We unlicensed do our own frequency searches. But how do large entities find a frequency for their operation?
We unlicensed do our own frequency searches. But how do large entities find a frequency for their operation?
I was under the impression the license applicant was obliged to hire an engineering consultant to do a frequency search and draw-up the particulars about transmitter location and power.
But a news article in today's paper reports that a fine-arts group is starting a new, non-HD, classical music station and is "waiting to hear from the FCC on what the station's analog frequency will be."
Perhaps the newspaper reporter simply made a typical error in reporting the facts, but does the FCC let applicants know what their frequency will be?
This market is crammed on both AM & FM, and I'd have to believe that a classical station would only make sense on FM. If there were a potential frequency open somebody would have claimed it years ago. That's my belief.
And again, it was expressly said this will be a non-HD station, although they intend to start by using the HD channel of an existing station.
Proposed stations do have to provide their own engineering data. Usually a frequency is checked in the database for a station already licensed to that frequency and where it is at. If it's good to use during the day or night, the FCC assigns that frequency if they also see it's workable. If not, then the FCC sends you a letter stating the proposed frequency won't work and you have to choose another, yes at more expense too.
They also have to have the engineering consultants check for intermod issues, co-channel issues, skywave issues, IF frequency issues, and plot all that mess based on topo maps and propagation patterns that change in the MW band from day to night.
Ironic some stations operate up to as much as 10kw daytime and have to knock power down to as little as 1 watt, yet we can't have that 1 watt for our stations. So 1 watt is not a problem for big licensed stations but is a problem for unlicensed Part 15 stations.
Am I missing something here or does the laws of physics change between a station with a piece of paper and one without that piece of paper?
I guess that's called thinking inside the margins of an 8x11.
Anyway a lot of engineering study goes into a station proposal, most of which doesn't make any sense but regardless they have to have it. And yep, it's not cheap.
Nothing is these days. Even the price of bubble gum in the gum machine went up to 50 cents! I can't remember the last time I seen a 1 penny gum machine.
RFB
This fine arts group may be hoping to get a frequency for analog transmission, but because it is unsettled, maybe they'll be told "no."
Since they are starting on an HD channel, maybe that's the way they will end up.
Meanwhile, by going through the moves of "waiting for a frequency," they have cause to raise more funds.
I would think that of the many FM stations on the dial, there must be a few who are low in ratings and doing badly in the sales department. In other words, a station to purchase.
From my past experience in classical radio, this market's hard core contributors to "the high arts" are a relatively small group, never before enough of them to support past stations.
This is mainly a sports and christian market, as evidenced by the 40 stations devoted to that form of perpetual re-runs.
I see no reason to have 40 sports or 40 religious stations cramming the dial. After all, a person can only listen to one at a time anyway.
Monopoly...comes in many forms...tax free and 501 too.
RFB
Back in 1988, the "80-90" docket opened up channels around the U.S. for *primarily* class A FM stations. I was working at an AM daytimer at the time and saved as much as I could, in order to apply for one of these.
The FCC filing fee at the time was $1800. The engineering costs were about $1500 for all the plots, maps and data.
It looked hopeful. On the day the FCC received my application there were only a couple of us. On the last day of filing, 11 more had been filed.
Well, I ultimately lost, but was one of the last three applicants. My father, who own(s) the property where the tower would have been located, missed signing one spot on the application, which was enough for the FCC to toss it. Ouch!!
And the site had passed the FAA and everything else at 300 feet.
The station was ultimately awarded to an applicant who put Z-Rock on it. That didn't last long, and the station, on 106.1, had had several owners and formats.
This group will have to find their own frequency, and then find out if it works. If they don't know how to do that themselves, a consulting engineer will be a must. And this needs to happen BEFORE an application is filed.
These days I believe it would be easier to buy a station than to start from scratch.
"These days I believe it would be easier to buy a station than to start from scratch."
Considering the hundreds if not more applications just waiting for that next filing window, plus all those translators waiting for the green light, it's VERY doubtful we will see any "new" stations crop up soon. And what I mean by new are new stations that the licensee has not been waiting the last 10+ years.
There's a good question. Why does it have to take so long to license stations.
Indeed, buying one would be the easier and faster option.
RFB