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WXRJ Bloomington

I would be surprised if it gets on. I had heard they were having antenna/tower problems...lost the site they were originally going to use (or something like that) and have some internal issues going on. I believe the person you are asking about is Aaron C...I heard awhile back he was involved in this...don't know if he still is.
 
I hear they were signing on as Jazz. I wonder just how much community involvement they were going to offer (considering that is the whole purpose of the LPFM) or if they were going to just try and be a jukebox. WGLT already has Jazz covered and offers superior coverage and better building penetration...take a look at this things expected coverage.....awful!

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=FL515693.html
 
When they first started out they had Mike Bove as their tech/CE...but he left the area before they received the CP. I know they tried to get free help...technical and engineering. Last I knew they didn't have a transmitter purchased or any equipment...this includes antenna. I too heard they lost the site the CP was approved for (antenna).
 
Smooth Jazz on commercial terrestrial radio is more DEAD than awesome! At one time close to 300 commercial SJ stations in the country...now less than 40 commercial stations. I too had heard rumblings the station was signing on as Jazz...not sure if that is accurate...also heard they were desperately trying to find a way to "sell" advertising...keep in mind this is an LPFM station. Now...if SJ is what this station was going to do and only do...it is a shame...for LPFM was designed to be more than a jukebox/mp3 player...it was supposed to be community involved! The signal as shown above is horrible and with lack of power will not be able to penetrate buildings very well...nor have much coverage. With that limited signal they should probably stick to traffic reports and be a travelers/vistors information station.

If the former Greenwood Ave person mentioned in one of the above postings is involved, in my opinion it will not see the light of day. It has been close to eight years since he cracked the microphone at a commercial station and if my memory has not failed me, outside of college he only worked one place and that was years as a part-timer before taking over the full-time overnight slot for around nine years. Lack of motivation...had a decent voice that he never honed...just puked...was lazy...was strictly a liner jock and most of the time he slurred and messed up reading those for he liked to talk on the phone all night. Don't get me wrong, he was a nice guy...just zero passion/motivation.

From the FCC site on LPFM's:
"LPFM stations are available to noncommercial educational entities and public safety and transportation organizations, but are not available to individuals or for commercial operations. Current broadcast licensees with interests in other media (broadcast or newspapers)LPFM stations are available to noncommercial educational entities and public safety and transportation organizations, but are not available to individuals or for commercial operations. Current broadcast licensees with interests in other media (broadcast or newspapers)"
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/lpfm/index.htmlhttp://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/lpfm/index.html
 
I can't remember ever hearing a break where he didn't stumble or slur what he was reading and that is what he did..."read" things on air...and just plain sloppy board work. I remember he drove a city bus for years while working part-time at Q. I think he worked a spell as board-op for WYZZ-TV...left that to take full-time overnights at "Q" when Dave Kuyekendahl left. As stated in a previous post...he worked for years in part-time at Q...probably close to 13 years (part of that period the station was automated...the days of reel-reel tape)...and then did 8 or 9 years in overnights. When he got canned by "Q" (a long time ago)...he tried to open a production house...but, that folded. As far as I know, "Q" is the only commercial radio station he ever worked at. He never did broadcast sales...no broadcast management experience and never worked on-air shifts outside of nights/overnights. Reviewing the LPFM rules at the FCC site...looks like you can't get an extension for the CP...either you sign on in the 18 months allowed or you forfeit the CP :eek:
 
The clock is ticking! One month till they lose the CP. Any word on if they are going to make it?
 
The tone of most of the posts on this thread appear many are hoping WXRJ never sees the light of day. I don’t know if this gives them joy because they are part of a commercial broadcast company or if they just like to complain and focus on the negative. Not just this thread, but in general I find it sad when people complain about cookie cutter radio…complain about the borg like corporate ownerships and then offer little support to develop a local/community radio station….a local voice. Instead of griping on this board and bashing those who are trying to make a difference…perhaps you could take a moment and lend a hand…offer support…and or volunteer. Yes, Aaron is part of the LPFM discussed here. I have known Aaron for a long time…worked with him a lifetime ago on Greenwood Avenue…he is a decent guy, who cares about the community and for the past six years has tried to see this LPFM come alive in B/N. Bashing him for not working at other radio stations is a tad naïve…for the era he worked at WBNQ/WJBC, for many that was the only place they would ever work at or ever want to work at! There was extremely low turnaround and there was reason for that…lack of skills and motivation were not them. I suggested to him recently to reach out to the paper…to the TV stations…to spread the word that help is needed. Out of pride, I know Aaron will not come on here and do this, but if you can be of help or know someone who can be, please email him at [EDIT]

[EDIT-privacy concerns.]
 
I had forgotten he had driven a city bus! How appropriate...he always kind of reminded me of Ralph Kramden ;D That from all his plans on making it big...and he had many blue sky ideas...just like Ralph Kramden or Fred Flintstone.

I disagree with you P-R...there is a good reason to be skeptical and have an opinion about this. Number one, this start up seems almost clandestine...very little talk about it besides here. Perhaps people would be more inclined to offer assistance if this LPFM would be more than a juke box/mp3 player and truly be community involved. Even though an LPFM is less expensive to turn on than a commercial station...there are thousands of dollars involved. Who's donating the money? There appears to be no formal disclosure. There isn't even an active website for this thing...zip! Look at that things signal...it is awful. In my opinion, you would do better investing or donating in a webcast station...you could reach more people!!! IF it does get on the air...I hope the idea of being a music station is tossed aside to be a hometown/community station. If that was done, I firmly believe they would get more support and make a positive impact on the community. I would help then. I will not help or donate to a group who want to hear their favorite songs or their favorite type of music. To them, I say buy a mp3 player and entertain yourself...don't come begging at my door for money so you can play your tunes.
 
There is some data available if you dig :) Below is a link to FCC data/licensee info...which reveals their consulting engineer. Shown is the proposed tower location. Clicking on the FCC application link will provide further data. I was unable to find any information who the parties involved under the BBA umbrella are besides the person listed on the LPFM application from over six years ago and unable to find who contributors for this LPFM might be. Seems to be no active website for WXRJ...odd things are so hush-hush. If you look on their FCC application (filed in 2000) they state they will provide at least eight hours a day of "local" programming. Question is what will it be? I hope they don't consider playing CDs/music files with automation as "local" programming!!!

http://www.fccinfo.com/CMDProEngine.php?sCurrentService=FM&tabSearchType=Appl&sAppIDNumber=515693&PHPSESSID=be6c962b67ad0b736f44b53d128e53f9
 
Curious about who's behind this LPFM, I tried to find more on the WXRJ/BBA and it's members. I found a member of WXRJ recently appeared before the Normal and Bloomington Human Relations Commission Joint Meeting. This happened on August 15th at Normal City Hall and a description of what WXRJ will be was given...along with a request for financial assistance! Below is a link to the info and what the BBA states the radio station will be.

http://www.normal.org/Gov/Boards/HRC/HRCMinutes2006_08_15Joint.asp

I did find something else on the BBA...which will give a clue to who is part of this LPFM. Here is a 2006 list of Businesses that make up the BBA.
http://themixonline.net/bba.html
 
On rare occasions the FCC appears to do so. Below are a couple of FCC links demonstrating this. Note the reason for extension in the first link...a death was involved. I don't know what WXRJ will try and claim as a reason for needing the extension...for as shown in a previous posting...in August of this year a member of WXRJ was meeting with members of the Bloomington-Normal government claiming the station was coming on and wanting funding. Didn't appear any "out of the ordinary" happenings had occurred then...and at that point they were under three months needing to be signed on. Below is a copy of the FCC extension and the link to what they granted. Below that is the FCC stating grounds for an LPFM CP extension (with link to their writing on the matter)

Quoting the FCC: <<The Commission provides an 18-month period for LPFM permittees to complete construction and file a covering license application. The staff may waive its construction period rule if "rare and exceptional" circumstances beyond a permittee's control prevent completion of construction by the permit's specified construction deadline.>>

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-249535A1.pdf

Quoting the FCC:<<Revised Information Collection Requirement:

On March 17, 2005, the Commission released a Second Order on Reconsideration and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM), In the Matter of the Creation of a Low Power Radio Service, MM Docket No. 99-25, FCC 05-75. The “Second Order on Reconsideration” established an interim waiver policy to increase the likelihood that permittees will complete construction and commence operation. Therefore, the Commission delegated to the Media Bureau the authority to consider requests for waivers of the construction period as specified in 47 CFR Section 73.3598(a) even if the requirements under the tolling rules are not met. An Low Power FM (LPFM) permittee may request a waiver and the waiver may be granted if the permittee demonstrates that construction of its broadcast facilities cannot be completed within the allotted 18 months for reasons beyond its control, that the permittee expects to be able to complete construction within the additional 18 months that the construction extension would provide, and that the public interest would be served by the extension. (This is a new collection of information of waiver requests and OMB approval is needed.)>>

http://www.fcc.gov/omd/pra/docs/3060-0407/3060-0407-02.doc
 
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