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WJJL-AM What is their status?

F

Frequency1

In 2013 the FCC cited this station twice for numerous rule violations but has not yet acted on them. They did file for a renewal of the AM station in 2/3/2014 and said they had two issues.

http://transition.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-319869A1.html
d. 47 C.F.R. S 73.1350(a): "Each licensee is responsible for maintaining and operating its broadcast station in a manner ... in accordance with the terms of the station authorization." Phillips was operating Station WJJL from an unauthorized location.^
47 C.F.R. S 73.1820(a)(1)(iii): "Entries must be made in the station log...of each test and activation of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) pursuant to the requirement of part 11 of this chapter and the EAS Operating Handbook." At the time of the inspection, there were no logs of the Required Weekly Tests and Required Monthly Tests received.
47 C.F.R. S 73.1870(a)(3): "The designation of the chief operator must be in writing with a copy of the designation posted with the station license. Agreements with chief operators serving on a contract basis must be in writing with a copy kept in the station files." At the time of the inspection, Phillips had not made the designation of the chief operator in writing.
47 C.F.R. S 73.3526(e)(12): The material to be retained in the public inspection file

http://transition.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-324462A1.html
At the time of inspection, Phillips was operating a Studio Transmitter Link (STL) on the frequency 947.5 MHz from an unauthorized location of 976-B Union Road, West Seneca, New York. The license for Station WHB714 authorizes Phillips to operate the STL at 1224 Main Street, Niagara Falls, New York.
47 C.F.R. S 11.35(a): "EAS Participants are responsible for ensuring that EAS Encoders, EAS Decoders,
47 C.F.R. S 17.47(a)(1): "The owner of any antenna structure which is registered with the Commission and has been assigned lighting specifications referenced in this part: Shall make an observation of the antenna structure's lights at least once each 24 hours either visually or by observing an automatic properly maintained indicator designed to register any failure of such lights, to insure that all such lights are functioning properly as required; or alternatively, (2) Shall provide and properly maintain an automatic alarm system designed to detect any failure of such lights and to provide indication of such failure to the owner." According to the President and Program Director, the antenna structure's lights are monitored visually by three individuals. On October 24, 2013 at 6:58 p.m., the agents found that all of the antenna structure's lights were extinguished. According to the President and Program Director, the lights were not monitored that day. Furthermore, the President and
Program Director was aware that the side lights were extinguished but did not know when the outage occurred with the top light.
 
The record also indicates the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability a few years ago and WJJL ownership received a fine for operating with excessive power. Considering the repeat offenses, you have to wonder how this station keeps its license.
 
It would be sad to see this station go. Well over 50 years of not being owned by one of the big guys...
It used to be one of the best oldies stations in the area too!
(live and local on top of all that...)
 
Sad? In the eyes of the FCC, EAS and Public File discrepancies usually warrant substantial fines. Add tower light violations and STL operation on an unauthorized frequency, and the FCC might justifiably deny the license renewal and delete the frequency from the table of assignments. If the licensee is lucky, the FCC grants a conditional short-term renewal. A responsible licensee long ago would have returned the studios and operation to Niagara Falls, serving the Community Of License. What's really sad is there are dozens, if not hundreds of radio stations in America operating in this manner.
 
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I don't understand how they are allowed to operate with these violations. If I remember correctly, they were cited years ago for not having EAS equipment. I think they were still using an EBS unit. Weren't they fined for that as well as the tower beacon and the failure to reduce power? (Now I need to go look it up.) Anyway, as of two months ago, they were clearly running full power after sunset...at least on the evenings when I tuned in. What's also quite sad is during a three hour stretch recently I heard not one local commercial. Every stop set had 3 to 4 minutes of PSA's.
 
Funny you mention their full power. In the car, going thru the dial looking for Yankee Baseball....'bout 10:30p. The Mighty 1440 was Booming into the van in Sanborn..... Thought they used less power at nite, as I don't recall reception being so strong.....
 
They have no website of their own. They are actually on the air these days?
 
The letter from the station's FCC attorney about the woman who thinks she's the owner's wife, built the transmitter and filed the competing application is about as hard luck and looney as it gets. The real owner hasn't made things easier by blatantly violating the FCC rules and regulations. Can this station be making enough money to pay the electric bill and staff salaries? WJJL could be the worst station in Western New York.
 
So, if there are FCC violations that don't mean anything to an average person, that would mean that they are the worst station?
 
There are a trio of stations in Florida who are under the same ownership (not the same owner as WJJL) and have similar problems, minus the strange license challenge. They are in Chapter 11 and I don't see how they can ever get out of it. What they owe far exceeds their assets, even if they sold everything. One of the trio is without a transmitter site and is operating with a strung up long wire. A station that was once a strong community voice cut down to nuisance status.

At least WJJL has a tower and transmitter site. Things could be worse!
 
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dand5780 said:
So, if there are FCC violations that don't mean anything to an average person, that would mean that they are the worst station?
Click to expand...
That sure doesn't paint the brightest picture to this "average person." When I've tuned in the station, about a dozen times in the last month, it sounds like it's coming out of a tin can, the music is 50 years old and my dad doesn't recognize the songs, there's a talk show with the same three callers on the air or some Spanish speaker is on the air. Muy malo.
 
Rusty Bridges said:
That sure doesn't paint the brightest picture to this "average person." When I've tuned in the station, about a dozen times in the last month, it sounds like it's coming out of a tin can, the music is 50 years old and my dad doesn't recognize the songs, there's a talk show with the same three callers on the air or some Spanish speaker is on the air. Muy malo.
Click to expand...

Ok, I only listen in the mornings occasionally when Tom Darro is on. Didn't know there was talk or Spanish on this station.
 
Element9 said:
WJJL. In the pantheon of great stations. Right up there with WABC, KHJ, CKLW and KB.
Click to expand...

I'd take CKLW off that list..They're licensed to serve Windsor, not Detroit and they are number one in Windsor by a long shot. They're not programming to Americans any more, and they're great at their local content.
 
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