Oregon student station threat
p2pnet.net News:- Oregon’s Mid-Columbia Broadcasting wants to transfer the license for its Q104 FM station to Washington, and the Federal Communications Commission has given its blessing.
The trouble is, the student-run station x104.5 at Mercer Island High School at The Cove near Seattle has been using the same frequency and if the move goes ahead, “Blazin’ Seattle’s new hip-hop and R&B” station could bite the dust.
“The Covington move had been opposed by the Mercer Island School District, which operates KMIH-FM (104.5), as well as by the Peninsula School District, which operates a translator on that frequency for a station it operates, KGHP-FM,” says the Seattle Post-Intelligencer here.
“While we recognize the valuable service being provided by these stations, both of these facilities are secondary services and neither is protected against interference from primary services,” it quotes the FCC’s media bureau as saying.
“In the event that the Covington allotment is adopted and service is initiated by the new Covington station, the translator and the Class D FM station (KMIH) will be required to suspend operations if interference to the new primary station occurs.”
The FCC decision also says there are alternate channels available for both operations and that the areas already receive service from more than two dozen existing FM and AM stations, writes Bill Virgin, who says Mercer Island High’s program involves 30 to 40 students as well as adult volunteers.
“KMIH has enlisted the help of alumni and has started a booster club to support the station’s operations and raise funds for its legal figh,” he adds.
