The latest application filed for in Oct. states;
AT PRESENT, WKTP IS AUTHORIZED TO OPERATE WITH POWER OF 5 KILOWATTS, UNLIMITED HOURS, FROM A FOUR TOWER DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA SYSTEM. IN THIS APPLICATION, WKTP PROPOSES TO DOWNGRADE FROM A CLASS B AM STATION TO A CLASS D AM STATION, OPERATING NON-DIRECTIONALLY FROM TOWER #2 AT ITS PRESENT LICENSED SITE, WITH REDUCED POWER, 1.8 KILOWATTS DAY, 23 WATTS AT NIGHT.
THE RESULTING FACILITY WILL NOT PERMIT WKTP TO SERVE NEW MARKETS; AND, IN FACT, ITS DAYTIME CITY-GRADE CONTOUR WILL NOT ENCOMPASS ANY PART OF KINGSPORT, BRISTOL (TN) OR BRISTOL (VA).
THEREFORE, THIS APPLICATION DOES NOT IMPLICATE THE FCC'S MULTIPLE OWNERSHIP RULES, AS WKTP IS NOT SEEKING TO RELOCATE OR TO SERVE NEW MARKETS.
I guess they did not want to spend the money to make repairs.