In this week’s issue… FCC picks noncommercial FM window winners – Audacy shifts NYC talent – ATSC 3 launches in Boston – Corus finishes Toronto morning shuffle – New FM in Quebec?
By SCOTT FYBUSH
*If it’s not exactly lightning speed, the FCC is at least moving at a very steady clip as it tries to resolve all the loose ends from last fall’s filing window for new noncommercial FM signals.
After issuing dozens of construction permits for uncontested “singleton” applications last fall, the Commission has now sorted out 34 groups of conflicting (“mutually exclusive” or “MX”) applications, including several in NERW-land.
In southern RHODE ISLAND, Radio Sharon Foundation and Horizon Christian Fellowship both applied for 91.5, which sent them to an analysis under the FCC’s points system. Horizon won two points for diversity of ownership and one for a superior technical proposal, but Radio Sharon won a total of five points, two for diversity and three for local ownership.
There’s a hitch, though: while the FCC designated Radio Sharon as its tentative selectee for 91.5, Horizon immediately responded with a report from a private investigator in which it showed that the family members identified as Radio Sharon’s “local” board members didn’t actually live at the addresses listed on its application. Will the FCC reverse its decision – and take a closer look at other applications from Radio Sharon and related entities? We’ll be watching.
On the NEW JERSEY shore, a four-way battle for 88.7 included Radio Vision Cristiana in Brick, Rejuvenation Outreach Center and Community Public Radio in Lakewood and Cantico Nuevo Ministry in Leisure Village. The FCC’s point system analysis in this group came down to a question of which applicant had the fewest existing authorizations (station licenses plus applications), which gave the nod to Rejuvenation Outreach Center.
Inland, five applicants were seeking 88.9 – Casa de Destino and Calvary Chapel Morris Hills in Bernardsville, Redeemer Broadcasting in Mendham, Transmission Communications Network in Millington and Cantico Nuevo in Watchung. Local ownership gave Calvary Chapel Morris Hills the nod in this group, though it will have to divest its existing low-power FM, WCFT-LP (107.9 Dover), before it can put its new 88.9 signal on the air.
Behold, the 2025 calendar!
We chose the 100,000-watt transmitter of the Voice Of America in Marathon, right in the heart of the Florida Keys. This picture has everything we like in our covers — blue skies, greenery, water, and of course, towers! The history behind this site is a draw, too.
Other months feature some of our favorite images from years past, including some Canadian stations and several stations celebrating their centennials (can you guess? you don’t have to if you buy the calendar!).
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This will be the 24th edition of the world-famous Tower Site Calendar, and your support will determine whether it will be the final edition.
It’s been a complicated few years here, and as we finish up production of the new edition, we’re considering the future of this staple of radio walls everywhere as we evaluate our workload going forward.
The proceeds from the calendar help sustain the reporting that we do on the broadcast industry here at Fybush Media, so your purchases matter a lot to us here – and if that matters to you, now’s the time to show that support with an order of the new Tower Site Calendar. (And we have the new Broadcast Historian’s Calendar for 2025 ready to ship, too. Why not order both?)
Visit the Fybush Media Store and place your order now for the next calendar, get a great discount on previous calendars, and check out our selection of books and videos, too!
In this week’s issue… WBUR backs off local talk - EMF's expansion in NY, nationally - Rochester broadcasters honored - Russell finds new PA radio home - Remembering Bruce Stevens - The new calendar's here!
In this week’s issue… Remembering WNY's Palvino, Harris - Will King sell Bangor stations? - Kay moves earlier - New signal on LI - Cumulus cuts hit PA, New England - Frizzell sells in NH
In this week’s issue… Saluting a small-town radio vet - Bell moves CP24 - Scott heads west - Burlington gets Air 1, "Experimental Radio" - Family Life heads down I-86
In this week’s issue… NY TV anchor, radio historian both retiring - XPN PD to retire - More Cumulus cuts - Rogers sells FMs as Corus makes big talent cuts By SCOTT FYBUSH Jump to: ME - NH - VT - MA...
