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Radio World

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These Oahu Radio Stations Get a (Speedy) Makeover

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 08:24 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/these-oahu-radio-stations-get-a-speedy-makeover


Pacific Media Group is a privately held, Hawaii-based media company with offices in Honolulu, Kahului, Lihue, Hilo and Kona. Across the islands, PMG owns and operates 20 radio stations, four of which recently found a new
home.

At the end of 2021, PMG moved its Oahu operations from a leased space to a
new, wholly-owned office and studio space in downtown Honolulu. During the switch, PMG set about upgrading equipment and moving its antenna to improve
the reach of its programming.

The Oahu operations in Honolulu, Hawaiis capital, consist of four FM
stations: Pop/Top 40 KDDB 102.7 Da Bomb, Rhythmic Oldies 94.7 KUMU,
Hawaii’s Local Hits KQMQ 93.1 FM HI93, and Soft A/C KPOI 105.9 The Wave.
All four stations, as well as two PMG-owned production studios, were part
of the moving project.

To learn more, Radio World exchanged emails with Gregg Garcia, head
engineer for PMG. He was the project manager for the move.

RW: What was the scope of this project? 

Gregg Garcia: Pacific Media Groups lease at 1000 Bishop Street in downtown Honolulu came up for renewal at the end of 2021. Prior to the lease
expiration, PMG CEO/Owner Chuck Bergson purchased the 29th floor of the
Alakea Corporate Tower only a block and a half from the Bishop Street
facility. The Bishop Street facility housed six studios (four on-air/two production) complete with Axia Element/Fusion surfaces in Omnirax
furniture. While the Bishop Street facilities were a bit over 7,500 sq. ft.
the new Alakea office space is just under 5000 sq. ft.

RW: Describe the physical airchain path.

Garcia: We moved our various Orban processors out of the studio environment
to our various Palehua Ridge transmitter sites. Nearly simultaneously, we
were preparing to move the KUMU 94.7 FM transmitter site from a tower on
top of the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki to the same Palehua Ridge
site as sister station KQMQ 93.1 FM.

RW: What was the project budget and timetable?

Garcia: The time frame to complete construction and make the move was less
than 90 days. While planning began earlier in the year, the closing of the purchase was not complete until late September. The plan was to begin construction in October after the current tenant vacated the space, then
spend December moving in.

The project budget was around $250,000 but was exceeded due to the tight
time frame allotted; supply chain issues associated with the COVID-19
pandemic; and being in the middle of the Pacific Ocean didn’t help much either.
Click on the photo to toggle though a gallery highlighting PMGs new studio spaces.






RW: Who else was on the team?

Garcia: I assembled a team from California that included Mike DaSilva,
Keith Bussman, Jesse Castillo and Richard Castillo.

RW: Did you hire a master contractor? Who did the install and wiring or
helped set up the new suite?

Garcia: Swinerton was chosen as the construction contractor to build out
the offices and “double drywall” the studios for sound mitigation. The team mentioned earlier, along with the general manager [Joshua Mednick],
performed all equipment installation, cabling, studio setup, TOC
installation and STL path work.
Click on the photo to toggle though pictures from the construction process.






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

Garcia: Since the timeframe was so short, we decided to forklift the
existing facility into the new facility. Since the project came together quickly, we were unable to get internet, phone and other telco service
moved in time. So, we purchased a Ubiquity airMAX GigaBeam Plus 60 GHz
Radio and also installed a 5 GHz unlicensed link between the Bishop and
Alakea buildings to transmit the Bishop telco services to Alakea while GTT through Hawaiian Telcom and Lucent worked quickly to provide new services
at Alakea.

RW: Can you provide a list of the gear selected? 

Garcia: We didnt purchase much new gear other than a Comrex MultiRack and
five Comrex BRIC links which provided flexibility while we moved our 950
MHz STL transmitters and antennas.

RW: Anything else that your radio industry colleagues would want to know
about the project?

Garcia: YES!! This was executed on an extremely tight timeframe. My team performed miracles making this happen. Much credit also goes to PMG’s
senior leadership and the entire Oahu on-air staff. They were extremely
patient while we worked out all of the kinks in the move.

RW: Is there a design aesthetic for the new PMG-owned facility? How does it meet your needs to make audio, host clients and serve employees?

Garcia: Each of the station’s logos has a primary color. KDDB 102.7 Da
Bomb has a red Logo, 94.7 KUMU FM has a purple Logo, KQMQ HI93 93.1 FM has
a yellow logo, and KPOI 105.9 FM The Wave has a blue logo. (see below).

Each office and all of the common areas have one wall painted with one of
the stations’ logo colors. Employees with offices were also given the
option to have one wall in the red, purple, yellow or blue from the station logos. The remainder of the walls were painted a neutral grey, adorned with plaques and mementos from artists featured on our stations.
Click on the photo to toggle through the Oahu stations logos. 







RW: Were there any unique challenges that were presented by the station
format, its market position, its location? 

Garcia: As I mentioned earlierIt was in the middle of the COVID-19
pandemic, the middle of a global supply chain disruption and our studios
are on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean! I think theres a reel
of 7/8-inch Heliax still wandering the islands looking for a home

The post These Oahu Radio Stations Get a (Speedy) Makeover appeared first
on Radio World.


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FCC Working on Wireless Resiliency

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 06:57 AM PDT https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/fcc-working-on-wireless-resiliency


The failure of cellphones during events like hurricanes and wildfires
presents numerous problems, and the FCC wants to do something about it.

The chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman is circulating draft rules to improve the reliability and resiliency of
wireless networks in such situations.

“While wireless providers have worked hard to prevent outages and restore service during recent disasters, there were times when communications fell short and recovery took too long, which put lives at risk,” Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement released by her office.

She said that after Hurricane Ida, she and Commissioner Brendan Carr went
to Louisiana and “heard firsthand where communications resiliency needs improvement.” The FCC then took comments on proposals to strengthen communications, and “now it’s time to act on what we’ve learned.”

Big wireless companies currently participate in a voluntary industry agreement to promote resilient communications during disasters. The draft rules would codify that and expand its applicability
to all facilities-based wireless providers.

“Among other changes, the rules would require facilities-based wireless providers to enter into mutual aid arrangements that enable them to
request, or receive a request, for assistance during emergencies,” Rosenworcel’s office stated.

“The rules would also require that facilities-based wireless providers
enter into bilateral roaming agreements in advance of disasters to help the public communicate. In addition, the rules would expand the triggers for activation of these provisions, and provide for critical testing and
reporting on wireless roaming implementation during disasters.

Carr, a Republican, issued a statement saying he was “very pleased” to work with the chairwoman, a Democrat, on this issue. “I want to commend
Chairwoman Rosenworcel for her leadership and for bringing forward for a
vote a decision that advances these interests.”

Carr said the planned approach has broad support from public safety and
first responder groups including the National Sheriffs’ Association and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

The post FCC Working on Wireless Resiliency appeared first on Radio World.

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