KWFN 97.3 Applies to Move

November 8, 2021 Gary Stigall

Audacity sports talk station KWFN 97.3 FM applied last week to relocate from the KOGO tower to the KGB-FM tower one mile to the northwest. The Minor Modification app is the first sign that Vertical Bridge intends to go through with its sale of the property under the historic towers at KOGO 600 in Emerald Hills. If approved, KWFN would share an antenna with KGB-FM 101.5 and radiate 38 kW horizontal and vertical polarity.

Though they haven’t yet filed an application, KOGO (AM) 600 is expected to move to the KGB-AM site in west Santee along highway CA-52. KLNV 106.5 will also need to move but has not yet filed to do so.

Best of Site, Local News

Venture Technologies Now Transmitting Hybrid FM NextGen Signals on TV Channel 6

November 3, 2021 Gary Stigall

KRPE-LD San Diego, low power TV channel 6, atop Mt. San Miguel, is the first local station to broadcast ATSC 3.0, marketed as “NextGen”. The FCC granted a Special Temporary Authorization (STA) for a signal that includes an innovative analog FM carrier at 87.75 MHz. According to Director of Engineering Daniel Bissett, licensee Venture Technologies Group, LLC completed construction of the new signal on October 7, 2021.

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Meetings

October 20 Online Meeting: What’s Up with Frequency Coordination?

September 30, 2021 Gary Stigall

When the FCC sold off the 600 MHz band to telecom, it left wireless microphone and foldback monitor device operators scrambling for workable spectrum, especially in the largest metro areas.

I’ve been coordinating frequencies for the NFL since 2012, and now perform the pre-game coordination for the Chargers, Rams and 49ers. Monitoring and enforcement means travel to Los Angeles on some game days. With the Super Bowl coming up this February in Los Angeles, we’re preparing to jam more wireless gear into more diverse frequency bands.

In an online presentation, we’ll review current options for wireless options in each available band. What are power users buying? What spectrum is best to use for your applications in LA, San Diego, and Phoenix? What spectrum must be avoided? What’s new with NFL coordination? What’s been happening at recent Super Bowls?

Join me Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at 6:30 PM. SBE Members and all interested are invited. Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUuduGqrDksH9eN3ZJk2dejComqrvevg8vl

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

National

SBE Elects First Woman President

September 3, 2021 SBE National Office

The Society of Broadcast Engineers, the association for broadcast and multimedia technology professionals, announces the results of the 2021 election for the national board of directors. Andrea Cummis, CBT, CTO, was elected as the society’s president. Cummis is the chief technical officer of PBS39/WLVT-TV, in Bethlehem, PA. She is the first woman to be elected to hold the office. She is a member of SBE Chapter 15 in New York City.

Regarding the election, President-elect Cummis said, “I look forward to serving the Society and its members. President Wayne Pecena has led the society through an interesting and unusual time, and as everyone looks forward to a return to normal, I’m pleased that the society is still growing and thriving. I’m eager to work with the Board of Directors and the membership so we can expand our membership and outreach to the media professionals among us.”

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Local News

FCC Cancels KJUX Construction Permit

September 3, 2021 Gary Stigall

On August 30, 2021, the FCC canceled the expired Construction Permit of proposed AM 1400 broadcaster KJUX Lemon Grove. The associated FM translator K229DP CP expires October 2, 2021.

The applicant, Gerard Turro of Christyanna Broadcasting, Inc., in June this year had requested a tolling (legal extension) of their CP deadline citing financing issues and delays in construction. However, the FCC rejected their arguments and ultimately, the request to extend the CP deadline.

Christyanna engaged in a long battle to gain the Construction Permit beginning with the application in 2007. Gold Coast Broadcasting, owners of co-channel station KUNX 1400 Santa Paula, filed numerous Petitions to Deny. Ultimately, KJUX won a construction permit but did not build the facility.