KHAQ FM running at 50% power due to bullet holes in the transmission line

[skeezix]

BSTA - 20131105AJG

Exhibit 4
Description: EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES

THE STATION IS CURRENTLY OPERATING AT APPROXIMATELY 50% OF AUTHORIZED POWER DUE TO BULLET HOLES IN THE STATION'S TRANSMISSION LINE. THE LICENSEE'S CONSULTING ENGINEER HAS INSPECTED THE LINE AND DETERMINED THAT IT MUST BE REPLACED. AS A RESULT, THE LICENSEE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS THAT IT BE PERMITTED TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE AT APPROXIMATELY 50% OF AUTHORIZED POWER UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION LINE CAN BE REPLACED.

GRANT OF THIS REQUEST WOULD BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST INASMUCH AS IT WOULD PERMIT THE STATION TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, ALBEIT AT REDUCED POWER, UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION LINE CAN BE REPLACED.

[rdla4]

Been there done that---They are lucky they are on the air at all! When that happened to an FM I worked at, the schrap got down in the line, we ended up sweeping the line, determined where this stuff had settled took a deep breath and cut the line. Luck was with us---there it was all charcoaled. We had enough hardware to do a in line splice, and got back on the air later that day. Between that and the bullet holes the line would not hold pressure, so we patched it up as best we could and started counting pennies for new line.

Not one of my favorite days....

[Echo_One]

Bullet holes? Okay, people... Who armed Pigmeat?

[ChrisSmolinski]

They're lucky none of the bullets chipped the paint on the antenna tower, or the FCC would have fined them.

[cmradio]

LMAO! Bloody rednecks

Peace!

[rdla4]

They're lucky none of the bullets chipped the paint on the antenna tower, or the FCC would have fined them.

Quote of the day-----and very much correct. Dont forget to laminate your EAS logs either.....

[Echo_One]

They're lucky none of the bullets chipped the paint on the antenna tower, or the FCC would have fined them.

Even if the station was not to fault for the holes?

[Pigmeat]

Bullet holes? Okay, people... Who armed Pigmeat?

My Grandaddy when I was 4.

If you leave one those antenna things sticking up in the air, it's going to get shot at. It's only sporting that you aim for the transmission line.

If you're looking for spectacle and danger, I suggest hunting pole pigs with 12 gauge slugs. Your ears are going to ring for life, but it's worth it.

[skeezix]

In other STAs, there are quite a number of stations at reduced power or off the air due to theft of copper wire at their transmitter sites.

[redhat]

It used to be fairly common to see beacons shot out in this way.  Sometimes they miss and hit the feedline.  Years ago there was an article in Radio Guide about a tower that kept having their tower beacon shot out.  A climber was sent up and was able to line up the two holes in the beacon and figure out what yard the bullet came from.  A bill for the repairs was sent to the offending landowner, and the problem never happened again

+-RH

[Token]

They're lucky none of the bullets chipped the paint on the antenna tower, or the FCC would have fined them.

Even if the station was not to fault for the holes?

Even if they are not at fault for why the discrepancy exists, if they know it exist or should reasonably know it exist, then yes, they are still responsible (in the eyes of the FCC).

The chipped paint was a bit tongue in cheek I suspect, but not far off.  Your ducks have to be in a row, or it will cost you, regardless of if the issue is important or not.

T!

[Echo_One]

Oh I see...

I was thinking that it would be unfair if the FCC did some sort of surprise inspection when a station had no chance to know or repair the damage