White Center Translator Fights Saga Broadcasting!

[FMSteve]

Looks like the licensee of 92.9 Mhz "White Center" translator is fighting Saga Broadcasting, owner of 92.9 KISM, Bellingham. Earlier this year, Saga had this Capitol Hill Translator booted off the air. Now I see these low power advocates have filed legal briefs fighting this rescission of their license. Click here:http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/...ion_id=1094229&File_number=BRFT-20051027AAAWe encourage the licensee to fight back hard. Under the interference rules, a translator may bump up against this Class C's 60 dbu 50,50 service contour. KISM is not protected from interference beyond their protected service contour. I would love it if the Translator won this case. KISM's Community of License (COL) is Bellingham, NOT Seattle.

 

[billybee]

Much as I agree that Saga ought to stay in Bellingham and not worry about a translator in White Center, Section 74.1203 reads something like this:Sec. 74.1203 Interference. (a) An authorized FM translator or booster station will not be permitted to continue to operate if it causes any actual interference to: (1) The transmission of any authorized broadcast station; It doesn't matter that the interference is outside a protected contour; as long as there is an interference complaint, the translator licensee must take care of it.

 

[FMSteve]

Well, yes and no. It's an interesting question, one that needs to be resolved to give clarity to the situation. 73.1203 certainly gives the "actual interference" standard.However, in MM Docket 88-140, the Commission re-visited the rules and determined that the "Contour Overlap" method was a preferable way to look at predicted interference. Thus, Translator licensees could utilize 47 CFR 73.509 Predicted Contour Overlap method. Furthermore, the Commission determined that "a significant number of complaints" must be factored in to decide if the offending translator must cease broadcasting, reduce power, or make other engineering changes. These complaints cannot come from the station itself (KISM), but rather actual listeners. Here is the map showing no predicted interference into KISM's 60 dbu contour:http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=214574For co-channel, the 40 dbu 50,10 interference contour cannot go into the KISM 50,50 service contour.It's interesting that the Commission gave the go ahead to utilize this methodology for this Translator, and now their investment is wasted after relying on this rule. In this case, the KISM Class C signal comes screaming down to Seattle from Moran State Park on Orcas Island. In most other areas, there might be terrain shielding (ie. an obstruction) or definiately a lower HAAT (Height Above Average Terrain) with a lower elevation that would make this rule work for most places.

 

[TowerLamp]

FM Steve and BB...There is another issue here, non-technical. Somehow the idea of an LP FM using a translator to get into Seattle just doesn't seem right. It flies in the face of the commission's intention for LP stations. Wouldn't that translator channel much better serve the community as an open freq for a licensed LP Seattle station? How does that Fall City LP station get away with running a Seattle translator? Don't translators have to receive the originating station's signal off air?

 

[FMSteve]

In regards to that last question, you're precisely right that a translator must take their feed off-air if that translator is in the non-reserved band (commercial). But KCFL does just that on 94.5 (though it appears they've been off the air recently). It's a miracle, but they are high enough that they're able to hop over the KMIH 104.5 signal ;DIn regards to the legality, they are certainly able, through a friendly LLC or group, to rebroadcast their transmission into the city as a "non-fill" type translator. As for the wisdom of such, however, I would urge them to go outside the city to build their base as this market is extremely competitive. I'd be building a community closer to Fall City, and put translators in North Bend and Duvall. Besides, I know tower rents are very expensive in certain metro areas. As for K225AX, White Center and Saga, not sure what the issues are, except they first said they would be re-broadcasting KXPB-LP, Pacific Beach, then they switched to KSVR, Mt. Vernon, and finally rested at KGHO-LP, Aberdeen....bouncing off a high translator near Olympia, all according to the FCC database.

 

[dougw9wi]

Wouldn't that translator channel much better serve the community as an open freq for a licensed LP Seattle station?

The spacing rules for translators are looser than for LPFM - a frequency that's available for a translator may not be available for a lpfm.

 

[radioplayer]

I really have to disagree with FM Steve on this one. The main point and reason for any translator is to help as a fill-in" signal for the main station because of a terrain obstruction or to provide service to an otherwise “underserved area”. Rural is the operative word in my book. White Center isn’t even close, nor can I find any reception issues with any one station in Seattle at White Center, with the possible exception of KMIH.FM Steve brings up an interesting point that somehow “94.5 leapfrogs over” KMIH’s off-air signal at Capitol Hill. According to the FCC database, KCFL is LP and is licensed to serve FALL CITY. So then just HOW do they get their signal all the way to Seattle? (Assuming the feed really IS coming off the air all the way from FC)An interesting note for everyone on this board: KMIH is getting interference from the Fall City LP in places throughout their predicted service area. What I find interesting is that the very argument being used, (that) KISM is getting interference; that others say 92.9 should be allowed to remain or go back on air is simply burning the kettle black. You can’t have it both ways. The translator cannot be allowed on one end and then at the same time, Fall City then also interferes with another licensed station. Even if they’re not going to be on 104.5 that much longer, KMIH still should be clear from any such interference nonsense, just like anyone else.I also cannot see why the FCC would ever allow for a translator to rebroadcast an LP station from Aberdeen, Fall City or Olympia as this flies directly against the spirit of the rules. One would really have to twist themselves up to argue that Seattle (excuse me, White Center) needs a translated signal from either far off small LP city, because the 70 plus signals now available aren't sufficient for radio service in the greater White Center area..

 

[TowerLamp]

RadioPlayer...FM Steve has got it right...by the letter of the law...BUT I think "spirit of the law" is the key word here. While the law may allow the owner of a translator to broadcast (with permission of the originating station) an out of market station. it certainly doesn't seem what the commission had in mind for these LP operations. How are they better serving Fall City or Aberdeen by pumping a signal out from Capitol Hill?I also have grave doubts about the Cap hill translator really picking up the Fall City LP signal. Many times the audio quality of the translator signal was superior to that of the 104.5 mother ship...I smelled an internet stream or some other STL connection.

 

[radioplayer]

Towerlamp:I totally concur with your last posting....It's ironic that the very same people screaming about "local service" and community are bending the essence of the rules and then at the same time, feeding their signals whichever way they can into the "big city"......the Commissioners ought to get this on their agenda and at the next meeting do away with these loopholes....and while they're at it, restore true public service and community to our airwaves. Don't worry, I'm not holding my breath to see it happen anytime soon....

 

[jdweaver]

Ah what a web we weave...the FCC set up the translater rules with nothing but the best of intentions. With really bright engineers and slick-lawyers (those two words always go together) the Rock of Guam has city grade over Oklahoma City.Want to see a real mess - check out Salt Lake. Because calculated and actual contours vary so much in the mountains, there are stations 2-hours out of town (Evanston, WY or Logan, UT) that have three or four translators covering the Salt Lake metro. The letter of the law is the law. The intent is for another round of rulemaking.