KDRT In Trouble

Our local low-power (all of 83 watts) FM community radio station, KDRT is about to be stomped on by a big and bad commercial station. KMJE, a 6-kilowatt station 73 miles north of here on the same frequency as KDRT, has filed with the FCC to move their station to within 3 miles of Davis, which would annihilate the signal from KDRT and put it off the air.

KDRT has been on the air for a little over two years, and has established a diverse program lineup ranging from Davis gardening (Pica’s favorite show) to Bollywood music. Though modest in power, their signal comes in quite well here, south of town.

The term for such a move is encroachment. Unfortunately, low-power FM stations are second-class citizens on the FM spectrum according to FCC regulations, and even though KMJE clearly would be the bully in this event, it is the low-power station that has to yield to the full-power station. Moreover, a recent change in FCC procedures has reduced the time it takes for a full power station to change its community of license from several years to a couple of months.

KDRT is now looking for support in the form of donations to pay for lawyers and engineers to make their case as well as informal letters of objection to the FCC.