WHEB-750, BANGOR 750, 1240-CAPE COD (was:I guess holiday music works)

[Jibguy@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/9/2010 11:16:55 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
hykker@wildblue.net writes:

Again, even if the CP could be had for a song the actual (1) buildout 
and (2) operating costs of a signal that would likely serve a lot of 
moose would be prohibitive.  Haven't seen the proposed pattern, but 
like most new AM allocations, I'd guess that it avoids most human 
population centers.
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    True, it is a worthless CP, and I understand it has been up for sale 
for awhile now. One thing Bangor does not need is a 50kw AM station.   I do 
not believe it can be moved to the coast with high power since WJTO-730 would 
be in the way.  750's 2.5mv/m cannot touch WJTO's 25 mv/m. So if 750 were 
moved to the coast east of Bangor, that's a possibility,  but there are few 
people there.  If 750 were moved south or southeast to the coast, then WJTO 
would be a big problem, and so would 760-Worcester and 740-Cambridge.  If 
anyone were to ever construct 750-Bangor, they better plan on doing it as a 
tax-loss.
    Then there are those who might say "moved WJTO-730 to 750." While that 
would help nighttime service (virtually non-existent now on 730), moving it 
to 750 would still have the same restrictions with 740 as 730 now has in 
daytime. Presently, WJTO-730 has a killer signal in Portland, and quite good on 
Cape Cod, so best to leave it as is.
    Around 1990, the then out-of-state-owners (James & Hunter 
Communications) of WJTO filed an app with the FCC for 10kw days and 500w at night, using 
5 towers; all crammed onto the then-11-acres WJTO property on the ocean 
inlet. FCC accepted it, but local zoning folks would not have approved it.  
James & Hunter went into bankruptcy around the same time (the JTO app probably 
helped in that regard) and WJTO and WKRH-FM were both off the air for 11 
months.
    As to WHEB-750; true, the tower came down in exhange for a taller FM 
tower. However, 750 could have stayed on the taller tower with skirting along 
the FM tower... something that the then-owners figured was too expensive and 
not worth it at the time. Cost for that would have been around $25k; 
something that I certainly would have been willing to do. But then again, I see 
more value of AM daytimers on low frequencies than most bigger operators do.
    As to 1240 on Cape Cod, it went up for sale for $200k back in the pit 
of the 90's recession. No bites, therefore Ernie Boch figured he'd donate it 
to BU. I thought that price was way too high.... had he just wanted $50k for 
it, I would have bit. Would be nice to have a WJIB repeater on Cape Cod.  
But rebroadcasting WBUR on it, as is being done presently, is a superior use 
for the 1240 station too.
---------BB