WCPE in the News

January 5, 1996

Getting two radio stations' signals straight

Section: Editorial/Opinion Edition: Final Page: A14 Estimated Printed Pages: 2

Index Terms: LETTER

Article Text:

Your Dec. 27 editorial "To the top of the tower" shows that The N&O understands neither the regulatory nor the technical issues involved in increasing FM radio station WCPE's signal strength.

Your analogy of the FCC "acting like a cop who keeps waving his arms and blowing his whistle even when there's nobody on the road" is patently flawed. WCPE, WXYC (the student radio station at UNC-Chapel Hill) and the listening public are all on the broadcast road. If a few drivers said they did not care whether other drivers obeyed traffic rules, would those rules become unnecessary? Of course not!

Likewise, it does not matter that the current licensee of WXYC is not concerned about interference that would result from the granting of WCPE's petition. WXYC does not own their frequency and it is not theirs to encumber with interference. The FCC has both good reason and the obligation to deny any plan to create interference.

To accommodate WCPE's petition, the FCC must waive the rule which specifies the minimum distance between FM broadcast stations that broadcast on similar frequencies. WCPE and WXYC are already closer, by 15 miles, than normally permitted. The WCPE petition seeks to extend the existing "short spacing" waiver to 27 miles. The FCC considers routine a waiver which allows short spacing of up to about five miles. Contrary to your editorial claim, WCPE needs far more than a routine waiver.

You parroted WCPE's claim that "signal strength will have to be lowered" to the west. In fact, the signal toward the west may remain as it is now. Coverage to the west would not change at all.

Instead of whining about their condition and begging for special consideration in light of their format, WCPE should seek creative solutions within the framework of the regulations which govern every other broadcaster. Playing classical music over the radio should not excuse anyone from adherence to federal law.

Do not misunderstand my purpose. I listen to WCPE and appreciate their programming. I am merely showing there is more to this issue than WCPE and The N&O care to reveal to the very public whose interest the FCC is bound to protect.

PHILIP A. WHITE

Raleigh

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(The writer spent 28 years in the broadcasting industry, much of that time as a broadcast engineer. The length limit on letters was waived to allow a fuller discussion of the issues

Copyright 1996 by The News & Observer Pub. Co.

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