[BC] WLW my take

Fred Gleason fredg
Tue Dec 20 08:06:15 CST 2005


On Monday 19 December 2005 17:56, Rob Atkinson wrote:
> My understanding was that originally the 500 kw was an
> experiment. ?You would assume under the circumstances that they would
> quietly conduct field strength measurments for a year or two at different
> times and seasons all around the U.S. and within the day g/w, then submit
> the results and FCC would decide if the 500 kw auth. should be made
> available to other 1-As. ?but no, they exploited the situation and kept
> getting renewals of the special authorization for the "experiment."

I can't imagine any commercial broadcaster investing the kind of money that 
that 500 kW plant cost just for the sake of 'quietly' submitting data to the 
FCC.  It required a new transmitter design, new approaches to RF system 
engineering -- all sorts of 'cutting edge' tech.  *Of course* they made a big 
splash about it in public.  I think any other broadcaster (then or now) would 
have done the same.  That is the business we're in, after all:  publicity!  
How else to recoup your investment?

Cheers!


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