WCFB's tower knocked down

[billalm]

First off... I would assume insurance would cover the damage and pay for the re-building at that site.  You gotta realize that WCFB isn't owned by a smalltime broadcaster and isn't a stand alone station.  There's little doubt the station generates plenty of revenue for Cox and it's in the best interest in my opinion to clean up the mess and get it all re-built as it was.  Changing locations, class, power, and everything else that goes with that takes time to go through all the legal hoops with the FCC.  If they were to move, I would assume the Orange City tower with the other stations on it would be the place (if there's space).  Based on other adjacent stations in the area, there isn't much wiggle room when it comes to moving that transmitter closer to Orlando or to the East.  I just don't see that happening.  What I'm wondering is who actually owns the tower and building that was destroyed?  Is it Cox radio or were they leasing from a tower company.  That could play a part in all this as well.

[CW]

I'm going to take a wild guess on this and say that WCFB/Star 94.5 is on the air from an Auxiliary Tower somewhere closer to Daytona Beach then their licensed tower was...

In an situation where you have an Auxiliary Site or an STA, you must STILL Cover your COL while, at the same time... not serving any areas not normally served by the licensed facility.

Sorry Paul but AUX sites do NOT have to cover the COL with any signal whatsoever! Several Houston and Dallas rimshots (KQBU, KIOL, KFNC, KSOC, etc) are this way....NONE of their AUX sites cover the COL, but DO cover the metro area (somewhat)...the only stipulation is the 1mV contour of the AUX cannot exceed the main licensed station's 1mV contour.

[PTBoardOp94]

And I believe they can broadcast from AUX facilities as long as needed.  (For a case in point, see KFI Los Angeles or Scott Fybush's report on 9-11)

[CW]

And I believe they can broadcast from AUX facilities as long as needed.  (For a case in point, see KFI Los Angeles or Scott Fybush's report on 9-11)

Not quite...AUX stations are allowed to broadcast when needed but if the main is off for 30days or more, the FCC must be notified. When the main can return to the air, it must at the earliest possible time.

[James Westerfield]

Cox Radio owned the tower and main building.

I saw somewhere that WCFB will move to Christmas in the near future (i am 99% positive that it is going out to be at the Cox Television/Cox Radio tower which houses WFTV-DT, WRDQ-DT, WHTQ, and WWKA).

It is still possible for Cox to rebuild that tower site and put WCFB back on the air from there as well. Lake County Govt. also leased space on that tower for Fire/EMS/Law Enforcement repeaters along with someone's ham radio repeater as well.

[radiodxrichmond]

How much would they have to downgrade to move to Christmas?

It would still have to be a C1 to cover Daytona with a 70 dBu signal from there.

Is that doable with 94.7 in Vero?

Radio-X

[Deano]

It is my understanding that Star 94.5 is back on the air with about 3,000 watts ERP from the stick they own in Bithlo where K92FM and 96.5-WHTQ are co-located.  As far as the FCC is concerned, in an emergency situation such as what WCFB faces (tower on the ground), they will cut a station as much slack as necessary in order to get any usable signal back on the air.  Covering your COL with city-grade is not a requirement when 1500 feet of steel is sitting on the ground.  The FCC doesn't consider what they have put on the air at Bithlo as an aux site.  It is an emergency site and they will apply for an STA (Special Temporary Authority) from the FCC to use the site until regular service can be restored.  The FCC will most likely grant the first STA for 90 days and give them extentions based on the progress being made to rebuild.

I have got to believe that Cox will rebuild the tower site in Lake County.  They own the land and it is one of the few places where WCFB can maintain full Class C service.

[MN Maniac]

I don't see how 94.5 could relocate to Bithlo/Christmas.  They'd have to drop it down to a C2 so as to mantain required separation from WSYR/94.7/Gifford.  50kW @ 500 feet (or equivalent) is not going to city-grade Daytona Beach.  Plus, don't forget, there's also 94.3/Riviera Beach, although this is further away and thus not as much a factor as is Gifford.

Hopefully, Cox will rebuild at Paisley and to the full 1,500 foot height or more (a full C is licensed for 2,000, although there would be issues with this...significant cost, aircraft clearance, etc.)  In a time when stations voluntarily downgrade their facilities in order to move to markets several miles away, I'd hate to see yet another full C lost forever.

[gabigley1]

It is my understanding that Star 94.5 is back on the air with about 3,000 watts ERP from the stick they own in Bithlo where K92FM and 96.5-WHTQ are co-located.  As far as the FCC is concerned, in an emergency situation such as what WCFB faces (tower on the ground), they will cut a station as much slack as necessary in order to get any usable signal back on the air.  Covering your COL with city-grade is not a requirement when 1500 feet of steel is sitting on the ground.  The FCC doesn't consider what they have put on the air at Bithlo as an aux site.  It is an emergency site and they will apply for an STA (Special Temporary Authority) from the FCC to use the site until regular service can be restored.  The FCC will most likely grant the first STA for 90 days and give them extentions based on the progress being made to rebuild.

I have got to believe that Cox will rebuild the tower site in Lake County.  They own the land and it is one of the few places where WCFB can maintain full Class C service.

Dose any one know how high their AUX antenna is above the ground?
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From the WCFB Web Site:

Radio Station Tower Devastated By Groundhog Day Twister

Click here for More New photos:

http://star94fm.com/MARKET/shared/weather/tornado2007_star_tower.html

[w9wi]

I saw somewhere that WCFB will move to Christmas in the near future (i am 99% positive that it is going out to be at the Cox Television/Cox Radio tower which houses WFTV-DT, WRDQ-DT, WHTQ, and WWKA).

I don't see any pending technical changes for WCFB in the FCC database.