THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 24, 1994 TAG: 9409230108
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUE SMALLWOOD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 116 lines
TUNE IN MODERN rock radio station 96X, WROX, as you motor into downtown Norfolk and you'll probably notice a lot of static, dropout and interference. It's darned annoying.
The folks at 96X are trying to fix it, but they've run into a little interference themselves.
Back in March, Sinclair Communications, which owns WROX, filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission to construct a translator, a low-wattage transmitter designed to ``fill in'' areas of inferior reception. The proposed translator would re-broadcast the WROX signal on the 106.1 FM frequency in the Norfolk area only.
But Tidewater Communications, which owns classic rock radio stations WNOR (FM-99) and WAFX (The Fox) got wind of the WROX plan and promptly filed a petition with the FCC to deny WROX a construction permit. They are the only area radio broadcaster opposing WROX.
Not surprisingly, the folks at WROX are none too happy about WNOR/WAFX's move to block their translator and have been very vocal about their displeasure. For several weeks, 96X has aired an impassioned ``public service announcement'' describing the actions of the ``corporate Jurassic rock station'' as indicating ``fear and paranoia of 96X.''
``I think that what they're doing is a dirty, underhanded way to compete,'' Bob Sinclair, vice president and general manager of Sinclair Communications, said recently in his downtown Norfolk office. ``I don't like competition any more than the next guy does, but basically it's just a fact of life in the United States, in a capitalistic country.''
All three radio stations generally compete for the coveted 18- to 34-year-old listenership, which generates big advertising revenue.
Joe Schwartz, Tidewater Communications' vice president and general manager, declined to comment on the brouhaha, saying only, ``It's an FCC issue.''
A spokesman at the FCC in Washington confirmed that construction of FM translators is common practice, with about 500 applications processed every year by the federal agency.
``It's called a fill-in translator,'' the spokesman explained, ``where the regular parent station fades and so they don't have a listenable signal in certain areas that they're authorized to serve. There are two alternative choices (to remedy the problem). One is to use a translator, second is to use a booster. What either instance does is fill in those null areas that don't have sufficient signal strength.
``Anyone can file a petition to deny,'' he continued, ``as long as they have standing, and standing is very broadly interpreted. But there has to be a legal or technical basis for filing a petition. You just can't say, `I don't want it.' You can, but we wouldn't give much credence to that.''
I've seen the documents filed with the FCC in the matter: Sinclair's application for a construction permit, Tidewater's petition to deny and Sinclair's rebuttal. It's all a wordy heap of legalese, nitpicking and diplomatic name-calling, but here's a brief summary:
Tidewater Communications (WNOR/WAFX) asserts that the 96X translator should be nixed because - among a myriad of other alleged technical deficiencies, oversights and transgressions - WROX is licensed in Cape Charles on the Eastern shore (the location of WROX's 50,000-watt transmitter) and should not be allowed a broadcast signal over downtown Norfolk. Tidewater also claims that a WROX translator ``must be presumed to cause prohibited interference to WPHG'' in Exmore, and ``must be presumed to exceed the protected (broadcast) contour of WROX.''
However, Norfolk does lie within WROX's legal broadcast contour, which covers most of Hampton Roads. Sinclair's consulting engineer maintains that the translator's signal will not interfere with WPHG's signal - which the FCC lists as 25,000 watts but ``not on air'' as yet - and will not reach beyond WROX's current authorized broadcast zone. (Hey, what do WNOR and WAFX care about WPHG's reception anyway?)
Had WNOR/WAFX not blocked 96X's bid to build, downtowners would probably have had a clear signal by now. Unopposed, it typically takes only three to four months to obtain FCC approval for construction of a translator, said the FCC spokesman. Opposed, approval only comes ``when we get to it in line; there's no set time frame.''
``Unfortunately the wheels of government move slowly,'' Sinclair said, ``and it will be a serious delay to the application. It could be six months, a year, who knows? We are going to start a petition drive to encourage the FCC to act quickly on our application, to realize that all (Tidewater's action) is is a delay (tactic).''
So the big question remains. Why is Tidewater Communications even concerned with WROX's try for a translator? That station's proposed 250 watts in downtown Norfolk seems pretty miniscule compared to WNOR's 46,000-watt and WAFX's 100,000-watt signals.
But then again, a 106.1 WROX would be awfully close to 106.9, WAFX, on the dial. . . .
They're not afraid of the competition down at the other end of the FM dial. In fact, public radio stations WHRO, 90.3, and WHRV, 89.5, are welcoming the market's newest National Public Radio network affiliate, WNSB, 91.1, with open arms. That's Norfolk State University's station.
``We're very pleased for them and proud of them,'' said Raymond Jones, vice president and general manager of WHRO and WHRV, commenting on the Norfolk State station. ``It's a good thing for radio because it enforces or strengthens NPR's presence in the area and keeps people listening to the radio.
``Because we are working together - we're friendly and cooperative - we're going to make sure we don't step on each other in programming. We welcome them to the family.''
WNSB will be able to pick and choose from a variety of NPR programs.
``We want to be informative, educational and entertaining,'' said WNSB station manager Edward Turner, adding that the station will focus on hourly news and programming that best fits WNSB's jazz/blues/reggae format. The station is aiming for Oct. 1 to officially debut as a full-fledged NPR affiliate.
As a member station, WNSB will also be able to take advantage of NPR's training, seminars and workshops and offer NSU students internship and career opportunities with NPR.
``We're excited,'' Turner said of WNSB's relationship with WHRO and WHRV. ``We're working hand-in-hand for better radio in Hampton Roads. All three stations are going to enhance and complement each other.'' MEMO: Got an opinion on local radio, music, nightlife? Leave it on the
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