The first I've heard About This

[dbdigital]

There is an interesting story about the mayor of Tehachapi (CA) who was upset over CC's move to supplant local station KTPI's original programming with a simulcast of KYSR ("Star 98") in Los Angeles. She's trying to find a legal loophole to stop them or, if that isn't possible, start her own station.

But I what found particularly interesting was this statement in the article:

"There may be a window of opportunity in about six months for licenses at 500 watts for small public stations that would significantly expand coverage."

Has anyone else heard about this?

http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/47362

db

 

[WRPO]

??? What FCC site are they looking at???

 

[XRQKFM]

Radio Brandy has been covering this subject for months, in fact if you check the Newspapers blog site; you will find Radio Brandy has a number of post on this subject. It was Radio Brandy broke this story and fed it to the newspaper.
This story really illustrates the loss to a community when a radio station is carelessly taken away by a mega broadcaster like Clear Channel, In this case it really does effect community safety as Tehachapi is completely issolated from any radio signals, in some areas the FM band is dead, and AM is not much better.
This story could be a showcase for the need for community radio, for the record Tehachapi News Reporter Ed Gordon is a broadcaster of 40 years who did time with the BBC in LA and their Delano Operations until it was shutdown. Clear Channel is having a hard time pulling the wool over the reporter’s eyes.

Looks like Clear Channel picked the wrong community to pick on this time, there is nothing Clear Channel can do to justify this.

Steve
www.radiobrandy.com

 

[dbdigital]

??? What FCC site are they looking at???

Either the newspaper got it wrong (not an unusual occurrence) or an FCC wonk told the mayor than he should have.

db

 

[XRQKFM]

An FCC field engineer has been trying to yank Ed Gordons chain for months, ED knows it's B.S., and in his own way has reported as such. the 500 watt was fed to the city by some un-informed broadcaster who tends to by the party line (FCC). They have just been informed by me that 500 watts is not going to happen, besides you can light up Tehachapi with 10 watts with ease and a equal powered translator above Bear Valley Springs.
We all know its like pulling teeth just trying to get 100 watts out of the FCC, the NAB is never going to let 500 watts happen and we all know it!
For Tehachapi; all it would take is a train derailment in town with a toxic leak and a thousand dead bodies lying around Tehachapi, because the local radio station was programmed with voice tracking in Burbank, and city officials had no way of notifying of the community of the impending emergency. Then the FCC might be forced to require stations be relocated back to the COL and return to localism. Heck the station might even be required to have a signal in the COL.

Steve
www.radiobrandy.com
http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/RadioBrandy/19516

 

[davideduardo]

For Tehachapi; all it would take is a train derailment in town with a toxic leak and a thousand dead bodies lying around Tehachapi, because the local radio station was programmed with voice tracking in Burbank, and city officials had no way of notifying of the community of the impending emergency. Then the FCC might be forced to require stations be relocated back to the COL and return to localism. Heck the station might even be required to have a signal in the COL.

EAS is not activated inside the station... the activation comes from the local, state and national authorities who can cause the EAS gear in every station in the operational area to broadcast EAS messages. The defect in the system is that, at best, 25% of people are listening to the radio and at night or overnights, it is more like one in a hundred.

Where the station is networked from has nothing to do with the EAS; the station's local origination point will be able to run the local EAS alerts if needed.

 

[davideduardo]

For Tehachapi; all it would take is a train derailment in town with a toxic leak and a thousand dead bodies lying around Tehachapi, because the local radio station was programmed with voice tracking in Burbank, and city officials had no way of notifying of the community of the impending emergency. Then the FCC might be forced to require stations be relocated back to the COL and return to localism. Heck the station might even be required to have a signal in the COL.

Beyond the lack up understanding of EAS procedures, the other thing I do not get is your obcession with putting a city grade over Tehachapi when the station is licensed to Mojavi. Further, you are barking up the wrong tree on the licensee... KTPI is owned by Aloha Trust, part of the spin offs Clear has to make to get through the FCC and DoJ approvals of the LBO.

Wrong COL, wrong owner, wrong interpretation of EAS.

 

[XRQKFM]

David we were talking about 103.1, which is licensed to the city of Tehachapi, you and I both know the Call Letters were only recently moved to 97.7 Mojave. And a majority of the Tehachapi residents know which station we are refering to when the KTPI call letters are used. David we were talking about 103.1, which is licensed to the city of Tehachapi, you and I both know the Call Letters were only recently moved to 97.7 Mojave. A majority of Tehachapi residents know which station we are referring to when the KTPI call letters are discussed. When the old thread started, it was KTPI anybody doing a search on the subject would find it under KTPI. Are you this way with your mate?
David lets face it you are opposed to community radio, You work for Univision another company Bain Capital has their fingers in that thrives on destroying community radio stations and small businesses. Like you said; you go out of your way to snitch on guys running local neighborhood radio stations. David you are the snitch, who thinks a guy running a 25-milliwatt FM Ramsey transmitter is more harmful than slave ownership.
David you are the face of big corporate radio and everything that is wrong with it. You are the neighborhood troublemaker that is always turning his neighbors in for something, and as a child the class tattletale. And I know what your coworkers think of you.
You come to a site like this just make trouble! You must really hate your life.

Steve
Radio Brandy

 

[davideduardo]

David we were talking about 103.1, which is licensed to the city of Tehachapi, you and I both know the Call Letters were only recently moved to 97.7 Mojave.

The station is not KTPI now, so perpetuating wrong data is your fault. In any case, KSRY is also in the Aloha Trust and not owned by Clear any more.

David lets face it you are opposed to community radio,

I am oppoed to illegal radio. LPFMs and licenced non-commercial community statins have the poteential to be great in some cases. Most, so far, are not.

 

[XRQKFM]

The station is not KTPI now, so perpetuating wrong data is your fault. In any case, KSRY is also in the Aloha Trust and not owned by Clear any more.

The discussion has to do with 103.1 KTPI being taken away from Tehachapi, The mayor’s story was about KTPI not KSRY
“CCC confirmed that they are “having some changes” and that what was KTPI 103.1 FM”

Note: CCC confirmed that they “having some changes” a quote from CCC not Aloha Trust, Clear Channel is operating the stations, still taking the calls answering Clear Channel, You and I know that Aloha Trust is a newly formed paper company, much like Concord Media was shell company for Clear Channel. It was Clear Channel that made the changes to 103.1 not the Aloha Trust. This is a continuation of an earlier thread. I already posted the fact the call letters moved to Mojave, and you know it because you nitpicked over that post too.

I do not get is your obcession with putting a city grade over Tehachapi

Because it’s required by the very rules you insist on enforcing, and far more important: Public Safety, there are allot of unique factors that at a moments notice could endanger 1000’s of lives in the Tehachapi area.

You and I and everyone on this board, Ed Gordon and the Mayor know I’m referring to 103.1 Tehachapi, with two little boys screaming in my ear, and demanding my attention, I can’t spend all day like you can nitpicking over already known details.

Again this discussion was about a news article regarding the Mayor taking action with Clear Channel over the station that was KTPI on 103.1, you also know I made the distinction as which stations I was referring to on the Central California board and you know it.

[EDIT]

At least we know I’m right about one thing David since did not challenge me on it!

You are the face of big corporate radio and everything that is wrong with it. You are the neighborhood troublemaker that is always turning his neighbors in for something, and as a child the class tattletale. And I know what your coworkers think of you.


Steve
Radio Brandy


[EDIT-inflammatory]

 

[davideduardo]

Note: CCC confirmed that they “having some changes” a quote from CCC not Aloha Trust, Clear Channel is operating the stations, still taking the calls answering Clear Channel, You and I know that Aloha Trust is a newly formed paper company, much like Concord Media was shell company for Clear Channel.

Aloha Trust is not the same as Concord. The Aloha trust owns the stations, and Clear owns Aloha, but the stations are removed from Clear so they can be separately operated, outside of Clear, as soon as the LBO is closed on.

You even had the nerve to nitpick over spelling errors when you have proven time after time; your spelling skills are no better.

Your first language is English, yet you say "elk" for ilk and such. That is ignorance. I just misspell words because I don't use English all that much and it is not my primary language.

You are the face of big corporate radio and everything that is wrong with it. You are the neighborhood troublemaker that is always turning his neighbors in for something, and as a child the class tattletale.

Unlike you, I have seen what illgal stations do when left unchecked. They grow more bold, and take over the bands, such as has happened in Italy and Argentina. While working in Buenos Aires, we had to have a team that drove around town encouraging irates to get off our frequency or from adjacent channels. In Italy, there was virtual anarchy on the bands, with many stations on each frequency allowing none to be heard.

And I know what your coworkers think of you.

I really doubt that. 90% of them are not even in the LA area.

 

[XRQKFM]

Your first language is English, yet you say "elk" for ilk and such. That is ignorance

Give me a break! I had children screaming and fighting in my ear after a very long 21 hour day, I could not edit in time as Radio Info has a very short timeout for editing.

Aloha Trust is not the same as Concord. The Aloha trust owns the stations, and Clear owns Aloha, but the stations are removed from Clear so they can be separately operated, outside of Clear, as soon as the LBO is closed on.

It's still Clear Channel running the show and you know it!

Unlike you, I have seen what illgal stations do when left unchecked. They grow more bold, and take over the bands, such as has happened in Italy and Argentina. While working in Buenos Aires, we had to have a team that drove around town encouraging irates to get off our frequency or from adjacent channels. In Italy, there was virtual anarchy on the bands, with many stations on each frequency allowing none to be heard.

Instead of wasting our time turning people in, we decided to start a program educating broadcasters on how to be responsible broadcasters no matter what country they are in. What is on the top of the Radio Brandy website? A strong warning against using certain Chinese made transmitters: because if they were not DOA, they were spitting harmonics and spurs all over the place.

We also strongly advise neighborhood broadcasters not to amp up Ramsey transmitters for the same reasons, the new Ramsey FM25B 25 milliwatt transmitter puts out a much cleaner signal compared to the old ones you called “Pirate In A Box”. The neighborhood broadcasters are of a different breed than the pirates in Europe. Here the broadcaster goes out of their way not to step on another stations frequency, and keep the operation as clean as possible. For two reasons: they don’t want any trouble, and they want maximum coverage out of their stations.

Considering the high number of radio stations on the air, reported in the thousands in the USA (based on Ramsey sales alone), mostly in the east and Midwest. I think they have been very responsible for the most part; many are in areas with few if any signals to interfere with in the first place. If someone is out of control, like the guy in Lancaster, CA. broadcasting 30 watts on 87.7 below the FM band and using every four-letter word you can think of. It was us self-policing that silenced the station; not the FCC. We tracked him down and let him know; if he brought the feds to town there would be trouble! That night, was his last broadcast, now he works for Adelman’s 100.9.

Radio Brandy teaches would be broadcasters how to check for harmonics using a scanner and a television. We also warn against using excessive power because it will overload cheap nearby radios, in an apartment complex; 25 milliwatts is more than enough power and very little signal leaves the property.

These neighborhood radio stations give young people something positive to do other than drugs and gang banging. I’m not the only broadcaster that is ok with these micro broadcasters doing what they do, I know several engineers in LA alone that at one time or another operated radio stations just like them when they were younger. After the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, only two radio stations were on the air in Ventura County to provide emergency information: KVEN in Ventura and a undocumented radio station in Thousand Oaks. That former undocumented broadcaster now owns two New Mexico radio stations.

I know one LA radio engineer who likes to T hunt micro radio stations in the LA area on the weekends, meeting the operator and checking out their set up, if everything is ok! He’s on his way! If not, he shows them how to correct the problem. It is that engineer who reports that the new Ramsey’s pass his inspections; unlike the old ones he called RF noisemakers!


Steve
XRQK Radio Group

 

[davideduardo]

These neighborhood radio stations give young people something positive to do other than drugs and gang banging. I’m not the only broadcaster that is ok with these micro broadcasters doing what they do, I know several engineers in LA alone that at one time or another operated radio stations just like them when they were younger. After the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, only two radio stations were on the air in Ventura County to provide emergency information: KVEN in Ventura and a undocumented radio station in Thousand Oaks. That former undocumented broadcaster now owns two New Mexico radio stations.

Now you have my attention. This is a noble goal, and worth pursuing.

While I object to illegal "pirate" stations that are not in compliance with FCC rules (the last one we chased down was in Inglewood, on 104.9, interfering with [then] KMZT and asking for advertisers on the air!), I have nothing against fully compliant stations with "neighborhoodcasting" and, in most cases with LPFMs if they are community driven as opposed to satellite drop-boxes.

Today, one of the reasons why there are fewer young people interested in radio has to do with regulation. Not radio regulation, but work rules laws and codes.

I started at WJMO and WCUY at age 13, and became a "pet" intern 'cause I would empty the wastebaskets and clean the toilets. I eventually learned the board and got an FCC 3rd Restricted and could sign on and off and all kinds of other neat stuff. In about a year, they actually paid me.

Today, the labor laws and restrictions on interns are so tough in many states that stations are afraid to allow anyone inside the facilities. Add the insurance issues, and most stations are not open to teens who want to learn. So if you develop ways for people to experience radio, that is something I support.

Most of my pirate experience has been different from what you describe. In Miami, about 10 years ago, there was a dance format pirate that would sell to night clubs, to the extent that they threatened to send people in to start fights if the club did not advertise. And we are talking about 1 kw into professional antennas, often on the tops of condos, too. There are a dozen Haitian stations in Kreyol on adjacent channels to Miami stations. That is what scares and offends me.

Back to what you are doing... with the description you have given of how you encourage young people to try radio and your insistence on compliant transmission gear and proper frequency selection, I can congratulate you for this effort. We may disagree on some of the commercial radio points, but it sounds like you are doing something valuable with your own activities.

 

[dbdigital]

Radio Brandy has been covering this subject for months, in fact if you check the Newspapers blog site; you will find Radio Brandy has a number of post on this subject. It was Radio Brandy broke this story and fed it to the newspaper.
This story really illustrates the loss to a community when a radio station is carelessly taken away by a mega broadcaster like Clear Channel, In this case it really does effect community safety as Tehachapi is completely issolated from any radio signals, in some areas the FM band is dead, and AM is not much better.
This story could be a showcase for the need for community radio, for the record Tehachapi News Reporter Ed Gordon is a broadcaster of 40 years who did time with the BBC in LA and their Delano Operations until it was shutdown. Clear Channel is having a hard time pulling the wool over the reporter’s eyes.

Looks like Clear Channel picked the wrong community to pick on this time, there is nothing Clear Channel can do to justify this.

Steve
www.radiobrandy.com

While I don't think there's anything the good people of Tehachapi can do to stop CC from doing what they want with their radio "property", I do see this as a perfect situation for the city to have an LPFM under an STA, much like the folks in Goldfield, NV have done.

All it takes is political clout and it seems as if the city has that beginning with the mayor herself.

db

 

[jegrant]

Now if we could all figure out how to give those broadcasters who want to do true community service a preference for available low-power frequencies, over those who would merely drop in a satellite dish to import programming from across the country or another continent. At the same time, how can we do this in a way that won't make it impossible for community organizations which operate on a shoestring budget to even own and operate a station? Furthermore, I agree, we shouldn't drown anyone in excessive regulation. However, we must consider this: if any loopholes remain, the satellite/translator operators will find a way to use them.

 

[XRQKFM]

While I object to illegal "pirate" stations that are not in compliance with FCC rules (the last one we chased down was in Inglewood, on 104.9, interfering with [then] KMZT and asking for advertisers on the air!),

He was causing harm to 105.1 FM, that jerk would not listen to our warnings either. Some people are just to thick headed for their own good, we also contacted 104.7FM in the San Fernando Valley just off the 405; Fernando the operator had a really cocky and nasty attitude. We warned him over and over again, 104.7 Oxnard was getting upgrade and he needed to clear the frequency, he thought he owned the radio dial, and he was staying put, since Fernando was a violent type, we finally had to let the feds clean house. I think he ended up getting four other stations busted at the same time. Fernando was charging DJ’s $600 to do four hour shows and getting it!

I have nothing against fully compliant stations with "neighborhoodcasting" and, in most cases with LPFMs if they are community driven as opposed to satellite drop-boxes.

Nobody likes those satellite drop-boxes, except maybe the equipment manufactures!

I started at WJMO and WCUY at age 13, and became a "pet" intern 'cause I would empty the wastebaskets and clean the toilets. I eventually learned the board and got an FCC 3rd Restricted and could sign on and off and all kinds of other neat stuff. In about a year, they actually paid me.

I was allowed into KNJO by Bob Hamilton at age 8 and stayed doing what you did for years (my parents always knew where to find me). At age 10 I was reading the Teletype when the bell started to ring, the bulletin was that Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated in 1968; Greg Lefevre was giving the girl scouts a tour at the time. The bulletin was on the air 15 seconds after it was typed, true rip and read! Radio has been in my blood ever since.

Today, the labor laws and restrictions on interns are so tough in many states that stations are afraid to allow anyone inside the facilities. Add the insurance issues, and most stations are not open to teens who want to learn. So if you develop ways for people to experience radio, that is something I support.

And they wonder why young people get in so much trouble; today Bob Hamilton would not be allowed to open the door, let alone let me in and learn to run the board! And that is not radio’s fault.

Most of my pirate experience has been different from what you describe. In Miami, about 10 years ago, there was a dance format pirate that would sell to night clubs, to the extent that they threatened to send people in to start fights if the club did not advertise. And we are talking about 1 kw into professional antennas, often on the tops of condos, too. There are a dozen Haitian stations in Kreyol on adjacent channels to Miami stations. That is what scares and offends me.

It’s a war zone in Miami, when it comes to pirates, none of us can support or justify that ill-responsible behavior, the worse part is they ruined it for the little neighborhood guy too with the new Florida laws.

We may disagree on some of the commercial radio points,

We might closer than you think; I think there might be a solution that might solve the problem for almost all broadcasters, at least a start.

First mainstream broadcasters need to understand we are not the out of control pirates of yesteryear, or the pirates in Miami today. If micro broadcasters could be allowed to go in and fill the void legally in areas where signals are very limited in a responsible way, and not profitable for broadcasters. Then broadcaster should be free to move a station where it can make a reasonable profit. Like in forestry: take a tree, plant a tree.
Somehow we responsible micro and low power broadcasters, the large broadcasters and the FCC need to find a way to ease up the license process like in New Zealand: 300milliwatts FM and under is legal and unlicensed as long as you follow the rules and responsible with your radio station (that means you don’t interfere with another station of any kind), in some areas a little more power may be needed because of terrain, then a streamlined GMRS type of license is required, this would free up dead beat radio stations for relocation without a hassle. It is reasonable to expect that there is not going to be any room for any new stations in a major market like Los Angeles.
It’s a Win Win solution that would solve the problem, and make almost everyone happy. Broadcasters would be free to concentrate on larger markets; the community keeps a local signal for community service and emergencies, and a valuable training ground for younger future broadcasters. Larger broadcasters don’t draw any revenue from these mini unmeasured markets in the first place, so there is no loss to the bottom line. It’s probably too simple; the government would never go for it without some serious arm-twisting, you guys get one arm and we will get the other.
And those satellite drop-boxes should have their CP’s revoked ASAP; Tehachapi has two frequencies being sat on by one of those operations. Those frequency hogs are a waste of air space, and those operations do absolutely nothing to serve in the public interest. Just think of all the frequencies that could be freed up overnight with just one swipe of a pen!
David do you think broadcasters on your end could work with something close to that proposal. You guys don’t want to have to move back to those little towns like the FCC has in mind, perhaps if both sides give a little the FCC might go along with it. And again self-policing would remain an important aspect!

Steve
www.radiobrandy.com

 

[davideduardo]

We might closer than you think; I think there might be a solution that might solve the problem for almost all broadcasters, at least a start.

First mainstream broadcasters need to understand we are not the out of control pirates of yesteryear, or the pirates in Miami today. If micro broadcasters could be allowed to go in and fill the void legally in areas where signals are very limited in a responsible way, and not profitable for broadcasters. Then broadcaster should be free to move a station where it can make a reasonable profit. Like in forestry: take a tree, plant a tree.
Somehow we responsible micro and low power broadcasters, the large broadcasters and the FCC need to find a way to ease up the license process like in New Zealand: 300milliwatts FM and under is legal and unlicensed as long as you follow the rules and responsible with your radio station (that means you don’t interfere with another station of any kind), in some areas a little more power may be needed because of terrain, then a streamlined GMRS type of license is required, this would free up dead beat radio stations for relocation without a hassle. It is reasonable to expect that there is not going to be any room for any new stations in a major market like Los Angeles.
It’s a Win Win solution that would solve the problem, and make almost everyone happy. Broadcasters would be free to concentrate on larger markets; the community keeps a local signal for community service and emergencies, and a valuable training ground for younger future broadcasters. Larger broadcasters don’t draw any revenue from these mini unmeasured markets in the first place, so there is no loss to the bottom line. It’s probably too simple; the government would never go for it without some serious arm-twisting, you guys get one arm and we will get the other.
And those satellite drop-boxes should have their CP’s revoked ASAP; Tehachapi has two frequencies being sat on by one of those operations. Those frequency hogs are a waste of air space, and those operations do absolutely nothing to serve in the public interest. Just think of all the frequencies that could be freed up overnight with just one swipe of a pen!
David do you think broadcasters on your end could work with something close to that proposal. You guys don’t want to have to move back to those little towns like the FCC has in mind, perhaps if both sides give a little the FCC might go along with it. And again self-policing would remain an important aspect!

I definitely see your point. The key issue is that I did not see it until your interesting post yesterday clarified your goals. There is a tendency to think that "unlicensed" is equal to "pirate." So that is the first step... but why should stations care? If low power legal radio provides tomorrow's job seekers with experience, then there is a benefit.

The opportunity, I think, would be to work with some of the local broadcast associations, and build a record of working with commercial radio as a source of new "converts" to broadcasting. Not all groups will be interested, as likely they don''t understand just as I did not. Perhaps you could start by getting folks from local stations to come visit and chat with interested people, or get some station tours. Document this, put it on your web page as examples fo working together. You might even go for some of the government job training money, although I suspect the conditions or paperwork would be horrible. Get a couple of name broadcasters to be "advisors."

Once you get at least one local broadcaster association to work with you, use that experience to solicit donations of used equipment, etc., and to go to the FCC and show that slightly higher power is beneficial to everyone. I you have not filed for tax exempt status, doing that (more government stuff) might help.

You have to consider that you may not get support from big companies, but you may get support from individuals whose names are recognizable and whose presence on your lists will show you are not criminals. Think about recently retired radio people who love radio and want to do something besides vegetate. You might see if LA Radio.com might occasionally write something about what you are doing... nobody else is doing much to train new entries to radio, and the legal issues we discussed have pretty much nuked internships, so that is worth a shot.