Category Archives: Local News

Tribal Association Files Objection to 89.9 NCE App

The Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association (SCTCA) filed an Informal Objection with the FCC against the non-commercial application filed by the Center for Economic Justice (CEJ) for 89.9 MHz at Warner Springs, north of Romona. In the filing, SCTCA claims that CEJ…

  • is not a valid non-commercial entity under California state law
  • misidentifies the transmitter site
  • is not an established local applicant
  • technical representatives are linked to a prior canceled NCE license (DKUMI) for Ramona, the permittee of which had an unresolved character issue 
  • and the application has a “myriad of errors.”

SCTCA had filed its own application for the same NCE channel, so is considered to be a mutually exclusive applicant for 89.9 MHz covering the region of San Diego County near Warner Springs. At this stage, typically the competing applicant, CEJ, would respond to the objection to help the FCC decide on the merits of the two applicants toward awarding a construction permit for the new FM station.

KSDS Responds to Halloran License Renewal Objection

KSDS (FM) San Diego filed an informal Opposition to Informal Objection pleading with the FCC on December 13, 2021 in favor of renewing the station’s license. The filing was made to counter an Informal Objection filed by attorney Dan Alpert, representing Friends of San Diego Public Radio, against renewing the San Diego Community College District radio station license. The original pleading appears to represent the opinions of a single person, San Diego radio personality, consultant, and program director Mike Halloran.

Continue reading KSDS Responds to Halloran License Renewal Objection

KNX Begins Simulcasting on 97.1 FM

Audacy-owned KNX Los Angeles, known for its all-news radio format since 1968, began last week broadcasting on KNOU (FM) 97.1 and identifying itself exclusively by its FM channel location.

KNOU (FM) is licensed for 21 kW from Mt. Wilson with a directional antenna aimed southwest, so its signal toward most of the LA basin is compromised, but given its elevation, it still covers the region well.

With cars increasingly leaving out AM tuners (looking at you, Tesla), and with the superior fidelity of FM, the move could help boost listenership. Other Audacy all news outlets, such as KCBS San Francisco, WBBM Chicago, and KYW Philadelphia, now simulcast on FM stations.

FCC Dismisses More Local NCE FM Apps

The FCC last week released a seven-page list of Dismissed Applications from the recent non-commercial educational FM filing window. Included in the list:

Facility ID 767224 Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor application for 88.1 MHz at Descanso, CA. The FCC said it was in violation of the protected contour of a first-adjacent channel allotment in Esperanza, Baja California Norte, MX, and a co-channel allotment in Tecate, also in BCN.

Facility ID 766663 Activist San Diego application for 89.1 MHz at Glamis, CA in Imperial County. The FCC said it was in violation of the treaty-protected contour of the second-adjacent allotment in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, MX.