The Great Class-D Clearance (was: Re: KSCO, like WJIB, a commercial station asking for donations)

[Garrett Wollman]

<<On Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:25:49 -0500, "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross.com> said:

> On 10 Jan 2009 at 0:00, Eli Polonsky wrote:
>> Both WRBB and WBRS didn't move into the commercial band
>> (104.9 and 100.1 respectively) until the mid-1980s, I
>> think it was 1986, leaving WMWM Salem the only occupant
>> of 91.7 that can be heard (faintly) in Boston proper,
>> between splash from adjacents WMFO 91.5 and WUMB 91.9.
 
> What was the reason for the move?

A bunch of large noncommercial broadcasters persuaded the FCC to kick
all the class-D FMs off the noncomm band, if they were unable to
upgrade to minimal class-A facilities.  WRBB and WBRS were not able to
upgrade (due to the presence of those first-adjacents) and had to
relocate or lose their licenses.  WMBR was able to upgrade, thanks to
one Robert E. Turner.

-GAWollman