WDIS-AM 1170 Fined (Not Enough)

[Laurence Glavin]

Greater Boston's second-most unnecessary station (WCRB is the MOST unnecessary station) WDIS-AM 1170 in Norfolk (home to a prison, which is probably the town's biggest employer) received a fine from the FCC that had been whittled down to a little more than one-grand for a number of "egregious" violations. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that their call-letters are the station's most valuable asset; wouldn't Disney love them for AM 1560 in NYC?

 

[spt87]

A year ago I would have included them in the same list (the why bother list) but it looks like they are putting a little effort into it lately. They have a decent web site up and running (http://www.wdisam.com/) including streaming, a listeners club, and even have some local issues posted. Also they make prominant mention of their 30th anniversary. On the schedule they have a couple hours of local shows per day mixed in (not much but better than zero - maybe they could add in some tradio type thing to expand on it). Some of the syndicated stuff they carry is pretty good (Bill Bennett's show is decent - also carried on XM/Sirius).

Violations are never a good thing - but it must be tough keeping the operation together with a day time signal that covers a few small towns. I'll at least give them credit for trying and not just flipping all religion or turning the license in.

There are other AMer's around I would take aim at first - WPLM-AM for one. All syndicated or simulcast of the FM. They have a pretty good signal - day/night - and in a bigger town. They could put some effort into it.

 

[DanStrassberg]

There are other AMer's around I would take aim at first - WPLM-AM for one. All syndicated or simulcast of the FM. They have a pretty good signal - day/night - and in a bigger town. They could put some effort into it.

AFAIK, WPLM (AM) is a 100% simulcast of WBNW Concord. WBNW LMAs WPLM. A fair amount of WBNW's schedule is syndicated, but something in the neighborhood of six hours a day are produced locally. In 2009, that's pretty decent for an AM with a really poor signal in a suburb that, though wealthy, is a long way from the market's major population center. Sounds as if you shot off your typing fingers without having listened to the station you were writing about in several years!

 

[Eli Polonsky]

AFAIK, WPLM (AM) is a 100% simulcast of WBNW Concord. WBNW LMAs WPLM.

I also heard WPLM (AM) simulcasting their FM once recently. It was on a weekend. Perhaps there may be certain shows or time blocks on WBNW that are not simulcast on WPLM. Their directional signal barely comes in up here around Boston, so I rarely check it out.

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

What were they fined FOR?????

 

[jlehmann]

AFAIK, WPLM (AM) is a 100% simulcast of WBNW Concord. WBNW LMAs WPLM.

I also heard WPLM (AM) simulcasting their FM once recently. It was on a weekend. Perhaps there may be certain shows or time blocks on WBNW that are not simulcast on WPLM. Their directional signal barely comes in up here around Boston, so I rarely check it out.

I believe they only simulcast WBNW on weekdays until 8 PM, otherwise, it simulcasts the FM.

 

[NHRadio]

Operating without a license, renewal issues and public file that I know of. It was 16 grand that got knocked down to 1200 due to inability to pay and almost didn't get its license renewal. It billed less than 20,000(!!) a year in 2001-2003 according to this...
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-404A1.txt

What were they fined FOR?????

 

[trojanrabbit]

Almost looks like they're renting space on one of the towers. Forgive my ignorance but that must take some doing for an AM station.

 

[DanStrassberg]

Almost looks like they're renting space on one of the towers. Forgive my ignorance but that must take some doing for an AM station.

From what I heard, WDIS is indeed renting out tower space. The most common and cost-effective way to mount high-frequency antennas on an AM tower is to short out the base insulator (most AM towers are not grounded, are insulated at the base, and are series-fed) and to install a "skirt" around the tower. The skirt, which consists of wires insulated from the tower and running parallel to the tower, then becomes the antenna. From what I've been told, instead of using copper wire for the skirt. which yields the lowest possible resistance but is relatively frail, WDIS used steel wire, which is strong but has high resistance. The high resistance did quite a number on the radiation efficiency of the towers and hence wrecked the station's signal. The owner (I think his name is Al Grady--he's an attorney) was advised to replace the steel wire but he wouldn't pay for the work. The moral of the story is that if you are skirting an AM tower and you want a physically strong skirt but don't want to sacrifice antenna efficiency, use copper-clad steel wire, which is available. It has a trade name but I don't remember it.

 

[FPB]

>It was 16 grand that got knocked down to 1200 due to inability to pay and almost didn't get its license >renewal.
>
That is absolutely amazing, and I can't think of a better justification for the pirates.

 

[magpie]

[/quote]

I also heard WPLM (AM) simulcasting their FM once recently. It was on a weekend. Perhaps there may be certain shows or time blocks on WBNW that are not simulcast on WPLM. Their directional signal barely comes in up here around Boston, so I rarely check it out.

[/quote]

So where exactly is WBNW's signal good? And what towns do WPLM and WESO cover reliably? Anyone out there a regular listener?

 

[willowtree]

Operating without a license, renewal issues and public file that I know of. It was 16 grand that got knocked down to 1200 due to inability to pay and almost didn't get its license renewal. It billed less than 20,000(!!) a year in 2001-2003 according to this...
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-404A1.txt

What were they fined FOR?????

INCORRECT. I got in touch with station management at WDIS - they were not fined. The last time they were fined was several years ago for these violations. The FCC I think just now released the documents pertaining to these violations, but the station is not being fined right now. The manager assured me the violations have been cleared up from years ago, and the station has been running strong since then. They have new commission-based sales staff now, and a lot of new local programs. Take a look at their website (wdisam.com). Hey, at least they are making an effort.
Signal is terrible - I live in a nearby town and even I can't hear their signal very well. I highly recommend listening live online at their website - good local shows.
I wish them luck. I hate to see a local news outlet flounder.

 

[NHRadio]

Willowtree, you are incorrect. If you follow the link below you'll find the FCC order released 2/19/09 fining WDIS $1200.
How could you swallow such an easily disproved story? Are you DIS management trying to deny the undeniable? The fine was ordered years ago but has been under appeal since. They have to cough up the bucks now.

In the "public interest, convenience and neccessity" the link repost is here:
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-404A1.txt

Operating without a license, renewal issues and public file that I know of. It was 16 grand that got knocked down to 1200 due to inability to pay and almost didn't get its license renewal. It billed less than 20,000(!!) a year in 2001-2003 according to this...
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-404A1.txt

What were they fined FOR?????

INCORRECT. I got in touch with station management at WDIS - they were not fined. The last time they were fined was several years ago for these violations. The FCC I think just now released the documents pertaining to these violations, but the station is not being fined right now. The manager assured me the violations have been cleared up from years ago, and the station has been running strong since then. They have new commission-based sales staff now, and a lot of new local programs. Take a look at their website (wdisam.com). Hey, at least they are making an effort.
Signal is terrible - I live in a nearby town and even I can't hear their signal very well. I highly recommend listening live online at their website - good local shows.
I wish them luck. I hate to see a local news outlet flounder.

 

[trojanrabbit]

Almost looks like they're renting space on one of the towers. Forgive my ignorance but that must take some doing for an AM station.

From what I heard, WDIS is indeed renting out tower space. The most common and cost-effective way to mount high-frequency antennas on an AM tower is to short out the base insulator (most AM towers are not grounded, are insulated at the base, and are series-fed) and to install a "skirt" around the tower. The skirt, which consists of wires insulated from the tower and running parallel to the tower, then becomes the antenna. From what I've been told, instead of using copper wire for the skirt. which yields the lowest possible resistance but is relatively frail, WDIS used steel wire, which is strong but has high resistance. The high resistance did quite a number on the radiation efficiency of the towers and hence wrecked the station's signal. The owner (I think his name is Al Grady--he's an attorney) was advised to replace the steel wire but he wouldn't pay for the work. The moral of the story is that if you are skirting an AM tower and you want a physically strong skirt but don't want to sacrifice antenna efficiency, use copper-clad steel wire, which is available. It has a trade name but I don't remember it.

Thanks for the explanation, Dan.

 

[willowtree]

Willowtree, you are incorrect. If you follow the link below you'll find the FCC order released 2/19/09 fining WDIS $1200.
How could you swallow such an easily disproved story? Are you DIS management trying to deny the undeniable? The fine was ordered years ago but has been under appeal since. They have to cough up the bucks now.

In the "public interest, convenience and neccessity" the link repost is here:
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-404A1.txt

Operating without a license, renewal issues and public file that I know of. It was 16 grand that got knocked down to 1200 due to inability to pay and almost didn't get its license renewal. It billed less than 20,000(!!) a year in 2001-2003 according to this...
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-404A1.txt

What were they fined FOR?????

INCORRECT. I got in touch with station management at WDIS - they were not fined. The last time they were fined was several years ago for these violations. The FCC I think just now released the documents pertaining to these violations, but the station is not being fined right now. The manager assured me the violations have been cleared up from years ago, and the station has been running strong since then. They have new commission-based sales staff now, and a lot of new local programs. Take a look at their website (wdisam.com). Hey, at least they are making an effort.
Signal is terrible - I live in a nearby town and even I can't hear their signal very well. I highly recommend listening live online at their website - good local shows.
I wish them luck. I hate to see a local news outlet flounder.

Then why don't you contact station management yourself? I went through the trouble and effort of doing it, so why don't you try it? You'll see what I mean. Phone number (508-384-8255). Email [email protected]

 

[MassMusicMan]

Are you DIS management trying to deny the undeniable?

Are you new around here? Of course he is. When somebody makes their first post on this board, it's to comment upon something upon which they're directly involved.

I guarantee you that he never posts here again if nobody responds to him in this thread.

 

[NHRadio]

Did you read the forfeiture order from the FCC? Follow the link I posted and tell me who is BSing here. Hmmmmm, who should I believe...the FCC document or an owner who came extremely close to running his station into the ground?

[/quote]
Then why don't you contact station management yourself? I went through the trouble and effort of doing it, so why don't you try it? You'll see what I mean. Phone number (508-384-8255). Email [email protected]
[/quote]

 

[willowtree]

Are you new around here? Of course he is. When somebody makes their first post on this board, it's to comment upon something upon which they're directly involved.

I guarantee you that he never posts here again if nobody responds to him in this thread.

Yes, indeed, I am new around here. Thanks for noticing and thanks for the friendly welcome. Actually, I was planning on trying to get involved much more with this forum, and I can tell you that this thread may be the first I respond to, but it most definitely won't be the last. Excuse me if I am just defending a local radio station that I am not involved with in any way or have never been involved with. In fact, normally I don't even listen to WDIS.
Can you excuse me for just trying to get the facts and trying to hear WDIS' point of view. Here we are all on this thread, criticizing this station, calling them "unnecessary", saying that it's just as well that they are fined. I called them because I was curious after seeing this thread - but mainly because I wanted to see whether I could rent some of the land behind their station, which I have been meaning to do for months now. I began the phone call asking about the rent - the guy who answered the phone said I could do it, and he would get back in touch with me, and then I mentioned how sorry I was to hear they were being fined. Not only did he not know what I was talking about, but he also told me they were not in as bad financial straits as they had been a few years back, and they have new sales people now. I told him about the FCC document, although I admitted I hadn't actually read every word of it, and he said that actually the station was fined several years ago for those infractions, but since then they have not been fined. He said he has not seen any letter or mention from the FCC of any fine in the past several days. With that, I said okay, told him I would anticipate hearing back about the rent, and then hung up the phone. The call was about 2 minutes in length.
Those are the facts about my interaction with the station. Perhaps he WAS lying through his teeth, but I would like to think that he wasn't.

NHRadio, I don't mean to get into an online battle with you over this, so I can tell you that perhaps, as I said, he was lying. I, too, would tend to lean on the side of believing the FCC over the actual station. Frankly, I don't think I know who to believe in this situation. But, all the same, I am more interested in renting a plot of land behind the station than the actual station itself.