WBYY Knocked Off The Air By A Bullet

[Mark Watson]

  According to a report in today's (11/6) Foster's Daily Democrat, WBYY 
(98.7 Somersworth) was knocked off the air for several hours on Friday, the 
cause being pinpointed to a .22 caliber bullet that was shot into the 
transmission line at the transmitter site in Somersworth. The problem came 
to light on Wednesday when station personnel discovered that some 
transmitter readings were out of the norm. Upon inspection at the 
transmitter site, it was discovered the pressurized line that goes to the 
transmitter had been punctured about 275 feet up the tower by a .22 caliber 
bullet that lodged inside the line. The station was knocked off the air 
around 10 AM Friday when high winds apparently caused the bullet to move 
inside the line and came in contact with live wires. A temporary 100 foot 
transmission line was set up and WBYY came back on the air at reduced power 
by 7 PM Friday. Engineers hope to be able to climb the tower today 
(Saturday)to replace the damaged line now that the high winds have subsided. 
Police and station officials do not believe that this was an intentional 
act, but merely someone using the tower and surrounding wooded area for 
target practice, the chances of finding the shooter are very slim say 
police.

    Unfortunately for WBYY, this took place during their annual 100 hour 
broadcast to collect canned food drive for local charities. Donations were 
noticeably off while the station was off the air.

Mark Watson