio techs or engineers. MONEY. Only after the CP is granted - does the stuffing hit the fan. Most applicants never check on zoning or other related problems or hazards. Oregon has a statewide restriction of any type of tower over 150 feet. But does that stop anyone from filing? NO. But it does stop anyone from constructing a radio tower. The big groups file for 20 or 30 stations at a time. If the get only 25% -- they have half a dozen or more CP's to build. They select which ones to build and flush the rest. Some groups have a "do not sell to your enemy" mindset. If the CP only covers a population of 30,000 or less -- and it will cost over $ 75,000 to build -- what are the chances that you can make any money ?? Turn that CP in. Any why would anyone pay "big bucks" on a chance to loose money -- with such a small coverage area or very small population base ?? Lots and lots of good reasons why stations are never built.

 

[radiofreqk1]

Did you ever take a look at the Rosedale CP. It's a Santa Maria "Rimshooter". A very high directional antenna that must have cost $ 40,000 or more. Why spend $ 100,000 if you will only get back less than $ 3,000 a month? The class B covers an over covered area of about 60,000 persons -- of which less than 10% might be listeners. CSN would be the third or 4th religious broadcaster.

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

Re: Stupid CP mistakes

SAM:
.... Lots and lots of good reasons why stations are never built.

that is reeely sad!
no, not in disagreement, just makes me mad, that is
just some of the reasons that happens.