Someone raised an interesting point in another newsgroup:

I noticed that the Clear Channel stations here in
Ann Arbor, both of them, 100% of the commercial FM stations* in Ann
Arbor, MI; were off the air for the entirety of the power outage. The
same was true for the CC FM station in Detroit that is on my pre-sets.
This shows how little they were ready to be of public service in time of
need. Something that should be pointed out and recorded for license
renewal time.

*excludes public radio/college radio and a religious station.

But I don't know--Are commercial FM stations required to be prepared for
emergencies like this? One would think that they should want to be
prepared, but is it a requirement?

Radio was useless in my area for local blackout information.

The county executive resorted to calling into the New York City Channel 4
WNBC News Center to pass info to the public. So how many folks do you think
could view his State of Emergency Message and curfew decree for Orange
County, NY ?

--


Remove "zz" from e-mail address to direct reply.



"CAndersen (Kimba)" wrote in message
...
Someone raised an interesting point in another newsgroup:

I noticed that the Clear Channel stations here in
Ann Arbor, both of them, 100% of the commercial FM stations* in Ann
Arbor, MI; were off the air for the entirety of the power outage. The
same was true for the CC FM station in Detroit that is on my pre-sets.
This shows how little they were ready to be of public service in time of
need. Something that should be pointed out and recorded for license
renewal time.

*excludes public radio/college radio and a religious station.

But I don't know--Are commercial FM stations required to be prepared for
emergencies like this? One would think that they should want to be
prepared, but is it a requirement?

CAndersen (Kimba) wrote:
Someone raised an interesting point in another newsgroup:


I noticed that the Clear Channel stations here in
Ann Arbor, both of them, 100% of the commercial FM stations* in Ann
Arbor, MI; were off the air for the entirety of the power outage. The
same was true for the CC FM station in Detroit that is on my pre-sets.
This shows how little they were ready to be of public service in time of
need. Something that should be pointed out and recorded for license
renewal time.

*excludes public radio/college radio and a religious station.


But I don't know--Are commercial FM stations required to be prepared for
emergencies like this? One would think that they should want to be
prepared, but is it a requirement?

No, there are no legal requirements for backup power.
--
Doug Smith W9WI
Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66
http://www.w9wi.com

On 18 Aug 2003 14:23:48 GMT, "CAndersen (Kimba)"
wrote:

But I don't know--Are commercial FM stations required to be prepared for
emergencies like this? One would think that they should want to be
prepared, but is it a requirement?

FM stations have never been known for news. If you want to know if
Eminem wears boxers or briefs, go there. It's "lifestyle" stuff.
Doesn't your market have a full service AM? Or, at least, an AM that's
known for its news? FMs treat news as the plague. You can't, suddenly,
expect them to put together a full news staff qualified to report on
an emergency of this magnitude.

A top story for an FM might be when socialite Lizzie Grubman ran over
a group of people in a hissy fit at a trendy night club. Wars.
Blackouts. Who needs it? That's for old people.

Now where did I put my MP3 player?

Rich

List of what I hear AM from Middletown NY in Orange Cty, NY. WTBQ is the
only live station I know of left to produce local news and shows.

Radio - Kenwood TS-430S Antenna - 125 foot long wire

Date Time Frequency Call Sign AM/FM/LSB/USB/CW City State Country Comments
5/21/2003 12:46:27.98 PM 540.0 WLIE AM Islip NY USA Long Island S-8
5/23/2003 10:56:33.60 AM 560.0 AM USA
5/21/2003 12:48:58.45 PM 570.0 WMCA AM Kearny NJ USA Religous
5/21/2003 12:50:28.46 PM 600.0 WICC AM Bridgeport CT USA s-6
5/21/2003 12:52:51.90 PM 610.0 WIP AM Philadelphia PA USA sports radio
5/21/2003 12:54:22.21 PM 620.0 WSNR AM Jersey City NJ USA Eastern European /
Russian ?
5/21/2003 12:55:19.04 PM 630.0 WEJL AM Scranton PA USA ESPN - Sports
5/21/2003 1:04:04.70 PM 660.0 WFAN AM New York NY USA Sports
5/21/2003 1:05:31.01 PM 680.0 WINR AM Binghamton NY USA music - old pop (CBS
News) (LSB)
5/21/2003 1:07:28.48 PM 710.0 WOR AM New York NY USA Talk Radio
5/21/2003 1:08:20.41 PM 740.0 AM USA Asian / Chineese
5/21/2003 1:11:45.05 PM 770.0 WABC AM New York NY USA Talk Radio - Rush
5/21/2003 1:12:28.62 PM 790.0 WAEB AM Bala Cynwyd PA USA Rush
5/23/2003 11:21:49.05 AM 800.0 WLAD AM Danbury CT USA S-4
5/21/2003 1:13:06.80 PM 810.0 WGY AM Rennsaler NY USA Rush
5/21/2003 12:43:44.44 PM 820.0 WNYC AM New York NY USA NPR
5/21/2003 1:13:48.30 PM 830.0 WEEU AM Reading PA USA Rush
5/21/2003 1:14:27.48 PM 840.0 AM USA Spanish Music - fading in and out
5/21/2003 1:15:01.94 PM 850.0 WREF AM Danbury CT USA Oldies 850 - Creedance
5/23/2003 12:01:10.90 PM 860.0 AM USA AP News
5/21/2003 1:17:31.02 PM 880.0 WCBS AM New York NY USA Talk Radio
5/23/2003 1:14:25.60 PM 900.0 AM USA Black ethnic
5/21/2003 1:18:26.98 PM 920.0 WGHQ AM Poughkeepsie NY USA Clear Channel -
Music Of Your Life
5/21/2003 1:23:55.16 PM 930.0 AM USA spanish ?
5/21/2003 1:24:32.40 PM 940.0 AM USA Clear Channel - Music of Your Life
(same as 920)
5/23/2003 1:20:17.95 PM 950.0 WHVW AM Poughkeepsie NY USA 30's/40'S s-7 -
continous music
5/21/2003 1:25:24.24 PM 970.0 AM USA religous
5/23/2003 1:40:53.17 PM 980.0 AM USA rush
5/21/2003 1:25:59.08 PM 1,010.0 WINS AM New York NY USA All News
5/23/2003 1:43:37.72 PM 1,020.0 AM USA Big Band
5/23/2003 1:45:30.49 PM 1,030.0 WBZ AM Boston MA USA news - s-7
5/23/2003 1:47:11.55 PM 1,040.0 AM USA s-4 religous
5/21/2003 1:26:47.34 PM 1,050.0 WEVD AM New York NY USA ESPN
5/23/2003 1:54:35.18 PM 1,060.0 KYW AM Philadelphia PA usa news (LSB)
5/21/2003 1:27:59.34 PM 1,080.0 WTIC AM Hartford CT USA Rush S-8 all news
5/21/2003 1:28:25.63 PM 1,090.0 WBAL AM Baltimore MD USA Rush s-6
5/23/2003 2:06:44.65 PM 1,100.0 WGPA AM Bethlehem PA USA s-4
5/21/2003 1:28:57.90 PM 1,110.0 WTBQ AM Warwick NY USA
5/21/2003 1:29:29.38 PM 1,130.0 WBBR AM New York NY USA Bloomberg
5/23/2003 2:09:16.79 PM 1,160.0 WVNJ AM Oakland NJ USA show: the healthy
colon
5/21/2003 1:30:53.14 PM 1,170.0 WRWD AM Cornwall NY USA News -
5/21/2003 1:42:41.65 PM 1,190.0 WLIB AM New York USA
5/21/2003 1:43:32 PM 1,210.0 WPHD AM Philadelphia PA USA Rush s-8
5/21/2003 1:44:14.98 PM 1,220.0 WGNY AM Newburgh NY USA CNN
5/21/2003 1:45:17.81 PM 1,240.0 WVOS AM USA Country
5/21/2003 1:46:21.36 PM 1,250.0 WMTR AM Morristown NJ USA Tony Bennett
5/21/2003 1:46:51.53 PM 1,260.0 WBNR AM Beacon USA Nat King Cole
5/21/2003 1:47:39.35 PM 1,270.0 AM USA Old Time Radio
5/21/2003 1:48:24.08 PM 1,280.0 USA Spanish
5/21/2003 1:48:40.49 PM 1,290.0 WNBF AM Binghamton NY USA Rush
5/21/2003 1:49:00.57 PM 1,300.0 WRCR AM Spring Valley NY USA Rockland Cty
5/21/2003 1:49:46.40 PM 1,310.0 AM USA spanish
5/21/2003 1:50:21.83 PM 1,320.0 AM USA spanish
5/21/2003 1:50:44.33 PM 1,340.0 WALL AM Middletown NY USA Spanish
5/21/2003 1:51:01.68 PM 1,360.0 AM NJ USA Country
5/21/2003 1:51:43.16 PM 1,370.0 WELV AM Ellenville NY USA Standards s-10
5/21/2003 1:52:16.58 PM 1,380.0 AM USA spanish
5/21/2003 1:52:36.42 PM 1,390.0 AM USA spanish
5/21/2003 1:53:16.05 PM 1,410.0 AM USA 60's/70's music
5/21/2003 1:53:49.93 PM 1,420.0 WLNA AM Cornwall NY USA Perry Como
5/21/2003 1:54:18.22 PM 1,430.0 AM USA foreign ?
5/21/2003 1:54:50.76 PM 1,440.0 AM USA financial advice
5/21/2003 1:55:41.32 PM 1,470.0 WKAP AM Lehigh PA USA 60's pop - Never My
Love
5/21/2003 1:56:16.23 PM 1,480.0 AM USA asian
5/21/2003 1:56:37.45 PM 1,490.0 WTSX AM Port Jervis NY USA FOX
5/21/2003 1:59:39.59 PM 1,500.0 WGHT AM Pompton Lakes NJ USA
5/21/2003 2:00:57.23 PM 1,510.0 AM USA ABC News
5/21/2003 2:01:22.54 PM 1,520.0 AM USA religous
5/21/2003 2:02:01.55 PM 1,530.0 AM USA foreign ?
5/21/2003 2:02:28.08 PM 1,540.0 WNWR AM Philadelphia PA USA Delaware Valley
5/21/2003 2:04:32.26 PM 1,550.0 WICK AM Scranton PA USA Simon & Garfunkel -
Mrs RObinson
5/21/2003 2:05:16.40 PM 1,560.0 WQEW AM New York NY USA Disney
5/21/2003 2:05:52.24 PM 1,580.0 AM USA French ?
5/21/2003 2:06:16.13 PM 1,590.0 WPSN AM Honesdale PA USA Country (1587.8)
5/21/2003 2:06:36.65 PM 1,600.0 WWRL AM New York NY USA Urban / Ethnic
5/21/2003 2:08:29.20 PM 1,660.0 AM USA spanish
5/21/2003 2:08:51.55 PM 1,680.0 WEBC AM USA foreign / mixed / indian

On 20 Aug 2003 22:55:30 GMT, "Steve Stone"
wrote:

List of what I hear AM from Middletown NY in Orange Cty, NY. WTBQ is the
only live station I know of left to produce local news and shows.

Radio - Kenwood TS-430S Antenna - 125 foot long wire

Date Time Frequency Call Sign AM/FM/LSB/USB/CW City State Country Comments

5/21/2003 1:07:28.48 PM 710.0 WOR AM New York NY USA Talk Radio

I spent 10 years at WOR. If we didn't produce live local news how did
we win all those AP News awards?

5/21/2003 1:17:31.02 PM 880.0 WCBS AM New York NY USA Talk Radio

WCBS is All News. Live.

5/21/2003 1:25:59.08 PM 1,010.0 WINS AM New York NY USA All News

Live.

5/23/2003 1:54:35.18 PM 1,060.0 KYW AM Philadelphia PA usa news (LSB)

Live

5/21/2003 1:27:59.34 PM 1,080.0 WTIC AM Hartford CT USA Rush S-8 all news

Actually News/Talk

5/21/2003 1:44:14.98 PM 1,220.0 WGNY AM Newburgh NY USA CNN

CNN was all news last time I listened.

5/21/2003 1:56:37.45 PM 1,490.0 WTSX AM Port Jervis NY USA FOX

More news. Even "fair and balanced"

Judging by this list you weren't lacking in news.

Rich

Not lacking in news.. but lacking in local news.

There is a difference. Do I really care that the subway is broke in NYC when
no friend or family lives or works in NYC... or am I more interested to
know that I-84 has a backup up for 10 miles at the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge
because a tractor trailer full of hazmat dumped at a toll booth? (hint, I-84
can be seen from my backyard)

Rockland County's answer to the problem was to install reverse 911 systems
and create a network of low power AM stations on TIS freqs to warn the
public.

Most NYC stations don't know life exists north of Yonkers.

Canned national satellite feeds on local stations that do not break in with
local issues don't count.

It takes a local axe murder to get coverage from NYC stations up here.

--


Remove "zz" from e-mail address to direct reply.



"Rich Wood" wrote in message
...
On 20 Aug 2003 22:55:30 GMT, "Steve Stone"
wrote:

List of what I hear AM from Middletown NY in Orange Cty, NY. WTBQ is the
only live station I know of left to produce local news and shows.

Radio - Kenwood TS-430S Antenna - 125 foot long wire

Date Time Frequency Call Sign AM/FM/LSB/USB/CW City State Country
Comments

5/21/2003 1:07:28.48 PM 710.0 WOR AM New York NY USA Talk Radio

I spent 10 years at WOR. If we didn't produce live local news how did
we win all those AP News awards?

5/21/2003 1:17:31.02 PM 880.0 WCBS AM New York NY USA Talk Radio

WCBS is All News. Live.

5/21/2003 1:25:59.08 PM 1,010.0 WINS AM New York NY USA All News

Live.

5/23/2003 1:54:35.18 PM 1,060.0 KYW AM Philadelphia PA usa news (LSB)

Live

5/21/2003 1:27:59.34 PM 1,080.0 WTIC AM Hartford CT USA Rush S-8 all
news

Actually News/Talk

5/21/2003 1:44:14.98 PM 1,220.0 WGNY AM Newburgh NY USA CNN

CNN was all news last time I listened.

5/21/2003 1:56:37.45 PM 1,490.0 WTSX AM Port Jervis NY USA FOX

More news. Even "fair and balanced"

Judging by this list you weren't lacking in news.

Rich

On 22 Aug 2003 14:48:24 GMT, "Steve Stone"
wrote:

Not lacking in news.. but lacking in local news.

There is a difference. Do I really care that the subway is broke in NYC when
no friend or family lives or works in NYC... or am I more interested to
know that I-84 has a backup up for 10 miles at the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge
because a tractor trailer full of hazmat dumped at a toll booth? (hint, I-84
can be seen from my backyard)

I would guess that hundreds of thousands of people stranded in
sweltering heat underground is a bigger story for a New York station
than a traffic backup on I-84. That day traffic was backed up
everywhere. Friends who live in New Jersey took as long as 12 hours to
make a trip that normally lasts less than 40 minutes on a bad day.

Most NYC stations don't know life exists north of Yonkers.

Are they supposed to? Your issue is with traffic. I recall lots of
Yonkers coverage when low income housing was proposed and the city
made lots of nimby noise.

It's rare that bedroom communities generate a lot of news. We do hear
about murders of wealthy people We still hear news about ugly,
self-centered, insensitive, PR socialite Lizzie Grubman running down
the rich and famous at a trendy nightclub on Long Island. Very, very
important news here in the city. She now has a radio show, giggly
gossip about terribly important rich people. I always tell people to
put your latest conviction at the top of your resume.

It takes a local axe murder to get coverage from NYC stations up here.

Unfortunately, that's news.

Rich

Doesn't your market have a full service AM? Or, at least, an AM that's
known for its news?

In Orange County, NY AM is almost dead, especially if you speak English.

Only AM station that is alive and not lights out studio is WTBQ in Warwick.

The rest are canned, lights out remote satellite or microwave feeds or non
English speaking.

Steve
N2UBP

On 20 Aug 2003 14:38:05 GMT, Rich Wood
wrote:

FM stations have never been known for news.

Guess mine must be chopped liver, then.
(AP Station of the year twice, dozens of other awards, own the news
image in the market for more than 25 years, 5-person news staff, and
#1 in the ratings, including the "money demos").

Yes, there's an AM simulcast, but the vast majority of listeners don't
even know it exists. And yes, we are a music station.

Mark Howell
News Director, KUZZ AM/FM, KCWR (FM)
Bakersfield, CA