WAMG Off-Air (W243DC-96.5 still on)

[SomeRadioGuy]

I saw your post....but I believe you didn't cite anything to back it up. No matter hoe many underlines and BOLDS you type with. ;-)

Can you cite a case where a temporary waiver was applied for and denied?

Hard to believe that if, say, an AM tower fell, the licensee would be barred from servicing a community until they put a new tower up.

But what do I know. ;-)

P

As I said previously -- in the post you replied to! -- the FCC never grants a STA for a translator to operate on its own. If the associated AM is silent for technical reasons, the FCC considers the translator to be an extension of the AM license and it must also remain silent until the AM resumes operation.

@Wimmmex @K.M. Richards I've got evidence to back up what KM said.

There was an AM in Alexandria that had its tower crumbled in a storm, they asked for an STA to keep the translator on until they could get the AM back on with a longwire. The FCC said no. It may have been a verbal denial to get an answer post haste and not wait for electronic paper filing to go through

 

[Wimmmex]

>>I've got evidence to back up what KM said.

Evidence? Let's see it. What station? Was the request ever filed? Is there a paper trail? A phone call to a low-level staffer will give you "the rule", and not the extenuating circumstances.

Again, I can't see the FCC denying a station requesting to service a community while they solve their temporary technical problem on the AM.

Maybe I'm wrong. (It's been known to happen!) ;-) I'd like to see a provable example.

 

[K.M. Richards]

Evidence? Let's see it. What station? Was the request ever filed? Is there a paper trail?

Are you always this stubborn?

And do you really think any of us has time to go through the backlog of STAs over this?

Let me reverse your challenge. You go through the FCC files and find an example that disproves what we have been saying.

 

[Wimmmex]

You go through the FCC files and find an example that disproves what we have been saying.

OK,,...but you're the one that first made an emphatic statement as fact (and with lots of formatting around you post.)
and when asked, could not cite an example.

So, we'll just leave it as that. Unleds you want to pursue as a PM.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

>>I've got evidence to back up what KM said.

Evidence? Let's see it. What station? Was the request ever filed? Is there a paper trail? A phone call to a low-level staffer will give you "the rule", and not the extenuating circumstances.

Again, I can't see the FCC denying a station requesting to service a community while they solve their temporary technical problem on the AM.

Maybe I'm wrong. (It's been known to happen!) ;-) I'd like to see a provable example.

It was told to me directly by the cluster operations manager

 

[K.M. Richards]

It was told to me directly by the cluster operations manager

Never mind, Paul. I think the request for actual physical proof originated from Missouri. 🙄

 

[MarcB]

Perhaps Gois is a shoddy operator. Here in Hartford I find WLAT 910 and its translator 101.7 W269DE running a dead carrier often during the late night hours. And for several days last month 101.7 was completely off the air.

Of course being a 42 year old White boy I'm not in their target demo. Lol. Full Power Radio's Bomba Radio is a better station than Mega 101.7

 

[necrat]

If WAMG is off the air, then 74.1263(b) applies, and the translator must also sign off. The FCC doesn't grant waivers to this rule. In fact a quick search finds the FCC has denied such a requests in the past on a few occasions (which would violate the original programming rule under 74.1231). Translators do not serve the public, they are not originating stations. The FCC's rules are very clear, they are only a secondary service. The public service is provided by the primary station. This is all spelled out in black and white. Nowhere in the rule 74.1231 does the FCC say a translator "can continue to operate to serve the community" if the primary signal is off.

ECFR.GOV/ FCC Rules Part 47 You can search for yourself here.

 

[K.M. Richards]

The FCC doesn't grant waivers to this rule. In fact a quick search finds the FCC has denied such a requests in the past on a few occasions (which would violate the original programming rule under 74.1231).

Thank you, @necrat ... I was beginning to feel like I was being cross-examined by an overzealous prosecutor!

Nowhere in the rule 74.1231 does the FCC say a translator "can continue to operate to serve the community" if the primary signal is off.

Except the provision for translators rebroadcasting AM daytimers, which is spelled out. However, that does not apply in the case of WAMG since the provision is specifically dependent on the originating station having operated within the preceding 24 hours.

 

[Wimmmex]

ECFR.GOV/ FCC Rules Part 47 You can search for yourself here.

These are mostly general everyday radio rules.....and do not seem to address emergency situations.

Can you show me where a requested emergency waiver to continue broadcasting the translator, while the AM was off for emergency or technical reasons and was denied?

Say, the AM had a fire, a storm caused a power outage to the AM, or the tower fell...al conditions that would take time to remedy.

The FCC is going to deny a COL being serviced with news and information, while they deal with a technical or emergency station with the AM?

Even moreso, when there is a declared state of emergency. I would think if you had a good legal team they could make quite a petition.

No one has shown where this has been applied for and denied. I would like to see a case where this situation is shown.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

These are mostly general everyday radio rules.....and do not seem to address emergency situations.

Can you show me where a requested emergency waiver to continue broadcasting the translator, while the AM was off for emergency or technical reasons and was denied?

Say, the AM had a fire, a storm caused a power outage to the AM, or the tower fell...al conditions that would take time to remedy.

The FCC is going to deny a COL being serviced with news and information, while they deal with a technical or emergency station with the AM?

Even moreso, when there is a declared state of emergency. I would think if you had a good legal team they could make quite a petition.

No one has shown where this has been applied for and denied. I would like to see a case where this situation is shown.

I already told you about one case that was relayed to be personally by the cluster GM who called the FCC for a verbal STA and was denied.

 

[Wimmmex]

I already told you about one case that was relayed to be personally by the cluster GM who called the FCC for a verbal STA and was denied.

I’m waiting for it to be cited.

Someone relaying a conversation is hearsay. (And verbal, not documented)

As K. M. Said….I'm from Missouri!

 

[radiofan2023]

I already told you about one case that was relayed to be personally by the cluster GM who called the FCC for a verbal STA and was denied.

I’ve never heard of a verbal STA, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I’m waiting for it to be cited.

Someone relaying a conversation is hearsay. (And verbal, not documented)

As K. M. Said….I'm from Missouri!

i... just.....cited ... it

i generally trust what im told by people whove been in this business longer than ive been alive and have never given me a reason to doubt them. this guy is the cluster gm/om/engineer and does mornings on one of their stations

Whats got your hard on going over this anyways?

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I’ve never heard of a verbal STA.

its been done before, im pretty sure, in circumstances where someones needed an answer lickity split pdq asap

 

[radiofan2023]

its been done before, im pretty sure, in circumstances where someones needed an answer lickity split pdq asap

They had to follow it up with an electronically filed STA though, right?

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

They had to follow it up with an electronically filed STA though, right?

i think so.. i know ive heard of verbal STA's being granted or denied, like the one ive cited, but i dont recall details and dont wanna guess

 

[davideduardo]

I’m waiting for it to be cited.

Someone relaying a conversation is hearsay. (And verbal, not documented)

As K. M. Said….I'm from Missouri!

For actual event that occurred to posters, there is no need for "citations".