http://mediaconfidential.blogspot.com/2011/05/wkmk-contacts-fcc-over-nj-interference.html
This should be a fun battle to watch!
This should be a fun battle to watch!
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
WKMK Goes to the FCC Over Translator
- Thread starter bigtom101
- Start date
I posted this on the NYC Board, but I doubt that the FCC will do anything. The FCC approved the 106.3 NYC translator. The problem is that WKMK was never designed to be a "NYC station" or cover the immediate suburbs of New York City, including North Jersey and the outer boroughs. The 106.3 Eatontown allocation was designed to cover Monmouth and Ocean counties of NJ. Whatever coverage they have beyond those areas is a "bonus." A similar analogy is when I visit my parents in Monmouth County, NJ, I can hear WBEB/101.1 "B-101" in Philadelphia if I position the radio in a manner to null out CBS-FM. B-101's signal is not designed to cover Monmouth, but their fringe signal "just happens to come in" due to the hills of Holmdel blocking the signals coming out of the ESB.
-mike
-mike
This represents still more meatheadedness on behalf of the FCC. 'KMK sits on what was allocated as a Class "A" FM channel. Allocations of the FM broadcast band are a relic of the days when there were no FM car radios and even the best engineers available had only a vague notion of what FM coverage would be once the band filled-in, there were more sophisticated transmitting antennas and FM receivers improved. The Commission set up classes of FM stations. Class A stations were allocated to reliably serve local areas, while "B" and "C" stations were intended to be regional, and to enjoy a certain level of protection from co-channel and adjacent channel stations. The idiocy of these ancient allocations in the 21st century can be seen in a short-spaced regional frequency: 101.1 mhz. with full-powered Class B facilities in New York City and Philadelphia. Result, as you drive across NJ, there is a broad interference contour when you get equidistant to the two markets, and for miles on end, neither CBS-FM nor "B101" are worth your time due to mutually destructive interference and signal swapping. Nationwide, there are many more similar instances inherited from the ancient frequency allocations which were never fixed and became further aggravated by more and more stations being licenced. Thanks to these allocations, many stations operating on Class A frequencies have found their way around the intent of the original allocations and have turned into de facto regional stations (or at least tried to). Another Class A station of note in the area is WDHA-FM on 105.5 which was the fortunate benefactor of another NJ FM station (at Red Bank) losing its license years ago. WKMK is being victimised by a totally unnecessary translator signal being added to the signal rich NYC market by an ignorant, money-hungry FCC. Shame!
PhoenixPark said:
101.1 Philadelphia was a standalone FM allocation that began life as a frequency allocation in central Pennsylvania (Shippensburg Pa.). Not long after that, in 1963, Dave Kurtz, one of the original owners and the CE, was asked by the FCC if he would mind moving it to Philadelphia because of co-channel and/or adjacent channel interference at the original COL. Of coarse the prospect of moving 101.1 to Philadelphia was like hitting the jackpot at the time, and he agreed enthusiastically. The move to Philadelphia preceded most Philadelphia FM's moving to the Roxborough antenna farm. So 101.1 landed on an existing antenna behind Ridge Pike with a relatively low HAAT, thus not recognized as causing interference to New York 101.1.
WKMK's protected contour touches NYC and besides that WKMK is a MONMOUTH-OCEAN station, not a NEW YORK station.
Besides, if the FCC did NOTHING about W264AM destroying WZXL in Ocean County, why would they do anything about W293BU effecting WKMK in New York?
Besides, if the FCC did NOTHING about W264AM destroying WZXL in Ocean County, why would they do anything about W293BU effecting WKMK in New York?
Translators are second class citizens. If Press can prove (and there IS a specific FCC prescribed method for doing that) that they have listeners in the area where the translator is interfering with KMK; they have a very good shot at getting the translator license rescinded. I suspect they are now gathering details on lost listeners which will become part of a formal filing.
When the 100.7 translator in Edison was off, WLEV had a nearly static free signal in the area, except a few days when tropo brought in WHUD and WZXL. But I don't think WLEV even complained since they could care less about Middlesex county since there are a lot of choices for AC.
Thunder on the other hand has a lot of listeners in NYC and north Jersey because they're the only place for country. They had north Jersey advertisers and did remotes from there. So even if you don't like country, go sign that petition if you think Clear Channel shouldn't be allowed to abuse the translator loophole and essentially get another commercial station on the air when it is already at the maximum allowed. Do you honestly want another Clear Channel station on the air after they pretty much ruined local radio? Remember when you sign the petition, you either say you live in range of the translator's signal, or work in New York City, and you stopped listening to Thunder because of the interference.
It's ridiculous that Clear Channel can abuse this loophole because it has money, instead of 106.3 being used for a translator's intended purpose of translating a distant signal that has NYC in its 60 dbu coverage area (such as Star 99.1, WHUD, WQBU) or better yet, used as an LPFM to add a locally owned and programmed station to the dial. 106.7 HD2 clearly has a better signal than 106.3, so anyone with an HD radio does not need the translator to hear 106.7 HD2.
Thunder on the other hand has a lot of listeners in NYC and north Jersey because they're the only place for country. They had north Jersey advertisers and did remotes from there. So even if you don't like country, go sign that petition if you think Clear Channel shouldn't be allowed to abuse the translator loophole and essentially get another commercial station on the air when it is already at the maximum allowed. Do you honestly want another Clear Channel station on the air after they pretty much ruined local radio? Remember when you sign the petition, you either say you live in range of the translator's signal, or work in New York City, and you stopped listening to Thunder because of the interference.
It's ridiculous that Clear Channel can abuse this loophole because it has money, instead of 106.3 being used for a translator's intended purpose of translating a distant signal that has NYC in its 60 dbu coverage area (such as Star 99.1, WHUD, WQBU) or better yet, used as an LPFM to add a locally owned and programmed station to the dial. 106.7 HD2 clearly has a better signal than 106.3, so anyone with an HD radio does not need the translator to hear 106.7 HD2.
MikeF said:
Mike, Don't the FCC Rules specify that FM stations are protected from co-channel translator interference and signal degradation only within the primary FM station's 60dBu contour?
The FCC says this:
Interference Caused
A translator or booster may not cause predicted or actual interference. If any actual interference is created, the Commission requires the permittee or licensee to resolve all interference complaints by appropriate means. If the interference cannot be resolved, the Commission will require the FM translator or booster station to discontinue operations. See 47 CFR Section 74.1203. A translator construction permit application will not be granted if an objecting party provides convincing evidence that the proposed translator station would likely interfere with off-the-air reception of a full service FM station, even if there is no predicted prohibited contour overlap.
***************************************************************
Section 74.1203 mentions 40dBu protection for a Class A co-channel, but that may be
for an LP-100 ... not sure what they are saying.
Interference Caused
A translator or booster may not cause predicted or actual interference. If any actual interference is created, the Commission requires the permittee or licensee to resolve all interference complaints by appropriate means. If the interference cannot be resolved, the Commission will require the FM translator or booster station to discontinue operations. See 47 CFR Section 74.1203. A translator construction permit application will not be granted if an objecting party provides convincing evidence that the proposed translator station would likely interfere with off-the-air reception of a full service FM station, even if there is no predicted prohibited contour overlap.
***************************************************************
Section 74.1203 mentions 40dBu protection for a Class A co-channel, but that may be
for an LP-100 ... not sure what they are saying.
The key words are "even if there is no predicted prohibited contour overlap." Hundreds of listener complaints is pretty convincing evidence.
The directional pattern of the translator might also be messed up if there are taller buildings reflecting, reradiating, and absorbing the 106.3 signal.
The directional pattern of the translator might also be messed up if there are taller buildings reflecting, reradiating, and absorbing the 106.3 signal.
Wouldn't this translator also interfere with Clear Channel's other station that they own at 106.3 FM? WHCY-FM Blairstown? even a little bit interfer with it in someway, shape, or form?
Update: The 106.3 translator has been silenced as of yesterday. Press wins! Victory is not CC's (or a third party representing them)! More on the New York City board.
- Status