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Colorado-based radio station KRFC has just installed a new radio tower and RF facility, effectively boosting its signal more than 16 times to reach nearly 1 million Front Range residents.

Effective last Thursday, May 12, the station launched a 50 kW facility to replace its 3 kW signal. This switch more than doubled the station’s broadcast footprint to include new communities as far south as North Denver and further east of Greeley, Colo., according to KRFC. Extensive public and private donations helped finance the project.

KRFC 88.9 FM has been a part of the Fort Collins community in Colorado since 2013. As a non-for-profit radio station, its music programming is entirely “volunteer-powered” by 90 DJs, repping 64 shows and producing 61 of them in-house each week. Until now, KRFC did not own its own tower, having leased antenna space at its old site.

“It is rare for an independent station to own and operate its own broadcast tower of this size, a development that will allow KRFC 88.9 FM to lease bandwidth to other regional broadcasters and commercial organizations needing a tower for their signal,” said KRFC in a press release.

“KRFC is open to discuss leasing opportunities of HD-2, -3 and -4 as well as physical tower space,” station officials told Radio World.

KRFC’s new radio tower outside Fort Collins, Co.

To learn more about the new site, project costs and the installation process, Radio World spoke with Jen Parker, KRFC’s executive director.

Radio World: Why did KRFC want to build a new tower? Why was this project important to the station and surrounding community?

Jen Parker: For the 19 years the station has been on the air, the signal has been very spotty due to the terrain and our 3 kW signal just wasn’t powerful enough. It has been a dream for years to improve the signal and broaden the reach to be the true voice of northern Colorado. The new boosted signal gives a more pleasurable listening experience and exposes many more Coloradans to this wonderfully eclectic station that entertains, educates and informs our community members in a positive, nonpolitical and uplifting way.

KRFC’s reach prior to the tower install and after. (Click to expand)

RW: What was the timetable for the build (was 2022 the expected year for completion)?

Parker: The capital campaign launched in 2018 and we had hoped to complete the project last year, but due to the issues related to COVID, supply chain and increased costs, we completed the tower earlier this year and went live with our new signal on May 12, 2022.

RW: What was the budget and what were fundraising efforts like?

Parker: The initial budget was just under $300,000 and, again through delays related to COVID and supply chain issues, the project ended up being just under $500,000. The capital campaign was epic with initial lead gifts from Paul and Amy Hach, Ginger and Jack Graham from Ginger and Baker, and New Belgium Brewing who produced a limited edition beer called “Power The Tower Pale Ale” with proceeds going towards the campaign.

Other incredible individuals stepped in and made considerable donations, and then we held Power The Tower donation drives throughout the past few years. The entire project was funded by donations and we didn’t have to take out any loans to complete the project.

RW: Describe KRFC’s physical airchain path. 

Parker: The studios are located in the heart of the Music District in beautiful downtown Fort Collins. The station uses 950 MHz analog STL to get audio to both the new and, previously, the old site because they are near each other; we have ceased operation at the old site now.

The new facility has completely  new equipment and is located about 9 miles east of Fort Collins, Co. After path challenges prevented use of a new unlicensed 6 GHz IP link, KRFC ordered a set of GatesAir Intraplex IP codecs and an Intraplex HD Link. We purchased an ERI LP antenna and a GatesAir FAX High Power transmitter.

RW: Who were the major vendors/contractors for the project?

Parker: We utilized Sabre Towers, the tower manufacturer; Broadcast Connection as broadcast supply vendor; GatesAir for transmitter and STL equipment; Cell Site Solutions, a used equipment shelter dealer, and Galvanized Endeavors for broadcast and tower construction.

RW: What were the critical equipment and facility decisions that had to be made ahead of the installation?

Parker: Obtaining land in a populated area in Colorado to build a tower is challenging in itself. Keeping the tower less than 200 feet high had some advantages. Transmitter TPO versus size of the antenna was one of the more critical decisions to make. A full-wave-spaced ERI LP antenna was utilized, which allowed for a low TPO near 7 kW. Although we could have located further south for more population coverage, KRFC wanted to be absolutely sure of a very strong signal throughout the entire city of Fort Collins.

Check out the gallery below for pictures of the installation process. (Click to toggle between photos)

RW: What was your role in this process? Besides yourself, who was on the team? 

Parker: I managed the entire launch of the campaign, the majority of the private donation relationships and handled all the marketing and PR along the way with my incredible team. Our engineer Matt Schilz was the project manager along with several key volunteers with engineering backgrounds. Charles Anderson of Anderson Communications created the pattern and provided the necessary support for application and [FCC] filing.

The internal team helped with the entire process along with Sean Lamborne, our program and volunteer director, and David Vacek, our music director.

The KRFC team at the tower’s groundbreaking event

RW: Who kept the process rolling and how were crises (if any) managed? 

Parker: As a team, we knew that this project was a true necessity for the station to serve a greater population in powerful and impactful ways through supporting nonprofits, the arts, schools and colleges and small and large businesses; and that we needed to improve the signal and expand the reach.

At no time did we lose sight of that goal and, when challenged with delays or other issues, we stuck together and kept the belief and mission alive. It was a total team effort from our remarkable staff, board of directors and volunteers.

A commemorative ribbon cutting announcing the new tower’s operations May 12.

Click here to watch a video of the tower installation.

You can find KRFC on your FM dial in northern Colorado, online or in the App Store at “KRFC 88.9FM Radio.”

The post KRFC Boosts Signal 16 Times Over From New Tower appeared first on Radio World.

Photo courtesy Cris Alexander

The FCC has released the details of its order allowing FM broadcasters to use computer modeling to verify directional antennas.

It also explained why it didn’t adopt several proposals that were in the original notice of proposed rulemaking.

The most common reason to use a directional antenna by a commercial full-power FM is to allow it to “short-space” to another FM station while maintaining contour protection to that station.

The new rules allow applicants for directional FM facilities an option to verify the directional antenna patterns by submitting results from computer models depicting the antenna’s performance. The results must be generated by the antenna’s manufacturer.

The manufacturers are deemed to be in the best position to perform computer modeling of their products because they have the historic data to know how a specific radiator performs in a particular environment.

The FCC disagreed with manufacturer Electronics Research Inc. (ERI), which had opposed the rule change. ERI expressed “serious concerns” that the change would lead to protracted and contentious interference disputes, and that computer models should be verified through measurement at full or fractional scale.

The FCC noted that under current rules, when applicants submit their showings, they almost always rely on tabulations from the antenna manufacturer of the measured relative field pattern, performed on a full-scale test range or with a scale model.

The commission said manufacturers are in the best position to ensure the validity of the computer model and the accuracy of the results, and that manufacturers have an incentive to represent their products’ performance accurately, “both to protect their own reputations and to avoid negative consequences for their customers who face interference complaints and regulatory action if their antenna patterns do not match what is authorized in their license.”

The commission acknowledged NAB’s concern that manufacturer data should not be automatically accepted without a demonstration that the modeler has a background in physics or electromagnetic theory. But given the varying backgrounds of broadcast engineers, it said, “we do not wish to codify what constitutes qualifications to perform computer modeling.”

It said that if a challenge arises to a computer model, for example through interference complaints, “we can and would seek further information regarding that model, including the qualifications of those preparing and performing the modeling.”

The FCC also declined “at this time” to expand the range of entities authorized to perform computer modeling. “Although there is no such limitation on those who can perform computer modeling for AM and DTV directional antennas, we find a more cautious approach is required for FM, given the greater number of FM stations versus DTV stations using directional antennas, and given that AM directional patterns are subject to continual verification through sampling that is not possible with FM directional antennas.”

However it left open the possibility of rethinking that decision as the industry gains experience with FM modeling.

The agency also decided not to prescribe any particular modeling software for antenna manufacturers to use, leaving this to their discretion and allowing them to use commercially available products or their own proprietary software.

When a license application includes a proof of FM directional antenna performance obtained through computer modeling, the FCC will require that it include a statement with the names and qualifications of the engineers who designed the antenna, did the modeling and prepared the manufacturer’s instructions for installing the antenna. The submission must include a statement from the engineers describing the software tools used in the model and procedures used in running them. As suggested by NAB, the FCC will require a certification that the software executed normally, without generating any error messages or warnings indicating something was wrong with the inputs.

The computer modeling must analyze the antenna mounted on a tower or tower section; and the tower or tower section model must include “transmission lines, appurtenances, ladders, conduits, other antennas, and any other installations that could affect the computer modeled directional pattern.”

The commission will require one-time verification of the accuracy of a pattern generated using a particular modeling software for each directional antenna model number or standardized series of elements. In other words, once a particular antenna model or series of elements has been verified by any one applicant using given modeling software, the FCC will permit all subsequent applicants using the same combination to submit the computer model for the subsequent antenna installation.

The FCC decided not to change its policies regarding interference complaints or disputes. Most of the comments it got back indicated that interference would not be a problem, and no one asked for changes to the interference rules and procedures.

It acknowledged that ERI thinks the change will increase FM interference due to modeled directional patterns that do not accurately reflect actual directional signals; ERI thinks this will increase inter-station interference disputes, because full-service FM stations, unlike secondary services such as FM translators, don’t have to cease operations when they receive interference complaints. But the FCC said that, by requiring initial computer models of antennas and components using a particular modeling software to be verified by measurements, it addressed ERI’s concerns.

Finally, the commission reminded the industry that computer modeling is optional; applicants can still submit measured relative field patterns if they want to.

Read the full order.

The post FCC Explains Its Reasoning on FM Directional Modeling appeared first on Radio World.

Its shares, like most on Wall Street, started slumping on May 6. On Friday, they rocked forward by 4.8%, putting American Tower Corp. at $244.53 and back on track toward its 1-year target price of $291.

What propelled AMT on an otherwise dismal day for U.S. financial markets? A hefty dividend is in the works.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — TEGNA shareholders have voted in favor of the plan. Now, regulatory approval is the only obstacle to an effort that Soohyung Kim and his Standard General LP have waged for some two years — gaining control of the broadcast TV station and Premion owner.

That’s not so easy, it turns out. Common Cause, The NewsGuild-CWA, and Public Knowledge wish to stop the transaction, which sees Cox Media Group’s majority shareholder, Apollo Global Management, take a non-voting equity stake in TEGNA.

And, they’ve convinced the FCC to allow more time for providing the Media Bureau with information they believe is needed to fully assuage the situation.

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The Policy Division of the FCC’s Media Bureau has signed off on an application for certification to operate an open video system serving a host of major markets.

With no comments regarding the application received by the Commission, it has gone forward with an affirmative nod to the ask.

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By Michael Ferguson

SAN FRANCISCO — The case for diversity is solid and has long been established: diverse teams outperform their peers when it comes to revenue generation, workplace efficiency, innovation, market share, and employee wellness. Even then, majority of organizations still struggle with unconscious bias in their recruitment process where age, gender, race, and other role-irrelevant factors still significantly influence hiring decisions.

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Mick Hubert has called every Florida Gators college football game since the 1989 home opener at the University of Florida’s main campus.

Longtime fans expecting his signature “Oh My!” this fall will be at a loss, however.

Hubert is retiring, and will be devoting game days to his wife and their Sarasota home.

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A Class D daytime-only AM station, along with its FM translator serving the Rose Hill, N.C., area is poised to change hands.

Pending regulatory approval, Mega Media will be the new owner.

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The facts surrounding the felony conviction of Central Pennsylvania radio station owner Roger Wahl, as previously reported by local media and by RBR+TVBR, involve some rather disturbing tales of voyeurism, and finding men to engage in unwanted sexual activities with a local woman.

The conviction prompted the FCC to conduct a License Revocation Hearing, for which Wahl is serving as his own legal counsel, that will eventually determine whether or not he’s ultimately able to retain control of his radio station, WQZS-FM 93.3 in Meyersdale, Pa.

Officially known as Media Bureau item No. 21-401, the hearing under the office of the FCC’s Administrative Law Judge has already created fireworks between ALJ Jane Hinckley Halprin and Wahl, who was warned to treat the proceeding no different than an in-court legal affair. Now, Wahl has provided answers to a second set of interrogatories from the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau.

Some of Wahl’s responses are eye-opening, and could further cloud his chances of remaining a licensee.

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A multi-platform news organization established by The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism has teamed up with “Your Public Radio” — the main NPR Member station serving Baltimore — for the creation of a joint operating agreement that will allow each organization to work collaboratively “to deliver quality journalism” across the state of Maryland.

The pact involves YPR, based at WYPR-FM 88.1 in Baltimore and heard in both Frederick and Ocean City on WYPF-FM and WYPO-FM, respectively; and the Baltimore Banner.

What’s that? Compared to Tribune’s Baltimore Sun, today controlled by Alden Capital and targeted for significant reporter and editor downsizing, the Banner has embraced hyperlocal journalism. “We’re leaving the national news to others and focusing on the daily lives of the people who live and work here,” the news organization says. “The Baltimore Banner is bringing together Baltimore reporters and editors to make sure you know what’s happening in your neighborhood. As a nonprofit, we’re committed to delivering trustworthy journalism that tells the varied stories of our community and holds our leaders accountable.”

With WYPR already established as a not-for-profit local programming creator, the two organizations will forge bonds that tie the WYPR newsroom and chat show Midday and On the Record with the Banner.

“Both teams will work together to cover stories, special reports and develop joint programming to serve the needs of communities throughout Baltimore and around the state,” YPR said. One of the first collaborations will be to cover the upcoming local elections. Joint podcasts and radio programming are on the horizon.

In addition to content sharing, newsroom collaboration and the ability to reach a broader audience, the agreement allows expanded marketing and sponsorship opportunities to be offered, creating added value for sponsors and financial support for both organizations. “The Baltimore Banner will benefit from access to WYPR’s strong dedicated listenership and network of supporters, including recently acquired WTMD 89.7 FM,” it said.

The deal was struck in late April, and it’s just been filed with the FCC for its blessing.

If regulatory approval is given, and that’s expected, two Oklahoma FM radio stations will be licensed to JL Radio LLC.

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MIAMI — Fresh off of its first Upfront in New York, TelevisaUnivision has selected a new Senior VP of Corporate Events.

It’s a newly created role designed to consolidate and “fuel” the company’s global corporate events portfolio.

Taking the post is a former SVP of Content Relations at Nickelodeon who has spent the last five years in posts ranging from a Celebrity Cruises entertainment strategy developer to leading entertainment and events for the Oneida Nation in New York State.

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The Association of Public Radio Engineers has recognized Rich Parker with its 2022 APRE Meritorious Service Award.

“APRE’s engineering award is granted on an annual basis to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the art and/or science of radio engineering [and] that has made a significant impact on, or improvement, in the state of the public radio industry,” said the nonprofit.

For a decade, Rich was the master control and studio engineer at WHYY in Philadelphia, followed by 17 years as director of engineering at Vermont Public Radio. Since 2014, he has been director of engineering for CoastAlaska, handling broadcast engineering and IT support as well as planning and management for the seven Alaskan stations in Juneau.

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According to APRE President Victoria St. John, Rich was one of the founding members on the association’s board and is deserving of recognition, having been an active part of the public radio engineering community for decades.

“I had the privilege of working with him for many years at Vermont Public Radio and I am proud and pleased for Rich to be recognized for his years of inventive and cheerful service,” she said.

Parker was honored April 22 at the Public Radio Engineers Conference (PREC) dinner in Las Vegas, just prior to the NAB Show.

Rich Parker, left, is shown at the PREC event with colleague Scott Hanley. Photo by Jim Peck.

The post APRE Honors Rich Parker With Engineering Service Award appeared first on Radio World.

The annual TechSurvey from Jacobs Media measures the amount of change in the tech space and its impact on radio broadcasters, and the dashboard in connected cars is the 500 pound gorilla in the room.  

Experts say the technology in the car dashboard is quickly changing and so are driver preferences. Car buyers are putting a higher premium on car tech like Bluetooth, large display screens and Smartphone aux connections, along with a taste for media operating systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Automotive. 

Broadcasters and non-broadcast companies like Google, Apple, and Amazon are working with car manufacturers to maximize their presence in the mediascape of the connected car, according to those familiar with developments. And car makers are looking at all options in order to monetize the dashboard. 

About 12% of TechSurvey respondents say they plan to purchase or lease a new vehicle in 2022 despite much higher new car costs. That percentage has held fairly steady the past four years, said Fred Jacobs, president of Jacobs Media, but what new car buyers are looking for is changing.

 

Bluetooth has now surpassed FM radio as the most important feature among new car buyers, Jacobs said on a webinar last week highlighting sections of the latest annual survey. 

Americans are placing a higher premium on technology because it keeps them connected and productive, even in the car, experts say. The car has become a Smartphone on wheels if you will.

“For the first time ever the most important feature for those planning to make a new vehicle purchase, participating in our survey, Bluetooth has surpassed radio. (Bluetooth) is up three points and FM radio was down four points. Connectivity is becoming very important,” Jacobs said.

Having an AM radio is a desired feature for only 33% of respondents planning to purchase a new car, according to TS 2022.

And hitting a new high, eight in 10 respondents with a Smartphone can now connect the device in their car, an especially popular feature for younger consumers participating in the latest survey. 

“These content monsters, as we call the younger generation, are far more likely to connect their Smartphone to the car for content,” Jacobs said. 

The good news for AM/FM radio is that actual in-car consumption of the service is still number one at 56% followed by SiriusXM (19%) and personal music from a Smartphone (9%). “Surprisingly, streaming audio is only at 6%, but remember we are dealing with an older audience (participating in TechSurvey) by and large,” Jacobs said. 

But Jacobs points out on the TechSurvey webcast the trend of AM/FM radio listening in the car continues to erode falling from 62% in the 2018 survey project to 56% in TS 2022. 

“Overall people are listening to less AM/FM radio in the car. More people are using full blown media systems like the Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep UConnect, Ford Sync, Audi Connect,” Jacobs said, “and that tends to erode radio listening.”

In fact, when you examine the survey data and weight it for those respondents who have a “Connected System” in the car, AM/FM radio listening shrinks to only 47%.

This is the last in a series of stories exploring the results from TechSurvey 2022. Click here to read part five.

The post TechSurvey 2022: The Car is Getting Crowded appeared first on Radio World.

From its latest string of new hires, StreamGuys brings on Megan Killion as its vice president of sales and marketing, a newly-created position.

In this new role, Killion will “develop strategic initiatives that build a stronger sales culture across the organization, with an emphasis on driving new business and increasing close rates,” according to a company press release. She will report to StreamGuys President Kiriki Delany.

Killion brings 15 years of B2B technology sales and marketing experience to StreamGuys, having already formed professional ties with the company through past roles.

Said roles include executive positions at CacheFly, a CDN network where she served as vice president of strategic sales and marketing, as well as at her own MKC Agency, where she worked with StreamGuys on branding and outbound marketing initiatives.

“These experiences, along with previous similar positions [at] Ericsson UDN and long-term consultancies with Mutable, Reblaze, and StackPath, provide Megan with a broad knowledge of the technology infrastructure that StreamGuys excels in across the CDN, cloud, edge computing and streaming universe,” said the company.

“More importantly, she knows how to translate product and technology language into sales success for new and existing clients, and move successful companies like StreamGuys into lucrative new markets.”

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In the announcement, Killion said one of her goals is to help StreamGuys better market their existing services and find ways to better support customers.

“My experience working in the technology space suggests that few companies really understand why they need both a strong sales culture and engineering vision,” said Killion. “StreamGuys has both excellent sales and engineering teams in place, and they work very hard to service their customers and deliver on the technology promises they make. I am excited to bring these operations even closer together.”

The post StreamGuys Expands Executive Team with First VP of Sales and Marketing appeared first on Radio World.

With the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election’s official results determined on November 8, 2020, financial markets promptly roared in approval on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. Among the company’s starting their COVID-19 induced slumps on Wall Street was Audacy Inc., formerly Entercom.

Things looked good for Audacy, at first. Then came the Ides of March. Since then, Audacy shares have slumped. On Thursday (5/19), they dipped again, reaching a fresh year-to-date low.

In fact, Audacy’s share growth since the election of Joe Biden as U.S. President has been erased.

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The latest ratings report from the Radio Joint Audience Research body (RAJAR) in charge of measuring radio audiences across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland is out. For iHeartMedia interloper Global, the first quarter of 2022 data was a bright one, as the company touted its national and London performances for spoken word LBC and Hot Adult Contemporary Heart, in addition to Top 40 Capital and Adult Contemporary Smooth.

Audio consultant Matt Deegan took a close look at the entire report. And, in a blog post made early Thursday, he made note of a big new trend — smart speaker consumption of radio. There’s much to take away for U.S. broadcasters, in particular the age of the typical smart speaker user.

 

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A lay apostolate with broadcast signals in North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming, has agreed to part ways with a radio station serving Bismarck and its FM translator licensed to Williston, N.D.

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Richard Dawkins has been promoted to president of audio for Bauer Media Group. He will now lead the company’s audio business and “take advantage of the opportunities ahead,” per a press release making the announcement.

Dawkins joined Bauer Media Group as chief operating officer of audio in 2019. “This role saw him focus on new opportunities for the business and maximise the performance of its operations through new launches, commercial opportunities and introducing new ways of working,” said Bauer.

Prior to that role, he spent more than a decade at the BBC in a variety of senior roles, most recently as chief operating officer of BBC Content.

Yvonne Bauer, owner and CEO of Bauer Media Group, said Dawkins has already added “enormous value” to the company. “I look forward to starting a new era for Bauer Media Audio,” she said.

Dawkins succeeds Paul Keenan, who joins the company’s executive board as the new chief operating officer.

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Bauer has operations across eight countries in Europe, representing various radio and audio brands including The Voice in Denmark, Radio Nova in Finland and numerous companies in the U.K.

“This is a brilliant opportunity to lead a fantastic team and a strong business with our reach already exceeding 57 million weekly listeners,” said Dawkins.

The post Bauer Media Group Promotes Dawkins to President of Audio appeared first on Radio World.

LOS ANGELES — She is a five-decade veteran of Warner Bros. Television. As of today, she’s now serving as EVP of Ad Sales for AMG Global Syndication, an arm of Byron Allen‘s Allen Media Group.

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