WNEB sold--again

[dan.strassberg@att.net]

I just noted in today's FCC actions that Heirwaves, the 
Christian broadcasting group that bought WNEB from Bob 
Bittner a year or so ago (how long has it _really_ been, 
Bob--I've lost track) has applied to transfer the 
license to Great Commission Broadcasting, the Christian 
broadcasting group that LMAs WJLT (1060) from Alex 
Langer and LMAs overnights on WKOX from whomever owns 
WKOX this week (as far as I know, it's still Fairbanks).

Will this be a second station for Great Commission or 
will WNEB become WJLT when and if Langer builds his CP 
to increase 1060's power to 40 kW (from the current 
500W)?

Langer has threatened to take back 1060 at that point 
and turn it into a locally programmed talk station. In 
fact, Langer has been rumored to be talking with Jerry 
Williams about having Jerry return to the air on the 
high-powered daytimer.

If 1060 ever does become a locally programmed talk 
station, WJLT might move to one of Langer's other two 
signals--WRPT 650 or WSRO 1470. Or, I guess, it might 
not.

Just when, if ever, construction of 1060's new 
facilities will take place remains an open question. The 
hangup seems to be the move of WKOX to another site, but 
the site that WKOX's buyers had in mind--the WEZE site 
in Medford--is technically unfeasible because WKOX would 
interfere big-time with WESX. Will the buyers of WKOX 
make the Asher family, which owns WESX and WJDA, an 
offer for WESX that the Ashers can't refuse? Will the 
buyers then take WESX dark so that they can move WKOX? 
Or will the buyers find some other site for WKOX, such 
as the WNRB or WEEI site? Or will they give up and go 
away, making it impossible for Langer to build his CP 
before the FCC yanks it for failure to construct?

And when will Langer's technical eagles realize that 
1060 will never get a license for 40 kW from the current 
WKOX towers? The CP for 1060's 40 kW operation was 
granted when Langer was proposing to operate from much 
shorter and less efficient towers to be constructed at a 
site that really wasn't available. 40 kW operation from 
the WKOX towers, which are electrically over a half wave 
at 1060, would interfere with WBZ. By my calculations, 
1060 will be limited to 26.5 kw from the Mt Wayte site. 
26.5 kW would still give 1060 quite a respectable 
signal, but it's unclear why, when the proposed site was 
changed, the specified power wasn't also changed to 
reflect the more efficient antenna system.

Lots of questions here. Inquiring minds want to know. 
Wayne Carter, are you still lurking in this group? Are 
you willing to say anything?--Dan 

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