No one was injured this morning about 8 a.m. when a 500-foot broadcast tower collapsed in Lincoln, Neb. at 4100 Industrial Ave. The cause of the collapse is unknown, but two witnesses told Channel 8 Eyewitness News they heard a couple of popping noises and the tower just fell. Several TV stations broadcast from the structure and it also has …
Court says broadcasting couple owes millions on their TV and radio stations sale
The Eleventh Circuit yesterday upheld a 2015 U.S. Tax Court decision finding a Florida couple liable for at least a quarter of $79 million in unpaid taxes and interest from the sale of their Wisconsin TV and radio stations using a Midco transaction where the buyer resold the assets of Shockley Communication Corp.’s (SCC) stock. The court said it was …
Engineer sentenced to 8 years for billing over $400K for missing equipment, 6 tower climbs
A former radio engineer has been sentenced to eight years in prison for stealing approximately $400,000 from the College of DuPage Illinois-owned FM station WDCB. John Valenta, 68, of Wheaton, appeared in court Friday, where DuPage County Judge Liam Brennan handed down the sentence. Valenta pleaded guilty to theft over $100,000 as part of a plea agreement on Feb. 28. …
Fox stations to begin broadcasting from World Trade Center next year
The Fox-owned New York stations, WNYW and WWOR, will move their transmitters to the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere next year, One World Trade Center. “We are pleased to welcome Fox’s WNYW and WWOR to One World Trade Center’s broadcast facility,” said John Lyons, assistant vice president and director of broadcast communications of The Durst Organization, which manages, operates …
American Tower manager Leifer to head Society of Broadcast Engineers
The Society of Broadcast Engineers, the association for broadcast and multimedia technology professionals, announced the results of the 2017 election for the national board of Directors. Jim Leifer, CPBE, was elected as the society’s president. Leifer is senior manager of broadcast operations at American Tower Corporation, Andover, Mass. Regarding the election, Leifer said, “I look forward to serving the Society …
Legend uses power of the plug to rectify a FM station’s lease dispute
A Wyoming tower owner cut off electric to Northwest College’s KNWT transmitter after Legend Towers, LLC said that the campus was not in compliance with its lease agreement. As part of budget reductions more than a year ago, NWC leaders cut the college’s radio/television program, but KNWT stayed on air, continuing to incur their tower lease expenses. But the college’s …
With his 52 TV station buy, failed LightSquared’s Falcone is the comeback kid
Philip Falcone, former CEO of Harbinger Capital and bankrupt satellite-based network LightSquared, is back in the telecom arena again with HC2 Holdings, Inc.’s purchase of DTV America Corporation (DTVA) which currently owns and operates 52 LPTV stations in more than 40 U.S. cities. Falcone, HC2’s Chairman, President and CEO, stated, “This investment is another meaningful addition to our dynamic and …
Surveyor and design firm are off the hook in siting errors that cost Texas city $508,000
When Rowlett, Tex. officials found out in March that they had constructed a police communications 325-foot tower on a neighbor’s plot of land and not city property, they fixed the error, as reported by Wireless Estimator, by paying $478,000 additional to buy the adjoining lot. Otherwise, they would have incurred a $400,000 penalty for not having the tower constructed to …
Response time to rescue tower tech was way too long claims caller
Update: June 14, 2017 – According to tower technician Jake Caldwell of Avon, Ind., he had been on the tower and had a mishap with a grinder and cut his arm pretty badly. “Upon hearing my screams, one of my buddies on the ground came up and rescued me. All in all it took seven minutes to get me from tower …
Profitable range of reimbursable repacking costs offered contractors, engineers, suppliers
Full power and Class A Broadcasters that have been reassigned to new channels must submit their reimbursement estimates for their repacking costs by July 12 using a form released Thursday by the FCC. The stations must include engineering, legal, equipment, installation, and other costs reasonably incurred to complete a required channel change. And for those participants in the repacking efforts, …
Repack is kick-started after FCC’s auction results are unveiled
T-Mobile, Dish Network and Comcast were the top bidders in the incentive spectrum auction for 70 MHz of airwaves, according to an FCC announcement that will now jumpstart the nation’s long-awaited repacking efforts. The Commission now commences a 39-month transition period to move broadcast stations to new channel assignments. The first group of stations to move channels is scheduled for …
U.S. adds 449 broadcast stations in first quarter, mostly low power FM
According to newly released statistics by the FCC, the nation saw an addition of 449 broadcast stations, the majority being 246 low power FM stations as of March 31, 2017. Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations are authorized for noncommercial educational and public safety and transportation broadcasting only and operate with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100 watts (0.1 kilowatts) …
RFS and International Towers partner to provide turnkey repack solutions
Radio Frequency Systems (RFS), a global designer and manufacturer of cable, antenna and tower systems, has announced a partnership with International Towers Incorporated (ITI), a licensed general contractor with over 30 years of experience supporting the national broadcasting industry. Together, the two companies will offer a turnkey equipment and installation solution which will enable broadcasters preparing for the U.S. broadcast …
Public broadcasting stations take a huge hit in Trump’s budget lite
President Donald Trump’s proposed 2018 budget cuts, released late last week, left the wireless industry basically unscathed except for some cuts to rural broadband efforts that are said to be duplicated elsewhere. But the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) took a huge hit on President Trump’s wish list, losing $445 million, which could result in a number of rural stations …
Broadcast repack video is truly a must see for all tower techs
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) released a Broadcast Repack safety video during the NATE UNITE 2017 Keynote Luncheon sponsored by T-Mobile. The timely video is the second to debut as part of Volume 2 of the NATE Climber Connection series and coincides with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently concluding the bidding phase of its historic incentive auction, …
Broadcaster taunts American Tower who could easily pull the plug on its stations
UPDATE: March 10, 2017 – A Jackson Hole, Wyo. Broadcaster most likely doesn’t agree with the cautionary idiom of not biting the hand that feeds you. Radio stations KMTN, KZ95, KJAX and KID broadcast from American Tower’s towers and the stations’ owner was given until March 8 to either pay ATC over $500,000 it owed in back lease payments or negotiate a …
FCC chief appoints a new top cop and other staff leaders
Michael Carowitz, who has been deputy chief of the FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, was named by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai as his acting chief of the Enforcement Bureau, which had been headed by Travis LeBlanc. FCC observers expected that LeBlanc would be replaced since Pai has oftentimes complained about the enforcement group’s management. The enforcement bureau is the …
The U.S. ends the year with 1,365 additional broadcast stations
According to the FCC’s latest report, ending Dec. 31, 2016, there were 15 fewer AM broadcast stations in the past year. However, there has been an increase of 1,365 broadcast stations during 2016. FM commercial stations added 45 to their ranks with the nation’s count totaling 6,746, compared to an AM station total of 4,669. (View full details below) Commercial TV …
‘Cocoon’ allows a 24-hour work day on ESB antenna installation
Empire State Realty Trust has announced another innovation at the Empire State Building (ESB) where a new project is underway to install a new auxiliary Master FM Radio antenna on its famed tower. An innovative, protective construction cocoon at the base of ESB’s antenna tower has avoided impact on day-to-day operations of the building. The cocoon extends the once limited …
Arsonist identified who tried to blow up New Mexico towers
Authorities are closer to arresting a suspected arsonist, who attempted to knock out more than a dozen broadcast towers on Sandia Peak in Albuquerque, N.M. earlier this month with many gallon-sized Molotov cocktails. Numerous local and federal government agencies are co-located on the structures or maintain their own towers. The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has identified a suspect and has …
