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The Lion of the Tribe of Judah Files for License to Cover for KLJJ-LP Spring

I don't think directional is the case...clear to the southwest side and the northeast side in stereo at 25 to 30 miles from tower. Other LPFM stations aren't getting this.

Well, that is strange. I am straight down 45 from it, and have a hard time with reception. If you'd be interested, Bill, I can shoot you an email with Mark Green's details, if you wish to inquire.
 
Well, that is strange. I am straight down 45 from it, and have a hard time with reception. If you'd be interested, Bill, I can shoot you an email with Mark Green's details, if you wish to inquire.

comes in pretty well (in stereo, too) using my car radio, driving on 45 south, up until about the 610 interchange. still running frequent directv 'infomercials'... even heard a spot saying "if you are looking to advertise your business on this radio station, email Mark Green..." (or similar). this is pretty sketchy stuff.
 
comes in pretty well (in stereo, too) using my car radio, driving on 45 south, up until about the 610 interchange. still running frequent directv 'infomercials'... even heard a spot saying "if you are looking to advertise your business on this radio station, email Mark Green..." (or similar). this is pretty sketchy stuff.

I better get up on the roof and check my antenna. Just west of 45 and Tidwell, and I can't pick it up well for the life of me.
 
These guys are still running the Directv advertising every other song or so. I wonder how long that'll last...
 
I no longer buy in to the premise these are nice guys who simply don't understand. A licensee has an obligation to understand and abide by the rules. The same goes for getting a drivers license, acting as an investment counselor, becoming a hair stylist, operating a bank or whatever. I feel the operators know full well they are operating outside the rules that apply to non-commercial operation. The FCC's LPFM Checklist they are to have at the station clearly states what they are doing is wrong.

Hearing what they are doing brings cause to be suspect all of their activities in my mind. Are they what they claim to be if they seemingly willfully violate the FCC Rules with their LPFM? Are they doing so on other fronts? I am not saying they are, but in my mind their integrity has been lost.

I don't doubt the FCC is aware.

The next time a full power broadcaster makes a less than flattering remark about LPFM, just remember their comments are directed at stations like this. They're mad because they try to do things right according to FCC Rules and are resentful of those who don't.
 
Funny thing, the earlier post of the recording of KLJJ airing the 'podcasts' that contain content that I believe violates FCC Underwriting Rules was taken down by the guy being 'interviewed'. I asked folks I respect for their knowledge and let's just say they heard what I heard. Might they be trying to cover their tracks? It would seem the posts would be free advertising if there was no risk of violating and rules...note: I'm not saying outright that they have, just that if it was my station there would never be a chance the material would make it on the air.
 
To continue...

Here's why:
1) the 'podcast' running several times per hour is a commercial because if said multi-minute 'podcasts' were really technology programs designed to be educational, content would not be solely about one business who identifies themselves as a major sponsor.
2) numerous statements are quantitative or comparative
a) "We are large home technology specialist"
b) "Largest Direct TV Provider"
c) "with thousands of installations"
d) "whether you need Direct TV or all three, we can service you"
3) Menu selling: Direct TV, AT&T Internet, AT&T Phone Service
4) Multiple times repeating phone number, giving other contact information
5) Comparing companies and saying "factory reps cannot do what we can do" and in one episode saying a service by one company is bad.
The list goes on. Since multiple podcasts play, at least on my listening, every song or two, sometimes back to back and sometimes including the Underwriting announcement itself, it is clear 30-50% of all airtime is devoted to what can best be described as an informercial for a for profit entity for the express intent to increase the customer count at said sponsoring business.

Such frequency, while I have never seen a case, would seem to violate FCC Rules preventing donation credits from airing but in natural breaks in programming. (I will concede a natural break can be the end of a song but I have heard only parts of songs between segments) Stations have been admonished for 'too much underwriting content' and 'sounding too much like a commercial' in presentation even when wording did not violate underwriting rules specifically. In addition, the FCC has strongly advised stations to limit underwriting acknowledgements to under 30 seconds and ideally around 20 seconds to prevent exceeding the rules of airing 'promotional' announcements (the Underwriting spot I heard greatly exceeded this length, not to even mention said 'podcasts). Obviously the 'podcasts' speaking exclusively about one business and what they offer exceed the 30 second mark multiple times over and cannot be considered 'informational' as the full content is about a specific business.

Seemingly the voice of the interviewed took the earlier links from public to private claiming a copyright violation with YouTube. By this action, I would think it is fair to say the involved parties may very well know they are violating or at minimum stretching Underwriting Rules. That would be merely my opinion, right or wrong.

Factual statements must be analyzed to make sure they do not promote, compare or are qualitative. Logos must not do the same (ie: Walmart, Low Prices Every Day is not okay). Statements, whether factual or not, are, by FCC rulings, a violation of Underwriting Rules. For example a station years ago was fined for saying a newscast was underwritten by an attorney 'at the same location for X number of years'. The FCC fined the station because, while factual, the statement gave a competitive edge to the attorney by implying the attorney was more experienced.

I do hope they will see this post and think long and hard about what they are doing. I suspect, however, they might already be on the FCC's radar. What I know of the FCC is they get their duck in a row and then come to you. Once they do, you generally have no wiggle room because they have you dead to sites.
 
Funny thing, the earlier post of the recording of KLJJ airing the 'podcasts' that contain content that I believe violates FCC Underwriting Rules was taken down by the guy being 'interviewed'.

Ha! Well then, we better post another one!!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B16LQd7iJb1ETXdNUnBpc3VXOEE/view?usp=sharing

I've got a couple others if anyone is interested, just PM me. Their Facebook page even has an ad from the DirecTV guy. http://i.imgur.com/kU8pJUn.png

I wonder if Dingley put out all of the money to build the station, just to use it as a way to advertise his satellite TV business, disguised as a "Christian" music station. It doesn't even sound like they're paying much attention to the content on the station... I heard a rather long spoken word piece last week. I bet they just dumped a bunch of Christian MP3s into a playlist on shuffle and let 'er rip.
 
Thanks for the post:

Observations from listening to recording: spot repeated second time...played back to back...spot aired, then repeated

Underwriting Announcement runs 111 seconds - FCC specifically says while there is no set length, they suggest no longer than 30 seconds. This is 3.7 times the maximum length.

Violation: "Largest Direct TV Dealer" (comparative)
Violation: referring to their Direct TV relationship: "since 1994...we have been with them since the beginning" a statement intended to compare and promote
Violation: "thousands of installations" a statement designed to position business with a competitive advantage
Violation: "...capability to save our customers even more money..." price related

This is a blatant violation of FCC Underwriting Rules.

From FCC Website:
Several examples of announcements that would clearly violate the rule may be helpful:

A. Announcements containing price information are not permissible. This would include any announcement of interest rate information or other indication of savings or value associated with the product. An example of such an announcement is:
-- "7.7% interest rate available now."
B. Announcements containing a call to action are not permissible. Examples of such announcements are:
-- "Stop by our showroom to see a model";
-- "Try product X next time you buy oil."

C. Announcements containing an inducement to buy, sell, rent, or lease are not permissible. Examples of such announcements are:
-- "Six months' free service";
-- "A bonus available this week";
-- "Special gift for the first 50 visitors."

Permitted content:
slogans and logos that “identify and do not promote”
the location of the underwriter
“value neutral” descriptions of products and services
brands and product services and trade names
 
Their signal is getting out pretty well today. Getting DirecTV commercials loud and clear with stereo pilot at 249 and 1960.
 
KMAZ can push the limits on underwriting as well. The station runs a phone interview with Gulfgate Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep that often runs a couple of minutes. No prices mentioned, but it is essentially a commercial.
 
Something tells me the Prometheus Project never anticipated this when they campaigned for the Local Community Radio Act. They thought everyone thought like them, and would behave the way they do. They were wrong. Instead we have all these so called ministries playing sandbox radio and breaking the rules. It might be time for the Texas Association of Broadcasters to do something.
 
Yep, it is really bad. I suspect one LPFM is greatly overpowering (the trick of tossing an amp on the feed line). An LPFM near a major city is not supposed to get 30 miles on the fringe of 100,000 watt FM coverages (just below 40 dbu) and nor is commercial radio to be expected. The worst part is the ones that take the rules seriously are being beat up by those that ignore the rules.

I agree there is a place for the Prometheus styled station but I find the most stable are small town mass appeal format LPFMs with plenty of local information. I know of a few in the $100,000 a year range with 2 or 3 full powers in the market and more in non-traditional revenue.
 
A copy of this post #742 has been forwarded to principals involved with KLJJ. Bill thanks for going to all the trouble to document Your findings which I find most Interesting and helpful, along with the reference to FCC rules and policy, Now they know.
 
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