The FCC wasted no time in posting to its database all of the 2,819 LPFM applications filed during the October-November 2013 window.
A search of all L1 FM applications entered during November finds 18 San Diego County listings within 80km of Mt. Woodson.
A number of interesting patterns emerge. Most applicants are area churches. Many are mutually exclusive, with four applicants each on 93.7 and 101.1 MHz and two each on 95.3 and 103.3 MHz. Interestingly, some of the applicants, including one in Chula Vista, were registered as being given 100W when they are within the Mexican border zone that limits maximum power to 50W ERP. Since only one station will occupy each channel, the FCC will have to work with the mutually exclusive applicants using a published scoring system to determine the winner of the channel. In the event of a tie, licensees will be asked to share or give up their claim for a construction permit.
When the FCC will issue the construction permits associated with this filing window is unknown. There was speculation that it might take five to six months to sort through the applications, but with the FCC out of business for nearly a month during the October government shutdown, the backlog of filings may delay release of those construction permits.
CBS Radio San Diego GM Bob Bollinger announced that long time Chief Engineer Lee McGowan passed away Monday, November 11 “battling cancer and cardiac issues.”
“Lee meant so much to so many in a successful career that spanned two decades here and stops at KCBQ, San Francisco, Las Vegas and other western markets. His selfless spirit, integrity, huge heart, dry humor and mostly Lee just being Lee will be sorely missed by us all.”
Lee had worked as Chief Engineer at KYXY under various owners since the mid-1980s. I had first met him when he was a staff engineer at KABC/KLOS in Los Angeles in 1984. He had even been on-the-air in the early 1970s at KDES Palm Springs. At SBE meetings, he was always the inquisitive guy who asked multiple follow-up questions of presenters. He was known for his attention to detail and straightforward interaction with his coworkers.
A memorial for Lee will be held at Lindbergh Park on 11/25 at 2pm. Lindbergh Park is at 4101 Ashford St. San Diego, CA 92111.
November is here Chapter 36 is looking for a few good members to serve time doing light leader duty. Please consider boosting your leadership skills, networking for the benefit of your career, and gaining some certification points. We wrote last year about the aspects of each of the open positions. If you are ready to go beyond your comfort zone for a leadership role, please email Doug Alman, current chapter chair.
Professional video lighting continues to evolve toward the LED fixture. Low heat, less power draw, and ideal color temperatures are all major reasons for this evolution. Come see the new products on the market and compare features and discuss specifications. We’ll talk about applications for studio and location shooting.
The team at Video Gear invites SBE Chapter 36 for a gathering and lunch in their showroom. Which LED devices work best for providing affordable, professional lighting?
Please join us Wednesday, November 20th at 12PM at 8969 Kenamar Drive, behind the pyramid building off Miramar Road about halfway between the 805 and 15 highways.
After the government shutdown ended late October 16, the FCC website was live again within hours. A brief message on the front page says all filing deadlines are suspended, including the LPFM filing window that was to have opened October 15 through 29. The FCC says it will establish new deadlines and publish them soon.
The FCC closed its doors October 1 and sent all its employees, including field agents, home.
