WRNR/Annapolis Surprised By FCC Grant Of On-Channel Translator In Baltimore, Will Appeal

Interference?

The grant of an FM translator on 103.1 FM in BALTIMORE has EMPIRE BROADCASTING SYSTEM, INC. Triple A WRNR/GRASONVILLE-ANNAPOLIS-BALTIMORE scrambling to appeal the grant.

The CAPITAL GAZETTE of ANNAPOLIS reports that the grant of a construction permit to AMERICAN FM ASSOCIATES, INC. for W276DE/BALTIMORE, a move-in of W232CL/ROXANNA, DE, caught WRNR, a rimshot Class A signal to BALTIMORE, unaware; W276DE will rebroadcast PETER AND JOHN RADIO FELLOWSHIP Religion WRBS-A/BALTIMORE.  WRNR owner STEVE KINGSTON told the paper that interference from the translator "could affect 30 percent of our listenership," adding that "the thing is we found out about it from a listener" and that the FCC and the applicant never notified his station.

PD BOB WAUGH aired PSAs and placed messages online soliciting listener support for the station's appeal of the grant, but took the announcements down this week because the response was overwhelming.

"We are fighting two big markets and after all that entails, to have this thrown at you? We have no way to overcome it, no way to improve our signal. This could cripple our competitive reach," added KINGSTON.

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