Friday, July 19, 2013

NY Radio: Moving Transmitter Costs WFWO

The FCC doesn’t like it when stations transmit their signal from a location different than the one from which they’re authorized for.

According to RadioWorld, the agency has proposed an $8,000 fine for Fellowship, licensee of WFWO FM, Medina, N.Y.

The non-com is authorized to transmit on 89.7 MHz from Presbyterian Road in Knowelsville, N.Y.

Responding to a complaint in October 2012, an agent from the Enforcement Bureau’s Philadelphia office traced the signal back to the Fellowship Christian Center in Buffalo, some 36 miles from Knowelsville. The agent also took field strength measurements to determine if WFWO’s power levels were low enough to operate under Part 15 of its rules. The FCC said in its decision that WFWO exceeded the maximum permitted level of 250 μV/m at 3 meters for nonlicensed devices and, therefore, required a license to operate.

The agent told Young to stop operating the transmitter from Buffalo, because it was over-powered for Part 15 operation and not the authorized location. The FCC said Young agreed.

A director of engineering from a licensed Buffalo station told the FCC in November of 2012 that WFWO was transmitting again from Buffalo. The Enforcement Bureau agent confirmed that and inspected the facility. Young claimed he was unaware the station was operational and alleged that his children must have turned on the transmitter in Buffalo, according to the FCC’s account.

Fellowship has 30 days to appeal or pay.

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