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WCKG Antenna Towers

Posted by Raslin5 on March 27, 2021, 5:25 pm

Does anyone know what happen to one of the two antenna towers at the WCKG AM 1530 antenna site? One of the two towers [the one with the FM translator] is gone, missing.

Re: WCKG Antenna Towers

Posted by Jeremy Andrews on March 27, 2021, 5:46 pm, in reply to "WCKG Antenna Towers"

Per FCC filing:
THE WCKG(AM) ANTENNA SITE IS ADJACENT TO A HIGHWAY RIGHT-OF-WAY OWNED BY THE ILLINOIS TOLL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY (TOLLWAY). THE TOLLWAY HAS EXERCISED EMINENT DOMAIN, AND WE ARE UNABLE TO USE OUR LICENSED ANTENNA SYSTEM.

PURSUANT TO SECTION 73.1680 OF THE FCC'S RULES, THIS IS TO SEEK A SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORIZATION TO USE AN EMERGENCY WIRE ANTENNA WITH 25% OF NOMINAL LICENSED POWER. OUR EMERGENCY WIRE ANTENNA CONSISTS OF A 140 FOOT (42.7 METERS) LONG END FEED WIRE.

THE PUBLIC INTEREST, CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY WOULD BE WELL SERVED BY A GRANT OF THIS STA REQUEST, WHICH WILL PERMIT WCKG TO REMAIN ON THE AIR.

Re: WCKG Antenna Towers

Posted by WYTZZ95FM on March 27, 2021, 6:40 pm, in reply to "Re: WCKG Antenna Towers"

Thanks Raslin and Jeremy. Their AM is wavering in and out during the day 5 miles north of the transmitter. The FM is off the air and is a mix of WXLC and WYCA with another signal I can't identify 4 miles west of the transmitter.

I honestly feel bad for Matt on this one. Total horsecrap. I understand eminent domain, but so much for a license and serving the public. He probably wants to keep the license active for the AM so he can relocate the FM somewhere else and feed it.

Z

Re: WCKG Antenna Towers

Posted by Stever on March 27, 2021, 6:58 pm, in reply to "Re: WCKG Antenna Towers"

The use of the term “eminent domain” is inaccurate in this case. The tollway authority did not use the law of eminent domain to take the property and pay them fair market value. Both towers were on property owned by the radio station. The adjacent property has always been owned by the tollway authority and they are only utilizing the property they already own. When the towers were re-located there in the 80s the ground system was mostly put under property owned by the tollway authority. It was known from day one that at any time the tollway folks could use their property and destroy the ground system. They could do whatever they want on the property as long as they have the proper approval by governing authorities (as would any construction project). All of the previous owners were aware of this, and it is a high risk way to do business - purchasing a smaller piece of land for your tower site to save money and hoping the neighbors never choose to use their property. The property deed is included in the sale from the previous owners to the current owners, it is in the FCC database if you would like to see it. So there were no surprises here.

I don’t like to see anybody have any financial difficulties, but it is disingenuous of them to pretend they did not know this could happen at any time. Also, about a week ago they stayed on the air three straight days without signing off. They don’t care, they still hope to find a bigger chump to buy the station and now there’s really nothing left to buy except a piece of real estate that is not worth much. Many others have posted a similar sentiment on this board over the years, but in cases like this the public interest would be best served by them surrendering the license and letting somebody else take a shot at it. But 1530 is a terrible frequency, and during critical hours WCKY in Cincinnati has always buried them.

Re: WCKG Antenna Towers

Posted by D on March 27, 2021, 7:21 pm, in reply to "Re: WCKG Antenna Towers"

It sucks that the station is facing difficulties due to things happening beyond their control. However, isn’t the widening of 294 more beneficial to the public vs one small AM radio station? The tollway modernizing that section is long overdue.

Re: WCKG Antenna Towers

Posted by Ant-man on March 27, 2021, 9:41 pm, in reply to "Re: WCKG Antenna Towers"

You are wrong Stever. The tollway took the land owned by WCKG, not just the land where the radials extended. No one plans or can plan on having their land taken from them. You’re way off base in confusing their radial arrangement with this land take.

It’s interesting you assert “they don’t care”, but how could you possibly know what the people at DuPage Radio care about if you don’t even know what the land situation is? I know Matt. I’ve worked with him extensively and he’s been staving off the tollway for over 2 years while battling his own serious health issues.

Oh, and the issue with not signing off was one of my guys’ mistakes. While working on the emergency setup we left the transmitter on local by mistake and the brand new Burke remote control we installed in 2019 didn’t sign him off. That must have been you who complained to the FCC. WCKG didn’t powered down by mistake for 2 nights. Next time, be a human being and just reach out with a courtesy heads up. Mistakes happen.

Incidentally, I’ve worked with few who care more. Matt was out here on site with us daily. If DuPage Radio didn’t care, they’d have accepted one of the various offers they constantly get for their FM translator, turn in the AM like Fred the billionaire did and be done with it all.

Instead he’s got WCKG up with an STA while we find some options. And when you surrender a license, no one else gets a shot, but it sure does help 1530 WLAK up north in Wisconsin.

Re: WCKG Antenna Towers

Posted by Stever on March 27, 2021, 10:07 pm, in reply to "Re: WCKG Antenna Towers"

Hello Ant-Man:

If indeed their current property was taken by eminent domain, meaning they were paid above fair market value for the property (which is the common practice), I want to apologize to anyone affiliated with the radio station. However, this is not a process that happens overnight, it is very lengthy and can be challenged by the property owner. You mentioned two years, so that is definitely time to prepare.

But no complaints to the FCC, don’t think Elmhurst would be bothering anybody in Cincinnati trying to listen. I listen to Dan Patrick because they run him on a loop all day and he just stayed on the air running. Don’t know how they cannot have anybody monitoring the station to know if they are on the air, so that is my issue. I have previously stated on this board that I knew the original owners of the facility and that is why I know about the xmtr site relocation in the 80s.

Not trying to kick a guy when he’s down, I just believe there is a real lack of regard for operating stations in the public interest nowadays. And I saw the filings from the guy at WLAK, and that is one of the most poorly written petitions to deny I have ever seen. The commission decided correctly against him and for Elmhurst. I think that frequency is just cursed. Wishing all of you at the station the very best.

Re: WCKG Antenna Towers

Posted by Wrong on March 27, 2021, 10:46 pm, in reply to "Re: WCKG Antenna Towers"

The ground system was affected at first but now the tower has been dismantled. 2 very different things.

Re: WCKG Antenna Towers

Posted by AM Oldies 294 on March 28, 2021, 4:25 am, in reply to "Re: WCKG Antenna Towers"

After reading the comments, I think this may have been an attempt to take out another small AM station. I really don't what's going on with 1530, but whatever it is, better get resolved soon.

Thanks for those wish Matt and DuPage Radio the best. I didn't like him at first, but over time, he warmed up to me. He is a very down to earth man, very passionate about what he does, and is really nice.

While out for rides, drives, walks, and trips to Jewel, I noticed 1530 was much weaker. My reception near 95th and Tri-State, sounded just like it did years ago (when it was 500 watts). 102.3 is there. WXLC vs Crete, being much further south.

Before we "sprang forward," I noticed WCKY underneath Elmhurst. Sometimes, it was all day long. Some friends I have who live/work downtown said "they get 1530, just not the one out of Elmhurst."

Keep us posted on updates and hope this isn't another station about to go belly up.

Re: WCKG Antenna Towers

Posted by Jeremy Andrews on March 28, 2021, 10:19 am, in reply to "Re: WCKG Antenna Towers"

They can likely operate on the long wire as long as they need. until they can find a new site. I know 1480 WSPY is nearing 20 years of operating under an STA on a longwire. I know it’s harder to find land these days.

During the day, I was always able to get a listenable signal from 1530. Aside from the dial location taking early interference from WCKY it otherwise was not a bad signal for a 760 Watt Daytimer and I am sad this happened

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