Not Part 15 stuff (unless we count setting up Part 15 transmitters in dead-spot locations), but interesting ...
Not Part 15 stuff (unless we count setting up Part 15 transmitters in dead-spot locations), but interesting ...
Turns out KSJU is actually a Class A Non-Commercial station, not LPFM. Whole different ball game ...
Skagit Valley College, a community college based in Mt Vernon, WA, has enough interest in taking over the Construction Permit to stick a temporary 6' antenna on their Friday Harbor campus building rooftop. The HAAT will be very low, nowhere near 114 M in the CP engineering data, and though the CP is for 100 watts, they'll use a 500 watt TX (already available on a temporary basis) with variable power, attenuated to 100 watts ERP. It'll basically only reach the town, and perhaps not even all of that.
KSJU's CP runs out Feb 10. Something I didn't know is that the FCC will allow the permit based upon 'reasonable assurance', a clause in the regs that allows paperwork to go through, even when nothing (like a location agreement) yet exists. The same holds true of putting up an interim antenna.
The FCC is interested in seeing actual progress, meaning that getting something on the air, even if the location and associated engineering data may change down the road, is important.
In this case, there supposedly was something gone asunder with negotiating with the the City of Friday Harbor, who owns the property where the neighborhood water tower exists (formerly owned by the Homeowner's Assoc), and already has a bunch of antennas for town and county communications on it, for using it as a location for KSJU's final antenna system.
Having talked with the Town Administrator (known for years), apparently the board never got back to the town after the initial email or phone call or whatever. Now, I believe they will be willing to consider an agreement to use the water tower, especially since Skagit Valley College has a lot better shot at appropriating funds to actually build the station per the current CP than the current board ever did.
"The FCC is interested in seeing actual progress, meaning that getting something on the air, even if the location and associated engineering data may change down the road, is important."
They do like to see progress. I find their interest in progress however to be questionable..considering the way the playing field is set up to get licensed.
The thing about slapping something on air meeting their interests in progress is that it is a wide open barn door to the "down the road" surprises of antennas or STL's or transmitters operating in locations where the license states otherwise. Seen plenty of that in the past and recently.
Perhaps if the application fees, the engineering studies, and the equipment itself were not so darned expensive, there would be A LOT more progress to be interested in..and perhaps even better radio overall.
Public interest. Is it?
Hope that station gets going!
RFB