By Adam R Jacobson
RBR + TVBR
A nearly three-year battle for a low-power FM in Monmouth County, NJ has come to an end.
The FCC last week gave its blessing to Hazler Hispanic Community Radio’s 2013 request to construct a new facility at 102.3 MHz in the town of Hazlet.
The Commission’s approval comes after an informal objection and two engineering amendments.
Hazler can now proceed with bringing the station to light. However, it will have its hands full ensuring that it doesn’t interfere with no less than three other stations sharing the 102.3 MHz within a 55-mile radius of Hazlet.
These stations include a big Cox Media Group Rocker and an iHeart Radio AC.
According to the FCC Broadcast Actions released August 26, Hazler’s request for an original construction permit was first challenged by an informal objection filed in December 2013 by REC Networks, which considers itself an advocate of community-level FM radio operations. REC filed the objection upon noticing that some 249 LPFM applications filed during the 2013 low-power FM window show Antonio Cesar Guel, of Hispanic Christian Community Network, as the preparer.
This raised eye brows at REC, which said similarities between all 249 applications begged the question of whether the applications were for “legitimate operations.”
As the FCC took its time to review the objection, engineering amendments were made in January 2014 and again on November 5, 2015. A waiver allowing the facility to operate between WFAN-FM 101.9 and WWFS-FM 102.7, both in New York, was requested.
The commission finally gave Hazler the green-light to proceed with its CP on August 23.
Once on the air, the LPFM’s engineers will need to ensure that there is no interference with no less than three stations within 55 miles also at 102.3 MHz.
Hazlet is on Sandy Hook Bay, and directly northeast across the water lies Nassau County, N.Y. That’s where Cox Media Group’s Class A WBAB-FM/Babylon has been serving generations of rock fans.
While its 6 kw signal is not designed to go west of John F. Kennedy International Airport, an LPFM from across the water could potentially interfere if not engineered properly.
What’s more interesting is the Hazler LPFM’s proximity to WUPC-LPFM, also at 102.3 MHz, in Arrowhead Village, NJ.
Although WUPC has just 100 watts, its signal covers a portion of the Jersey Shore from Asbury Park to Toms River.
Given the relatively flat terrain, Hazler will also have to contend with not interfering with an LPFM on the same exact signal just 23 miles to the south.
Meanwhile, there’s another station at 102.3 MHz in the mix.
Some 53 miles to the northwest is WSUS-FM, an iHeart Radio AC licensed to Franklin, NJ. Class A WSUS has long focused on Sussex County. However, the Hazler LPFM could still potentially interfere with listeners who commute to areas east of Parsippany if not properly engineered.
The FCC’s approval of the Hazler CP comes along with the Commission’s denial of REC Networks’ informal objections of other LPFM CP requests, in Little Rock, Ark.; Bakersfield, La Quinta and Rancho Mirage, Calif.; Belleville, Neb.; Lawton, Okla.; and Abilene, Amarillo, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Eagle Pass, El Paso, Ennis, Grand Prairie, Laredo, Odessa, Tyler, Victoria, and Wichita Falls, Tex.; Norfolk, Va.; and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Furthermore, by denying REC Networks’ informal objections Pittsburgh, Pa. will be getting an LPFM at 107.1 MHz.
Renda’s Classic Hits WHJB-FM in Greensburg, Pa., located at 107.1 MHz and serving a large portion of the Monongahela Valley, will likely not be pleased with that decision.
RBR + TVBR
