• [Radio World] KRFC Boosts Signal 16 Times Over From New Tower (1/2)

    From Radio World via rec.radio.info Admi@21:1/5 to All on Sun May 22 20:17:47 2022
    XPost: alt.radio.broadcasting

    Radio World

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    KRFC Boosts Signal 16 Times Over From New Tower

    Posted: 20 May 2022 01:48 PM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/krfc-boosts-signal-16-times-over-from-new-tower


    Colorado-based radio station KRFC has just installed a new radio tower and
    RF facility, effectively boosting its signal more than 16 times to reach
    nearly 1 million Front Range residents.

    Effective last Thursday, May 12, the station launched a 50 kW facility to replace its 3 kW signal. This switch more than doubled the stations
    broadcast footprint to include new communities as far south as North Denver
    and further east of Greeley, Colo., according to KRFC. Extensive public and private donations helped finance the project.

    KRFC 88.9 FM has been a part of the Fort Collins community in Colorado
    since 2013. As a non-for-profit radio station, its music programming is entirely volunteer-powered by 90 DJs, repping 64 shows and producing 61 of
    them in-house each week. Until now, KRFC did not own its own tower, having leased antenna space at its old site.

    It is rare for an independent station to own and operate its own broadcast tower of this size, a development that will allow KRFC 88.9 FM to lease bandwidth to other regional broadcasters and commercial organizations
    needing a tower for their signal, said KRFC in a press release.

    KRFC is open to discuss leasing opportunities of HD-2, -3 and -4 as well as physical tower space, station officials told Radio World.
    KRFCs new radio tower outside Fort Collins, Co.

    To learn more about the new site, project costs and the installation
    process, Radio World spoke with Jen Parker, KRFCs executive director.

    Radio World: Why did KRFC want to build a new tower? Why was this project important to the station and surrounding community?

    Jen Parker: For the 19 years the station has been on the air, the signal
    has been very spotty due to the terrain and our 3 kW signal just wasn’t powerful enough. It has been a dream for years to improve the signal and broaden the reach to be the true voice of northern Colorado. The new
    boosted signal gives a more pleasurable listening experience and exposes
    many more Coloradans to this wonderfully eclectic station that entertains, educates and informs our community members in a positive, nonpolitical and uplifting way.
    KRFCs reach prior to the tower install and after. (Click to expand)

    RW: What was the timetable for the build (was 2022 the expected year for completion)?

    Parker: The capital campaign launched in 2018 and we had hoped to complete
    the project last year, but due to the issues related to COVID, supply chain
    and increased costs, we completed the tower earlier this year and went live with our new signal on May 12, 2022.

    RW: What was the budget and what were fundraising efforts like?

    Parker: The initial budget was just under $300,000 and, again through
    delays related to COVID and supply chain issues, the project ended up being just under $500,000. The capital campaign was epic with initial lead gifts
    from Paul and Amy Hach, Ginger and Jack Graham from Ginger and Baker, and
    New Belgium Brewing who produced a limited edition beer called Power The
    Tower Pale Ale with proceeds going towards the campaign.

    Other incredible individuals stepped in and made considerable donations,
    and then we held Power The Tower donation drives throughout the past few
    years. The entire project was funded by donations and we didn’t have to
    take out any loans to complete the project.

    RW: Describe KRFCs physical airchain path. 

    Parker: The studios are located in the heart of the Music District in
    beautiful downtown Fort Collins. The station uses 950 MHz analog STL to get audio to both the new and, previously, the old site because they are near
    each other; we have ceased operation at the old site now.

    The new facility has completely  new equipment and is located about 9 miles east of Fort Collins, Co. After path challenges prevented use of a new unlicensed 6 GHz IP link, KRFC ordered a set of GatesAir Intraplex IP
    codecs and an Intraplex HD Link. We purchased an ERI LP antenna and a
    GatesAir FAX High Power transmitter.

    RW: Who were the major vendors/contractors for the project?

    Parker: We utilized Sabre Towers, the tower manufacturer; Broadcast
    Connection as broadcast supply vendor; GatesAir for transmitter and STL equipment; Cell Site Solutions, a used equipment shelter dealer, and
    Galvanized Endeavors for broadcast and tower construction.

    RW: What were the critical equipment and facility decisions that had to be
    made ahead of the installation?

    Parker: Obtaining land in a populated area in Colorado to build a tower is challenging in itself. Keeping the tower less than 200 feet high had some advantages. Transmitter TPO versus size of the antenna was one of the more critical decisions to make. A full-wave-spaced ERI LP antenna was utilized, which allowed for a low TPO near 7 kW. Although we could have located
    further south for more population coverage, KRFC wanted to be absolutely
    sure of a very strong signal throughout the entire city of Fort Collins.
    Check out the gallery below for pictures of the installation process.
    (Click to toggle between photos)










    RW: What was your role in this process? Besides yourself, who was on the team? 

    Parker: I managed the entire launch of the campaign, the majority of the private donation relationships and handled all the marketing and PR along
    the way with my incredible team. Our engineer Matt Schilz was the project manager along with several key volunteers with engineering backgrounds.
    Charles Anderson of Anderson Communications created the pattern and
    provided the necessary support for application and [FCC] filing.

    The internal team helped with the entire process along with Sean Lamborne,
    our program and volunteer director, and David Vacek, our music director.
    The KRFC team at the towers groundbreaking event

    RW: Who kept the process rolling and how were crises (if any) managed? 

    Parker: As a team, we knew that this project was a true necessity for the station to serve a greater population in powerful and impactful ways
    through supporting nonprofits, the arts, schools and colleges and small and large businesses; and that we needed to improve the signal and expand the reach.

    At no time did we lose sight of that goal and, when challenged with delays
    or other issues, we stuck together and kept the belief and mission alive.
    It was a total team effort from our remarkable staff, board of directors
    and volunteers.
    A commemorative ribbon cutting announcing the new towers operations May 12.

    Click here to watch a video of the tower installation.

    You can find KRFC on your FM dial in northern Colorado, online or in the
    App Store at KRFC 88.9FM Radio.

    The post KRFC Boosts Signal 16 Times Over From New Tower appeared first on Radio World.

    This posting includes a media file: https://www.radioworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/KRFCTowerVid.mov

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    FCC Explains Its Reasoning on FM Directional Modeling

    Posted: 20 May 2022 01:31 PM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/fcc-explains-its-reasoning-on-fm-directional-modeling

    Photo courtesy Cris Alexander

    The FCC has released the details of its order allowing FM broadcasters to
    use computer modeling to verify directional antennas.

    It also explained why it didn’t adopt several proposals that were in the original notice of proposed rulemaking.

    The most common reason to use a directional antenna by a commercial
    full-power FM is to allow it to “short-space” to another FM station while maintaining contour protection to that station.

    The new rules allow applicants for directional FM facilities an option to verify the directional antenna patterns by submitting results from computer models depicting the antenna’s performance. The results must be generated
    by the antenna’s manufacturer.

    The manufacturers are deemed to be in the best position to perform computer modeling of their products because they have the historic data to know how
    a specific radiator performs in a particular environment.

    The FCC disagreed with manufacturer Electronics Research Inc. (ERI), which
    had opposed the rule change. ERI expressed “serious concerns” that the change would lead to protracted and contentious interference disputes, and
    that computer models should be verified through measurement at full or fractional scale.

    The FCC noted that under current rules, when applicants submit their
    showings, they almost always rely on tabulations from the antenna
    manufacturer of the measured relative field pattern, performed on a
    full-scale test range or with a scale model.

    The commission said manufacturers are in the best position to ensure the validity of the computer model and the accuracy of the results, and that manufacturers have an incentive to represent their products’ performance accurately, “both to protect their own reputations and to avoid negative consequences for their customers who face interference complaints and regulatory action if their antenna patterns do not match what is authorized
    in their license.”

    The commission acknowledged NAB’s concern that manufacturer data should not be automatically accepted without a demonstration that the modeler has a background in physics or electromagnetic theory. But given the varying backgrounds of broadcast engineers, it said, “we do not wish to codify what constitutes qualifications to perform computer modeling.”

    It said that if a challenge arises to a computer model, for example through interference complaints, “we can and would seek further information
    regarding that model, including the qualifications of those preparing and performing the modeling.”

    The FCC also declined “at this time” to expand the range of entities authorized to perform computer modeling. “Although there is no such limitation on those who can perform computer modeling for AM and DTV directional antennas, we find a more cautious approach is required for FM, given the greater number of FM stations versus DTV stations using
    directional antennas, and given that AM directional patterns are subject to continual verification through sampling that is not possible with FM directional antennas.”

    However it left open the possibility of rethinking that decision as the industry gains experience with FM modeling.

    The agency also decided not to prescribe any particular modeling software
    for antenna manufacturers to use, leaving this to their discretion and
    allowing them to use commercially available products or their own
    proprietary software.

    When a license application includes a proof of FM directional antenna performance obtained through computer modeling, the FCC will require that
    it include a statement with the names and qualifications of the engineers
    who designed the antenna, did the modeling and prepared the manufacturer’s instructions for installing the antenna. The submission must include a statement from the engineers describing the software tools used in the
    model and procedures used in running them. As suggested by NAB, the FCC
    will require a certification that the software executed normally, without generating any error messages or warnings indicating something was wrong
    with the inputs.

    The computer modeling must analyze the antenna mounted on a tower or tower section; and the tower or tower section model must include “transmission lines, appurtenances, ladders, conduits, other antennas, and any other installations that could affect the computer modeled directional pattern.”

    The commission will require one-time verification of the accuracy of a
    pattern generated using a particular modeling software for each directional antenna model number or standardized series of elements. In other words,
    once a particular antenna model or series of elements has been verified by
    any one applicant using given modeling software, the FCC will permit all subsequent applicants using the same combination to submit the computer
    model for the subsequent antenna installation.

    The FCC decided not to change its policies regarding interference
    complaints or disputes. Most of the comments it got back indicated that interference would not be a problem, and no one asked for changes to the interference rules and procedures.

    It acknowledged that ERI thinks the change will increase FM interference
    due to modeled directional patterns that do not accurately reflect actual directional signals; ERI thinks this will increase inter-station
    interference disputes, because full-service FM stations, unlike secondary services such as FM translators, don’t have to cease operations when they receive interference complaints. But the FCC said that, by requiring
    initial computer models of antennas and components using a particular
    modeling software to be verified by measurements, it addressed ERI’s concerns.

    Finally, the commission reminded the industry that computer modeling is optional; applicants can still submit measured relative field patterns if
    they want to.

    Read the full order.

    The post FCC Explains Its Reasoning on FM Directional Modeling appeared
    first on Radio World.


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    APRE Honors Rich Parker With Engineering Service Award

    Posted: 20 May 2022 09:48 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/people-news/apre-honors-rich-parker-with-engineering-service-award


    The Association of Public Radio Engineers has recognized Rich Parker with
    its 2022 APRE Meritorious Service Award.

    APREs engineering award is granted on an annual basis to an individual who
    has made outstanding contributions to the art and/or science of radio engineering [and] that has made a significant impact on, or improvement, in
    the state of the public radio industry, said the nonprofit.

    For a decade, Rich was the master control and studio engineer at WHYY in Philadelphia, followed by 17 years as director of engineering at Vermont
    Public Radio. Since 2014, he has been director of engineering for
    CoastAlaska, handling broadcast engineering and IT support as well as
    planning and management for the seven Alaskan stations in Juneau.

    [Visit Radio World’s People News Page]

    According to APRE President Victoria St. John, Rich was one of the founding members on the associations board and is deserving of recognition, having
    been an active part of the public radio engineering community for decades.

    I had the privilege of working with him for many years at Vermont Public
    Radio and I am proud and pleased for Rich to be recognized for his years of inventive and cheerful service,” she said.

    Parker was honored April 22 at the Public Radio Engineers Conference (PREC) dinner in Las Vegas, just prior to the NAB Show.
    Rich Parker, left, is shown at the PREC event with colleague Scott Hanley. Photo by Jim Peck.

    The post APRE Honors Rich Parker With Engineering Service Award appeared
    first on Radio World.


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    TechSurvey 2022: The Car is Getting Crowded

    Posted: 20 May 2022 08:13 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/programming-and-sales/techsurvey-2022-the-car-is-getting-crowded


    The annual TechSurvey from Jacobs Media measures the amount of change in
    the tech space and its impact on radio broadcasters, and the dashboard in connected cars is the 500 pound gorilla in the room.  

    Experts say the technology in the car dashboard is quickly changing and so
    are driver preferences. Car buyers are putting a higher premium on car tech like Bluetooth, large display screens and Smartphone aux connections, along with a taste for media operating systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Automotive. 

    Broadcasters and non-broadcast companies like Google, Apple, and Amazon are working with car manufacturers to maximize their presence in the mediascape
    of the connected car, according to those familiar with developments. And
    car makers are looking at all options in order to monetize the dashboard. 

    About 12% of TechSurvey respondents say they plan to purchase or lease a
    new vehicle in 2022 despite much higher new car costs. That percentage has
    held fairly steady the past four years, said Fred Jacobs, president of
    Jacobs Media, but what new car buyers are looking for is changing.

     

    Bluetooth has now surpassed FM radio as the most important feature among
    new car buyers, Jacobs said on a webinar last week highlighting sections of
    the latest annual survey. 

    Americans are placing a higher premium on technology because it keeps them connected and productive, even in the car, experts say. The car has become
    a Smartphone on wheels if you will.

    “For the first time ever the most important feature for those planning to make a new vehicle purchase, participating in our survey, Bluetooth has surpassed radio. (Bluetooth) is up three points and FM radio was down four points. Connectivity is becoming very important,” Jacobs said.

    Having an AM radio is a desired feature for only 33% of respondents
    planning to purchase a new car, according to TS 2022.



    And hitting a new high, eight in 10 respondents with a Smartphone can now connect the device in their car, an especially popular feature for younger consumers participating in the latest survey. 

    “These content monsters, as we call the younger generation, are far more likely to connect their Smartphone to the car for content,” Jacobs said. 

    The good news for AM/FM radio is that actual in-car consumption of the
    service is still number one at 56% followed by SiriusXM (19%) and personal music from a Smartphone (9%). “Surprisingly, streaming audio is only at 6%, but remember we are dealing with an older audience (participating in TechSurvey) by and large,” Jacobs said. 


    But Jacobs points out on the TechSurvey webcast the trend of AM/FM radio listening in the car continues to erode falling from 62% in the 2018 survey project to 56% in TS 2022. 

    “Overall people are listening to less AM/FM radio in the car. More people
    are using full blown media systems like the Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep UConnect,
    Ford Sync, Audi Connect,” Jacobs said, “and that tends to erode radio listening.”

    In fact, when you examine the survey data and weight it for those
    respondents who have a “Connected System” in the car, AM/FM radio listening shrinks to only 47%.


    This is the last in a series of stories exploring the results from
    TechSurvey 2022. Click here to read part five.

    The post TechSurvey 2022: The Car is Getting Crowded appeared first on
    Radio World.


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    StreamGuys Expands Executive Team with First VP of Sales and Marketing

    Posted: 19 May 2022 02:45 PM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/people-news/streamguys-expands-executive-team-with-first-vp-of-sales-and-marketing


    From its latest string of new hires, StreamGuys brings on Megan Killion as
    its vice president of sales and marketing, a newly-created position.

    In this new role, Killion will develop strategic initiatives that build a stronger sales culture across the organization, with an emphasis on driving
    new business and increasing close rates, according to a company press
    release. She will report to StreamGuys President Kiriki Delany.

    Killion brings 15 years of B2B technology sales and marketing experience to StreamGuys, having already formed professional ties with the company
    through past roles.

    Said roles include executive positions at CacheFly, a CDN network where she served as vice president of strategic sales and marketing, as well as at
    her own MKC Agency, where she worked with StreamGuys on branding and
    outbound marketing initiatives.


    These experiences, along with previous similar positions [at] Ericsson UDN
    and long-term consultancies with Mutable, Reblaze, and StackPath, provide
    Megan with a broad knowledge of the technology infrastructure that
    StreamGuys excels in across the CDN, cloud, edge computing and streaming universe, said the company.

    More importantly, she knows how to translate product and technology
    language into sales success for new and existing clients, and move
    successful companies like StreamGuys into lucrative new markets.

    [Visit Radio World’s People News Page]

    In the announcement, Killion said one of her goals is to help StreamGuys
    better market their existing services and find ways to better support customers.

    “My experience working in the technology space suggests that few companies really understand why they need both a strong sales culture and engineering vision, said Killion. StreamGuys has both excellent sales and engineering
    teams in place, and they work very hard to service their customers and
    deliver on the technology promises they make. I am excited to bring these operations even closer together.”

    The post StreamGuys Expands Executive Team with First VP of Sales and
    Marketing appeared first on Radio World.


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    Bauer Media Group Promotes Dawkins to President of Audio

    Posted: 19 May 2022 11:51 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/people-news/bauer-media-group-promotes-dawkins-to-president-of-audio

    Richard Dawkins has been promoted to president of audio for Bauer Media
    Group. He will now lead the companys audio business and take advantage of
    the opportunities ahead, per a press release making the announcement.
    Dawkins joined Bauer Media Group as chief operating officer of audio in
    2019. This role saw him focus on new opportunities for the business and maximise the performance of its operations through new launches, commercial opportunities and introducing new ways of working, said Bauer.
    Prior to that role, he spent more than a decade at the BBC in a variety of senior roles, most recently as chief operating officer of BBC Content.
    Yvonne Bauer, owner and CEO of Bauer Media Group, said Dawkins has already added enormous value to the company. I look forward to starting a new era
    for Bauer Media Audio, she said.

    Dawkins succeeds Paul Keenan, who joins the companys executive board as the
    new chief operating officer.

    [Visit Radio World’s People News Page]

    Bauer has operations across eight countries in Europe, representing various radio and audio brands including The Voice in Denmark, Radio Nova in
    Finland and numerous companies in the U.K.

    “This is a brilliant opportunity to lead a fantastic team and a strong business with our reach already exceeding 57 million weekly listeners, said Dawkins.

    The post Bauer Media Group Promotes Dawkins to President of Audio appeared first on Radio World.


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    TechSurvey 2022: Mobile Apps Still Gaining in Popularity

    Posted: 19 May 2022 11:16 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/programming-and-sales/techsurvey-2022-mobile-apps-still-gaining-in-popularity


    Mobile devices and apps continue their strong growth trajectory, according
    to TechSurvey 2022. The annual survey of core radio listeners by Jacobs
    Media shows radio station apps are playing a larger role among those who
    listen to streaming audio.

    More than 90% of respondents to this year’s survey own a Smartphone, and those devices are playing a bigger role in how people stream radio
    stations, according to TechSurvey. 

    “The number of radio listeners streaming audio from their P1 station’s website is going down. Meanwhile, more people are using that radio
    station’s mobile app to stream their audio,” said Fred Jacobs, president of Jacobs Media. “Mobile has in fact become more important.”


    The most popular app among those respondents with a Smartphone, according
    to TechSurvey, is their P1 station’s mobile app, with 56% of respondent having downloaded it on their phone or tablet. The most popular apps list
    also includes YouTube (48%), Pandora (42%), Spotify (40%), iHeartRadio
    (32%) with TuneIn further down the list (11%).

    The survey shows seven in 10 respondents have downloaded a radio or music
    app to their Smartphone, and those numbers range by age from a low of 40% (Greatest Generation) to a high of 89% (Gen Z).  

    Growth of Smart Speakers, while still an important audio outlet, has
    flattened, according to TS 2022. Ownership of Amazon Alexa or Google Home devices ranked at 35% in TS 2022 with no growth in that percentage from the previous year.

    “From our previous focus groups, when we have talked to folks about Smart Speakers and the reason why they haven’t bought one yet, most often the number one reason is privacy. They don’t like the idea of something
    listening to their private conversations,” Jacobs said. “Smart Speakers are gaining a reputation and image for being invasive from a privacy
    standpoint. And Google and Apple will have to figure out how to market
    around that issue.” 


    For those survey respondents who already own a Smart Speaker, the use of it
    can be quite varied, but listening to music has two of the top three spot, according to TS 2022. The number one option for those who frequently use
    their device is streaming music (Pandora, Amazon Music, etc.) But in the
    top three is listening to an AM/FM radio station.    

    “So when you think about AM/FM radios disappearing from the home and Smart Speakers appearing in the home, this is another great reason why radio
    stations need to be promoting their presence,” Jacobs said.   



    Millenials listen to their P1 station on Smart Speaker about 8% of the time during a typical week. That number drops to 6% for Boomers, according to TS 2022.

    Jacobs Media, whose Jācapps mobile app development company designs apps for radio stations, shares the full results with the 470 radio stations in the United States that participated in the survey.

    This is the fifth in a series of stories examining the results from
    TechSurvey 2022. Click here to read part four.

    The post TechSurvey 2022: Mobile Apps Still Gaining in Popularity appeared first on Radio World.


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    Quu Announces Two Hires

    Posted: 19 May 2022 10:29 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/people-news/quu-announces-two-hires


    Quu Inc. has added two members to its management team.

    Pete Benedetti was named EVP of revenue, while Lori Olsen becomes Quu’s administrative and contracts manager. The roles are new; both will report
    to CEO Steve Newberry.

    Benedetti has a background in acquiring, owning and integrating radio
    stations. He is a NAB and CBA board member, and founder and CEO of AlwaysMountainTime, a role he’ll continue as Krista Benedetti is promoted
    to president and will oversee day-to-day operations for that company.

    Olsen will manage Quu’s business relationships with its clients. She has worked in office and contract administration for Westwood One and Global
    Dial.

    Quu is a technology that allows stations to add synced sales and
    programming messages called Visual Quus on vehicle dashboards.

    [Related: “Quu, Xperi Expand Their Relationship”]

    The post Quu Announces Two Hires appeared first on Radio World.


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    FCC OKs Computer Modeling for Directional FM

    Posted: 19 May 2022 09:41 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/fcc-oks-computer-modeling-for-directional-fm


    FM radio stations in the United States that want to use directional
    antennas will now be able to use computer modeling verification.

    The Federal Communications Commission has unanimously approved this
    proposal, which four antenna manufacturers had pushed for while another one opposed it.

    “Right now, more than one-fifth of our FM radio stations use directional antennas,” noted Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement. “These antennas increase the operating power of a station in a specific direction while still respecting the interference ratios that are essential for
    shared use of these airwaves. This is smart — and spectrally efficient.”

    But FM rules hadn’t kept pace. Now, she said, FM broadcasters will have an option that was already available to AM and TV broadcasters.

    “A group of broadcasting stakeholders brought this to our attention last fall. We started a rulemaking to address this discrepancy. We took a close look at the record and the need to incorporate evolving technologies into
    our policies.”

    [See Our Business and Law Page]

    All four commissioners approved the change. It means FM stations, including LPFMs, that want to use directional antennas will no longer be required to provide signal measurements from physical antenna mockups. They can use computer modeling — typically prepared by the antenna manufacturer — after the model is initially verified for accuracy. This is expected to save broadcasters money and time.

    The change was advocated by antenna makers Dielectric, Shively, RFS and
    Jampro, as well as broadcaster Educational Media Foundation. But antenna
    maker ERI had expressed opposition, saying the change could have the
    potential to “create protracted and contentious interference disputes” since the disputes would involve full-service FM stations that are licensed
    as a primary service.
    This image of a physical scale model and a computer equivalent was provided
    by Dielectric as part of the FCC comments in the proceeding.


    The proposal also had drawn support from the NAB. 
    “NAB supports the FCC’s order allowing computer modeling of FM directional antennas, which would eliminate the need for unnecessary measurements
    without jeopardizing broadcasters’ service to the public,” spokeswoman Ann Marie Cumming told Radio World. “We appreciate the commission incorporating into the order our recommendations for updates to the present rules that
    ensure the integrity of the modeling process. We thank Chairwoman
    Rosenworcel and her fellow commissioners for working to reduce regulatory burdens on broadcast radio and modernizing these outdated rules.”
    [Also see “FCC Explains Its Reasoning on FM Computer Modeling”]

    The post FCC OKs Computer Modeling for Directional FM appeared first on
    Radio World.


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    Open Sky Radio Wins MX Appeal in Mississippi

    Posted: 19 May 2022 09:25 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/open-sky-radio-wins-mx-appeal-in-mississippi


    The FCC has changed its mind about which applicant should be the tentative winner of a construction permit for a new noncommercial FM in northwest Mississippi.

    It’s a case involving mutually exclusive applications filed in the 2021 NCE filing window. 

    The commission originally selected Full Potential Ministry as the tentative selectee in MX Group 130, for an FM station in Coahoma, Miss. 

    The Media Bureau had found that the Full Potential application as well as another filed by Open Sky Radio Corp. were both eligible for a fair distribution preference, part of the process that it uses to choose among
    MX applicants. And because Full Potential’s proposed second NCE service exceeded Open Sky’s by more than 5,000 people, the FCC staff at first chose the Full Potential application.

    But Open Sky Radio, which hopes for a CP to serve nearby Clarksdale, then
    filed a petition to deny. 

    It argued that the bureau had improperly relied on a revised document that
    Full Potential provided after the close of the window. It said that the document originally attached to the Full Potential application did not
    include population numbers. It also noted that, after the close of the
    window, the Media Bureau staff uploaded to the Full Potential application a revised document containing population figures.

    [See Our Business and Law Page]

    Open Sky pointed out that in an earlier NCE filing window, the bureau consistently rejected fair distribution claims if their population numbers
    were missing. It also said that the instructions for the 2021 window stated

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