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1960 FM Allotment Rules

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Ben Zonia
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1960 FM Allotment Rules

Post by Ben Zonia » Sun May 02, 2021 12:30 pm

FM Allotments in 1960 were still based on contour overlap and protection ratios, not specific distance requirements. This is the cause of the most significant grandfathered short spacings of stations to this day, and for grandfathered superpower stations. The Allotment Distance Separation Requirements, Table of Allotments, Additional Classes such as Class C, and absolute limits on ERP/HAAT for new stations, came about in the 1962-1964 time frame.

There were just TWO FM Classes, Class A and Class B

Maximum Facilities for Class B and Class A and distance to protected 60 dBu/1 mV/m F(50,50) contours. Both classes were protected to the 60 dBu/1 mV/m contours.

*B 1 mV/m 20 kW 500 feet 60 dBu F(50,50) 44.316 km=27.536 miles

*A 1 mV/m 1 kW 250 feet 60 dBu F((50,50) 15.899=9.879miles

Higher power, including the now grandfathered superpower stations, were allowed in what was then Zone II on a case by case basis. In Zone I, based on both stations being at maximum facilities for Class, with relatively flat terrain, the most commonly occurring spacings required to meet the contour protection requirements at 0 kHz, 200 kHz, and 400 kHz were as follows.

Desired F(50,50) to Undesired F(50,10) Ratios

0 kHz 10:1 -20 dB
200 kHz 2:1 -6 dB
400 kHz 1:10 20 dB
600 kHz 1:100 40 dB
800 kHz No Restriction

*B to B 0 kHz 161.58 km=100.400 MILES

*B to B 200 kHz 110.284 km=68.527 MILES

*A to A 0 kHz 71.101 km=44.180 MILES

*A to B 200 kHz 81.867 km=50.869 MILES

*A to B 400 kHz 49.385=30.685 MILES

*B to B 400 kHz 59.569=37.014 miles


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Ben Zonia
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Re: 1960 FM Allotment Rules

Post by Ben Zonia » Tue May 04, 2021 4:28 am

Some of the Michigan facilities that were originally licensed under the old contour overlap rules. More later when I can get more History Cards to download. Call letters used in early years. ERP in kW. HAAT in feet. Note that many operated well under the maximum 20 kW and 500 feet Class B at the time they were authorized. Streets mentioned in early TL description.

102.9 WOIA 10 155 (Brassow Rd.)
102.7 WBRB 80 165 (Pitko St.)
102.7 WBRB 17 400 (Pitko St.)
94.5 WCEN 16 240 (Mission Rd. US-27 Blue Grass Rd.)
94.5 WJBL 37 215 (Multiple Redescriptions, one is WJBL 1260 site, before moving to 10 kW 500 foot tower under new 73.213 rules)
94.9 WVIC 20 250 (Gunn Rd.)
95.1 WFBE 3.7 115 (Crapo St. FCHS)
96.1 WBCM 41 420 (Tuscola Rd.)
96.1 WHTC 2.9 90 (3rd St.)
96.1 WHTC 20 295 (3rd St.)
96.1 WHTC 41 295 (3rd St.)
95.7 WKLW 7.8 175 (Monroe NW)
96.3 WJR 24 480 (Grand Blvd. Fisher Building)
94.7 WHFI 20 220 (1095 Badder Rd. Troy)
99.5 WABX 36 450 (David Stott Bldg.)
97.9 WMZK 10 430 (Midland Highland Park)
98.1 WSAM 1.7 330 (Whittier)
99.7 WQDC 40 145 (M-20 Carter Rd.)
Last edited by Ben Zonia on Tue May 04, 2021 1:23 pm, edited 6 times in total.


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k8jd
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Re: 1960 FM Allotment Rules

Post by k8jd » Tue May 04, 2021 9:55 am

U have some interesting info as always :D



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Ben Zonia
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Re: 1960 FM Allotment Rules

Post by Ben Zonia » Tue May 04, 2021 11:43 am

Booth American owned WTOD-FM with WMZK. Overlap of service contours prohibited.

99.9 WTOD 8.8 160 (Arlington WTOD 1560 site)
97.9 WMZK 10 430 (Midland Highland Park)

Later moved to Oregon, OH with 50 kW DA (3.125 kW to the North) 500 feet, which also allowed Sarnia to squeeze in on 99.9. Now WKKO, owned by Cumulus.

Other Toledo situations later for WOHO.


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Ben Zonia
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Re: 1960 FM Allotment Rules

Post by Ben Zonia » Thu May 06, 2021 11:19 am

Storer

101.5 WSPD 5 810 (Oregon)(Immediately increased ERP after sale by Storer)

93.1 WJBK 30 440 (Lyndon)
93.1 WJBK 20 500 (9 Mile)(1966 Not sure when the 73.213 Short Spaced Zones started, 20 kW nondirectional for Cochannel 100-124 miles apart, WZAK)

Other

104.7 WTOL 50 620 (Oregon)(Moved in 1960)


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WOHO
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Re: 1960 FM Allotment Rules

Post by WOHO » Fri May 07, 2021 5:11 pm

Ben Zonia, thanks for the data.
Regarding the 101.5 WSPD-FM, was that in 1960 and was the tower in Oregon, because I think Storer built the 1370/101.5 building on South Superior (leaving the TV only at 136 Huron Street), in about 1962 and not sure where the FM stick was at, or if Storer had their own radio tower in addition to the TV13 tower?

How/when did (Noble) get 92.5 at 50KW in Perrysburg? (and SCA)



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Re: 1960 FM Allotment Rules

Post by ftballfan » Fri May 07, 2021 10:21 pm

Some historical (1960s) FM operations in northern Michigan:
88.3 WIAA (1962) - 115kW / 350 ft (Interlochen Music Camp) [originally applied for 103.5, then 89.7 before landing on 88.3]
92.1 WCCW (1967) - 0.84kW / 520 ft (Barney Rd, 2 miles west of Traverse City)
92.9 WWTV (1962) - 100kW / 895 ft (5.7 miles east of Tustin; WWTV (TV) tower)
98.9 WJML (1966) - 27kW / 820 ft (3.3 miles northeast of Harbor Springs) [upgraded to 100kW in 1974/75]
101.9 WLDR (1966) - 50kW / 590 ft (Gray Rd, 0.4 miles south of M-72) [originally applied for 97.3]
103.5 WTCM (1966) - 38kW / 715 ft (M-72, 3 miles west of Traverse City) [originally applied for 101.9; moved to Buckley and upgraded to 100kW in 1980]
105.1 WCBY (1968) - 25kW / 105 ft (1316 Mackinaw Ave, Cheboygan)



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