Updated WILW Radio website

[WCWalker]

The new and impoved look is finally here. I've added a few new stories too.

www.wilw.com or www.wilw.net

 

[dbdigital]

The new and impoved look is finally here. I've added a few new stories too.

www.wilw.com or www.wilw.net

William,

On your web site you discuss the current status of the LPAM initiative and stated that: "The FCC has requested that additional changes be made to certain technical aspects of the Petition before they will seriously consider the proposal."

Can you mention any specifics as to what the FCC wants to see changed?

BTW, nice-looking site.

db

 

[radioboy]

The updated site looks good, William! Also, thanks for the mention of Musicbox 1610.

Thanks for providing the site for the Part 15/LPAM community.

 

[WCWalker]

Thanks Alan and DB. This one while simple, is cleaner looking and should load easier than previous editions of the site. Alan. I hope your new station will be a hit in Tallahassee!

DB. I can say this concerning the Petition. The FCC did like a lot of the contents and they are interested in the concept of commercial LPAM. But they indicated some of the technical points that were outlined needed work. I would rather not divulge any more information than this for obvious reasons.

 

[dbdigital]

One thing you might want to consider as you re-write the petition is to offer points for minorities and women.

As you've no doubt heard from speeches of both the Chairman and most of the commissioners a hot issue with them is minority and women ownership of broadcasting outlets. By offering a point for these groups (instead of points for programming as the petition is worded now) you could make this a very attractive petition for the FCC to consider seriously.

db

 

[WCWalker]

DB. I'll give it some thought though to be honest I do not favor giving preferential treatment of this nature to anyone. I believe in creating a level playing field for all and discrimination of any kind won't be tolerated. Essentially giving points to anyone because of their skin color or sex is discriminatory. This would be, in my eyes, reverse discrimination which will only lead to more of a racial divide among our people in our society. In fact, I had nothing to do with the idea of issuing points to people for various reasons in this petition. That came at the hands of the others that conributed to the petition.

The primary problem with getting more minorities and women into station ownership now is the cost of owning a station. These damn auctions for licenses only compounds the problem. With LPAM, assuming we can get it implemented, it will be much easier for a lot of different people to be able to afford a station. It may not even be necessary to issue points to people since station ownserhip will be limited to private individuals and perhaps small businesses.

To be honest if the FCC truly wanted to do something about the lack of minority owned stations and women owned stations (minus hispanic stations which there seems to be an ample number of in existence) then they do have the power to do so. I suspect they are giving lip service on this subject and little else. For example: When a conglomerate winds up with too many stations in a single market due to a merger and must divest itself of one or more stations, the FCC could find a way to create an incentive to the conglomerate to sell to a minority owned company or individual. Actions speak louder than words.

I would be curious to find out how many minority run LPFM's are in existence. Any non profit is elligible to own a LPFM and I wonder how many minority groups even bothered to apply for licenses.

 

[radioboy]

William,

I am in total agreement with you in this post. I don't care for the idea of points at all.

I think the FCC is only interested in getting money into the coffers. Whoever can pay it is the winner,
regardless of skin color or even if the applicant knows absolutely nothing about running a radio
station. The FCC is not much more than an affiliate arm of the IRS.

The reason I got involved in Part 15 in the first place is because the average American citizen can
no longer afford to even attempt to break into station ownership. I tried back in 1988, for a
FM back on the old 80/90 docket. I almost won, but "Z-Rock" had deeper pockets. That station
never really caight on and still striggles, having gone through a myriad of owners/formats. I'd
probably still be operating it..but never got the chance.

I also looked into buying a run-down AM daaytimer..but it had a lot of technical problems and
was out of compliance..the owner wanted $400k for..well..the license. Then it still needed a new building, a transmitter, a tower replacement, studio equipment..and in this market you would NEVER be able to
make that money back. I walked away from that headache and am glad I did now.

So I fully support the LPAM project, especially if they can keep that blooming auction process out of it.
That is something that should have never seen the light of day. I also don't like "filing windows."

You know the funny thing? I just started Musicbox 1610 in September, and the question I am asked the most is, "Can't you get your power raised? I can only hear you in certain areas. Get more power!"

 

[dbdigital]

DB. I'll give it some thought though to be honest I do not favor giving preferential treatment of this nature to anyone. I believe in creating a level playing field for all and discrimination of any kind won't be tolerated. Essentially giving points to anyone because of their skin color or sex is discriminatory. This would be, in my eyes, reverse discrimination which will only lead to more of a racial divide among our people in our society. In fact, I had nothing to do with the idea of issuing points to people for various reasons in this petition. That came at the hands of the others that conributed to the petition.

The primary problem with getting more minorities and women into station ownership now is the cost of owning a station. These damn auctions for licenses only compounds the problem. With LPAM, assuming we can get it implemented, it will be much easier for a lot of different people to be able to afford a station. It may not even be necessary to issue points to people since station ownserhip will be limited to private individuals and perhaps small businesses.

To be honest if the FCC truly wanted to do something about the lack of minority owned stations and women owned stations (minus hispanic stations which there seems to be an ample number of in existence) then they do have the power to do so. I suspect they are giving lip service on this subject and little else. For example: When a conglomerate winds up with too many stations in a single market due to a merger and must divest itself of one or more stations, the FCC could find a way to create an incentive to the conglomerate to sell to a minority owned company or individual. Actions speak louder than words.

I would be curious to find out how many minority run LPFM's are in existence. Any non profit is elligible to own a LPFM and I wonder how many minority groups even bothered to apply for licenses.

Believe me, I totally agree with you, William.

But this is a 'pet' issue with the FCC and for the petition to, at least, contain some wording on minority and women ownership would, I feel, encourage the agency to look even more favorably on the idea of LPAM. It would allow the FCC to give the appearance of doing something about the issue without actually doing anything about it. As we know, much of government works this way, the FCC being no different.

My concern are the so-called 'godcasters' gobbling up all of the available AM spectrum under an LPAM initiative much as their doing now with FM. I don't know how the petition can address that without sounding discriminatory. Perhaps turning LPAM into an "enterprise zone" solution might be the answer.

As for minorities and LPFM, I know of a station owned by a Hmong group in the Fresno area. But they have been silent for over a year and was even fined by the commission for filing a late renewal application.

db

 

[WCWalker]

DB. Most of the Godcasters could never be eligible for LPAM stations. And any religious organizations that would wish to apply for an LPAM would not be able to run it as a non profit because we are only advocating a commercial LPAM service. LPFM, being non commercial in nature, permits 501c3 religous organizations to obtain licenses. I don't want to see LPAM become another LPFM. That would be a dismal failure in my eyes.