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Midwest Plans Community FM Antennaby Gary Stigall June 6, 2000 It looks as though the long-rumored community FM antenna project atop Mt. Soledad may actually happen. Details remain to be worked out and bids await final acceptance, but Midwest Television executives gave conditional approval to the project and are talking to potential users.
CE Rich Lochmann says that the community FM antenna would mount where KFMB-FM's antenna is now, just below the TV transmit antenna on the existing main tower. The combiner would join the outputs of up to nine transmitters. According to Lochmann and RF Systems Manager Rick Bosscher, the antenna would reduce ground-level RF radiation levels, could improve desired coverage for tenants, and would provide new tower space below for other uses. The project includes gutting the interior of the original KFMB transmitter building and establishing tenant partitions. Construction for the project could begin in weeks and be ready for occupation during the first quarter of 2001. Just who is included remains to be negotiated. Currently, KIOZ, KIFM, and KYXY share the site from space on a secondary tower and would be encouraged to participate as part of the RFR reduction plan. John Folsom, Director of Engineering at KPBS says that they have more than a great deal of interest in moving to Mt. Soledad from Mt. San Miguel--they have a construction permit. Their planned move to the Navy site west of the KFMB-TV/FM tower fell through in 1998. |
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