Matthew Wesolowski and his SSR Communications became widely known for a 2013 petition seeking the creation of a “Class C4” FM station class. Now, the licensee of various stations across the U.S. is asking the FCC to amend the Table of FM Allotments by adding a new channel in a Montana community.
While the station would indeed be the first to be licensed to Huntley, Mont., the Class A at 104.7 MHz would undoubtedly reach the city of Billings, Mont., just 12 miles from Huntley.
SSR has filed a construction permit application and paid the necessary filing fee. However, to get the new FM built there’s a certain matter regarding a short-spacing to what is currently Class A KSYX-FM 105.1 in Billings, Mont.
That station is licensed to Benedetti Media Group, and one of five stations in the market led by Pete Benedetti. While there’s no issue with respect to this facility, KSYX holds a reserved channel assignment for a Class C1 facility at 104.5 MHz.
No movement has been seen on any move from 105.1 MHz to 104.5 MHz. As such, Media Division Audio Division Assistant Chief Nazifa Sawez believes SSR’s petition has merit and has issued an “order to show cause” to Benedetti as to why its license should not be modified to specify operation at its current 105.1 MHz home.
The upgrade for KSYX dates to July 2006, when former owner New Northwest Broadcasting was granted the right to build out new facilities for the station. That never happened, but Benedetti in late 2009 filed a second, identical modification request, which was granted. Nearly 15 years later, no move had ever been made; the second construction permit expired as unbuilt in December 2012. Yet, Benedetti maintains the reserved assignment in the Table of Allotments.
That means Wesolowski’s new station must “protect” a station that doesn’t exist, per the Table of Allotments, unless it is amended to reflect KSYX’s facilities as they stand today.
Benedetti Media Group has until August 19 to contest SSR’s plan, should it wish to do so.
