[BC] Remote control follies

[Thomas G. Osenkowsky]

This story was told to me and I don't know how much, if any, is true. An FCC
inspector visited a New England AM station. I believe it was 1 kW. The
inspector had the DJ take readings, asked questions, etc. The DJ then asked
the inspector if he would like to see the transmitter in the basement.

That was a 5 kW transmitter which was feeding the antenna. The base ammeter
had been altered to read the correct current for 1 kW. The 1 kW rig was
feeding a dummy load.

I do know of one station that had 3 towers, was supposed to be operating
with 500W. A tower fell, it operated ND at 1 kW. An adjacent channel station
owner complained to the FCC who visited and cited the station. The owner got
the insurance to pay for a replacement tower that was the same height but of
far superior construction than its predecessor. The engineer then calculated
parameters for the array to cover a capital city, a pattern far out of FCC
specs. It was repeatedly cited and the owner barred from any future
ownership. I understand he has been a longtime GM at a station in another
state.

I was called to do work at this station (broadbanding). I did so, but only
with the FCC licensed parameters. Yes, I did see wires to the CP ammeter fed
by a DC supply. I used my own Delta to measure CP current. When I left the
facility, it was in full FCC compliance. Whatever they did after that was
their business.

Tom Osenkowsky, CPBE