Docket 80-90

The non-commercial FM radio band stretches from 88.1 to 91.9. This is a significant enough piece of RF real estate that exceedingly few non-com licenses have been granted outside it. In fact, I suspect that since the band was set aside, fewer than a dozen exceptions have been granted.In 1980, as the non-com band started to fill up in most major metropolitan areas there was a little pressure on the FCC and congress to make room. Their response was Docket 80-90, 94 FCC 2d 152, 48 Fed. Reg. 29496 (1983). The rule grandfathered the existing short spaced stations and reduced minimum mileage separation between new changes. It also limited new licenses to a maximum ERP of 3 KW, HAAT being 328' or 100 meters. Weaker stations = more stations crammed in. But it did not increase the spacing requirements between Class A and second- and third-adjacent channel Class B stations. Also interesting was that it allowed full-power stations to move-in on Class D stations. forcing some off air. Even though the stated purpose of the rules were to Increase the Availability of FM Broadcast Assignments.

The legislation was piece-meal, ugly and political. Politics make for poor engineering. Yet despite the encroachment on the non-coms, there are some class A, B, C and D operations still in the commercial band. Three class and A & B stations come to mind immediately
WBRU 95.5 in Providence, RI (Brown University)
WHRB 95.3 in Cambridge, MA (Harvard University)
WYBC 94.3FM in New Haven, CT (Yale University)
WPRB 103.3 in Princeton, NJ (Princeton University)

It's worth noting that there are college-owned stations with commercial licenses out there. I think KCFS, KMSM, and WHUR all fit that description. There's also stations like WOMR in Provincetown, MA on 92.1 that were originally in the NCE band (91.9 in this case) but agreed to change frequency to improve their signal in some way (avoid co-channel interference with WUMB in Boston, across Cape Cod Bay, in this case).

The great WPRB typo.

Acquiring and maintaining a valid FCC license requires quite a bit of paperwork. The occasional typo happens, it's Murphy's law. Usually these are found immediately through engineering reviews and the two dozen sets of eyeballs that see any change in capitalization. This one lasted a little longer than usual... over a decade.

In 1991, Princeton University’s 103.3 WPRB moved it's tower site to a tower just off Route 1. But the devils typo worked it's way into the text. It left the FCC thinking that WPRB was about 720 feet away from its actual tower site.

In the grand scheme of thing 720 feet isn't a big deal. If that was a change in HAAT that'd be a huge issue, but a lateral move of less than 1000 feet is normally minor. Except that WPRB is short-spaced to 103.5 WKTU and 103.3 WARM. It reminded engineers and all of radioland exactly how precarious this short-spacing is.

WPRB’s correction slightly decreases it's distance from WKTU but when WKTU moved to the Epire State Building they actually increased the distance. So you could say that PRB is scooting up on Manhattan but in reality the 1st adjacent stations are already overlapping well-into their protected contours. WPRB first went on air in 1940 as WPRU, WKTU in 1948 as WNNJ. It shouldn't have been licensed. But Princeton wasn't defending their turf.

The WARM short-spacing is equally nefarious only coming on air in York PA in 1986. Sharing the 103.3 frequency their short spacing can't be handled as delicately. Where PRB and KTU are actually listenable in their areas of overlap WARM and WPRB have an either/or relationship. And in the worst areas of overlap you hear nothing but interference. Boxing in a College radio station with dance music and Soft AC is a cruel joke but that's what you get when you don't file a petitions and watch local engineering changes.

AIRCHECK WEEK: The Black Pope

What is there to say about the Legendary Black pope. He was an obscure but amazing radioman, a DJ of indescribable temperament and ego. I first heard a clip of him on WPRB courtesy of Mr. Jon Solomon. But his audio originates on the infamous WFMU Radio Archival Oddities Vol. 2 CD.

Online references are many, but information is thin. He was a cult-ish popular DJ in Beaumont, TX and New Orleans, LA during the 1970s. I wish I knew more but truly his is a mystery. Moistworks name checked him (archived copy here).

News and Reviews for 2005

Ok, I am back at home base.
It's almost the new year so let's review then this year's highlights:
Best Pastrami Ruben
C J's Deli & Cafe Sun City Center, FL 33573
-Thick rye bread on good pastrami, and sassy retirees behind the counter

Best Radio Show Playlist
Rhythm Rides Again, With George Roland Hare (on WRDV)
-George focuses on the missing links between eary R&B, Blues and Rhythm, Jump Blues genres. Emminently listenable.

Best Record Store
Daddy O's Record Rack
312 Laurel Road Nokomis, FL 34275
-an actual retro record store complete with thousands of LPs. This guy actually has a 10" of Billy the Kid Emerson. I bought an Arthur Crudup CD for $7.00. Killer.

Best Local Paper
Triangle Free Press in Raleigh
-first time I read about the monkey hacking the dibold voting machine
http://www.trianglefreepress.org/
*honorable mention to the Portland Phoenix for turning me on to the band Green Milk

Best Music Columnist
http://www.westword.com/Issues/2005-11-03/music/music.html
John La Briola at West Word. He tipped the world off to the gothic-country scene also called heroin-rock, dark hick, and folk noir. I am not sure that it actually exists, but it sounds so beleivable.

Favorite DJ
http://www.keepingscoreathome.com/
John Solomon (WPRB)
I have bought more CDs this buy played than from any other show I've heard anywhere. other DJ's play great songs, but John tells me who the band is and where to get the disc. He's been at it 16 years, here's to 16 more.

Best Local Magazine
Shake!of nashville http://www.shakemagazine.com/
-incredible article on Will Allen, and WLAC

My top 10 records of 2005
Bloarzeyd –Self titled EP
Blackfire Revelation –gold & guns
Heavy Trash –self titled
Valley arena –take comfort in strangers
Mindless self Indulgence –You’ll rebel to anything
Green Milk From Planet Orange – City Calls revolution
Bright Channel –self titled
Des Ark –loose lips sink ships
Dalek Absence
Jesu -Jesu