Re: COL

[dan.Strassberg@att.net]

WXKS (AM)'s COL changed from Medford to Everett when the 
station began night service. FCC requirements state that 
a Class A or B AM must deliver an interference-free 
nighttime signal to at least 80% of the area of the COL. 
There is no similar requirement for Class C and D AMs 
because no interference-free nighttime service area is 
calculated for them. The WXKS TX, studios, and offices 
are in Medford, but are at the east side of the city. 
The DA sends very little signal to the west and the QRM 
on 1430 is extremely high. The worst culprit is WENE, 
which sends the equivalent of nearly 50 kW toward 
Boston. Therefore, little of Medford receives an 
interference-free signal at night. Everett, on the other 
hand, is geographically compact, is due east of the TX, 
and is separated from the TX by salt water. Everett also 
has no radio station, so changing the COL to Everett was 
a slam dunk.

None of the stations on your list is licesnsed to 
Boston. All ID as <something>-Boston in accordance with 
FCC regs. Yes, the regs are a joke, but if you stick 
youir head far enough in the sand, they do have a 
certain bizarre logic.

> COL's have always amused me and I have always suspected politics is the main
> reason they even exist. A few examples...
> 
> WKLB  Lowell-Boston
> WROR Framingham-Boston
> WUNR Brookline-Boston
> WXKS AM Everett-Boston
> WXKS FM Medford-Boston
> 
> WLVI-TV Cambridge-Boston
> WMFP-TV Lawrence-Boston
>