Whatcom County upholds radio tower denial

[radiofan]

Whatcom County upholds radio tower denial

Delta Optimist
January 27, 2015 07:37 PM

Whatcom County council has upheld the county examiner's decision to deny BBC Broadcasting's application to erect five transmission towers in Point Roberts.

Nancy Beaton, a Tsawwassen resident with the Cross Border Coalition to Stop the Radio Towers, said the decision was unanimous.

BBC Broadcasting Inc. wants to erect the 45-metre (150-foot) steel towers at an undeveloped lot on McKenzie Way in Point Roberts just south of the border.

The towers would transmit South Asian radio station KRPI, AM 1550, which broadcasts from studios in Richmond to a Lower Mainland audience. Also known as Sher-E-Punjab AM 1550, the station currently uses antenna in Ferndale, Wash., but wants to relocate them for a stronger signal.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted a construction permit but a zoning permit is required from Whatcom County.

Residents on both sides of the border have rallied against the proposal for more than a year.

- See more at: http://www.delta-optimist.com/news/what ... Bgo7l.dpuf

[jon]

There seems to be some confusion about what KRPI can do at this point, if they still want Point Roberts towers. This article talks about "an appeal to be submitted under the Land Use Petition Act." An article a few days ago in the same newspaper talked about going to Court against Whatcom County.

In Canada, a station owner can ask Transport Canada to force the local government to grant the Land Use for a transmitter. I do not know if the FCC has similar powers.

[Rocky]

In Canada, a station owner can ask Transport Canada to force the local government to grant the Land Use for a transmitter. I do not know if the FCC has similar powers.

If this is the case in Canada, the future 700 in Calgary certainly wasn't successful in their battle with the MD of Rockyview for the site they wanted south of Calgary.

As for KRPI, I'm sure the FCC will take into account the outcry from both sides of the border plus the fact that this station isn't planning the move to improve it's coverage or service to Whatcom County or the City of Ferndale to which it's licensed. All one has to do is take a drive through Pt Roberts and they will see there is no ad revenue in that small town. There's a gas station, a grocery store that is on life support, a tavern that might or might not still be in business and several mail and parcel facilities that cater to Canadians.

There was a time this station (the KOQT) did serve the Bellingham/Ferndale area with live and local programming. That was thirty plus years ago.

I hope the FCC denies this.