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FCC Silenced Puerto Rico Radio Station's Boosters In March 2017
An dochasac writes: WAPA (680 AM) is a radio station in San Juan, Puerto Rico. After Hurricane Maria took out power, phone lines, cell towers and internet, WAPA was the only Puerto Rican radio station on the air for crucial public emergency communication. But WAPA's signal coverage was significantly cut in March 2017 when the FCC refused to renew the license for synchronous AM booster stations at Arecibo, Mayaguez and Aguadilla in March due to procedural issues with the petition for renewal. This decision limited the coverage, signal strength and signal quality of this station for remote and mountainous parts of Puerto Rico where the need for emergency communications is greatest. The FCC audio division chief who pulled WAPA's synchronous booster license decided to retire a few days ago. The position is open but is focused on legal training rather than technical expertise and experience with emergency communications.
FCC audio division's regulations have done little to stop AM and satellite radio from broadcasting right-wing streams-of-consciousness throughout the lower 48 states. With IoT, cellular, mesh, satellite, social media and cognitive radio, communications technology is changing much faster than the FCC's legal efforts to regulate it. But its arcane regulations leave Puerto Rico as one of the few islands in the Caribbean without a long distance shortwave broadcast station. With line of sight FM stations offline and WAPA's AM station neutered, post-Maria Puerto Ricans have a better chance of getting news and emergency information from Havana, Cuba than from anything under the FCC's increasingly pointless jurisdiction.
FCC audio division's regulations have done little to stop AM and satellite radio from broadcasting right-wing streams-of-consciousness throughout the lower 48 states. With IoT, cellular, mesh, satellite, social media and cognitive radio, communications technology is changing much faster than the FCC's legal efforts to regulate it. But its arcane regulations leave Puerto Rico as one of the few islands in the Caribbean without a long distance shortwave broadcast station. With line of sight FM stations offline and WAPA's AM station neutered, post-Maria Puerto Ricans have a better chance of getting news and emergency information from Havana, Cuba than from anything under the FCC's increasingly pointless jurisdiction.
No bias in that summary at all LOL....
And there wasn't!
TRUMP powa!
Where the crooks all came! And the walls fell!
Fill out the paperwork right next time.
Are we really expected to be so dense as to bandwagon against a specific person because they failed to predict a hurricane six months in advance and the need for a specific station's radio boosters?
FCC audio division's regulations have done little to stop AM and satellite radio from broadcasting right-wing streams-of-consciousness throughout the lower 48 states.
Can't tell if he's far right, and complaining about being silenced by the left, or far left, and complaining that "those pesky nazis" get to spew their hate speech.
When it comes to incompetence, the US federal government takes the cake (and keeps it until it is stale before giving out too-small pieces to people who probably don't deserve it.) But Puerto Rico is right up there with self-serving greed, corruption, and third-world trashing of anything that doesn't have armed guards around it. Perhaps they should give up their holier-than-thou "commonwealth" charade and get a real territorial governor that could start bringing them into the late 19th century overall.
Discuss...
Broadcast radio can't be used to monetize data channels and the data packets within them; therefore not important.
Nothing but a corrupt banana republic run by a handful of thieving families.......it's no different than Guam, the US Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands or American Samoa. Illiteracy even in government officials is rampant. I personally know one representative in Washington who is a high school dropout (he's also a Democrat). Getting a permit filled out is beyond most of them. The US allows them self-government and this is what happens. And of course, getting lawyers involved in any government department is asking for trouble.
"The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old......They literally know nothing." - Ben Rhodes
But WAPA's signal coverage was significantly cut in March 2017 when the FCC refused to renew the license for synchronous AM booster stations at Arecibo, Mayaguez and Aguadilla in March due to procedural issues with the petition for renewal.
Bullshit. It wasn't "procedural issues" it was a lack of compliance with the terms they were allowed to add boosters.
Blanco-Pi sought and received annual renewals for the Stations' licenses, albeit often without the
required reports of his experimental progress.5 In 2009, he sought to add a third synchronous booster to
the two he was already operating in conjunction with station WISO.6 After initially denying the
application based on an erroneous interpretation of the rules,7 the staff denied reconsideration based on
Blanco-Pi ' s failure to demonstrate any further experimental benefit of adding a third AM synchronous
booster, at Guayama, Puerto Rico, to WISO and the two existing AM synchronous boosters.8 In seeking
review, Blanco-Pi attempted, for the first time, to justify the addition of a new AM booster station on
technical and experimental grounds; the Commission disregarded these new arguments pursuant to
Section 1.115(c) of the rules.9
Who would have thought that flaunting the rules would eventually get you shut down, right?
Also, if you think all this regulation on radio frequencies is silly then you should realize that the shielding on power supplies (that would otherwise jam most of the RF spectrum) only exist because of regulation that protects the RF spectrum from mass contamination.
Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
FCC audio division's regulations have done little to stop AM and satellite radio from broadcasting right-wing streams-of-consciousness throughout the lower 48 states.
Perhaps you should have mentioned that you want to censor people you disagree with instead of assuming that everyone on Slashdot happens to have your same brave wave pattern.
Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
Why can't Google give the Puerto Ricans emergency data service, and why can't Amazon fly in supplies by drone?
First, AM booster stations only work when they have power, so there's no weight behind the implication that communications are being affected. Second, other than the "7 words" and some advertising (cigarettes, booze) the government doesn't control content, especially political content, which is protected by this 1st Amendment thing. Third, the author apparently thinks AM radio is "shortwave." It isn't.
Finally, AM Synchronous Boosters are classified as experimental, and are licensed "with a view to the development of science or technique." When WAPA first started using them, licenses had 1 year renewable terms, reflecting their temporary nature.
Eng. Wifredo G. Blanco-Pi, the owner of WAPA, has been using this experimental license for commercial, rather than experimental, purposes for 6 years. Current rules limit the total term of experimental licenses to 5 years. So, the FCC didn't renew them the last time around. As the FCC's decision says,
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
"FCC audio division's regulations have done little to stop AM and satellite radio from broadcasting right-wing streams-of-consciousness throughout the lower 48 states." Is the FCC supposed to be censoring conservatives or something? I didn't realize the FCC worked for the DNC.
...until the last line "pointless jurisdiction."
lol - wonder if he realizes what would happen if there weren't rules set in place for the airwaves.
The FCC rules for all radio services can be overridden in an emergency critical to saving lives, to the extent needed to support emergency communications. Light 'em up, let the enforcement division come down there and shut it down... This is arguably such an emergency.
>"FCC audio division's regulations have done little to stop AM and satellite radio from broadcasting right-wing streams-of-consciousness throughout the lower 48 states."
WTF does that have to do with the story? So every Slashdot posting now has to be turned into a left-wing political statement/commentary?
I know there are some legitimate beefs about its relation to the Federal Government, but it would seem to have a lot of things going for it. Direct participation in the US dollar economy, border free movement of goods and people between the US. And as Florida fills up and becomes more expensive, wouldn't Puerto Rico become an appealing substitute with the same kind of tropical appeal?
Sure, it's got more poor people than may be average for the US mainland, but shouldn't that result in more business investment due to labor cost advantages? Or contribute to its viability as a retirement/vacation/resort destination?
I suppose there are standard, pedantic arguments that its handicapped by "colony" status and that racist US politicians have treated it poorly because its residents are Spanish speaking "foreigners" and so on.
But generally speaking, I would expect Puerto Rico to be doing better given its relative advantages over someplace like Jamaica or the Dominican Republic.
What is needed is a 50kW regional channel broadcast with directional antenna (one end of the island point to the other). This should be more than sufficient to cover the island.
sudo mod me up
First I thought it was related to Puerto Rico being set to be the first territory to declare bankruptcy at $70 billion USD. Why on earth would the FCC approve anything that would increase debt?
But no, it turns out this AM booster in question was experimental, and didn't operate within its regulatory range. That's the kind of stuff that gets everyone routinely denied. That should be the article topic since this used to be a technology website.
These were EXPERIMENTAL stations that did not file the required annual reports of progress with their experimentation. Their licenses were renewed for years in error. That their chickens finally came home to roost should be no surprise as they were simply getting away with breaking the rules for years.
Seriously.
WAPA replaced the synchronized stations by buying other stations on different frequencies. They have 6 stations across the island.
WAPA was not "neutered". People just had to move the dial as they moved around the island.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
The synchronized relays where licensed for EXPERIMENTAL use.
With no power the old synchronized stations would be off the air just like the 5 other stations they maintain now.
The synchronized system was more complicated then just running the stations on different frequencies like they do now. Each relay had to be GPS disciplined and needed perfect back-haul. If one of the relays become out of sync it would actually end up jamming the other stations. Imagine one of the relay stations getting out of wack and you have no way to get to the site to fix it or shut it down.
I have to return some videotapes...
"The FCC audio division chief who pulled WAPA's synchronous booster license decided to retire a few days ago.
I bet he did. The son of a bitch probably has blood on his hands. Not that this administration would care, given the location.
I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
There are many other AM and FM radio stations in Puerto Rico. The allegations of nefarious FCC actions are a red herring....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_radio_stations_in_U.S._Territories#Puerto_Rico
None of the stations on this list of broadcast stations have power or backup power? There ought to be a cite in the summary somewhere supporting that claim.
... because I think I may have found a few.
See here: http://www.radioworld.com/business-and-law/0009/rackley-on-synchronous-am-boosters/338881
The FCC only licensed syncronous booster transmitters for AM under experimental licenses. So everyone here says 'flaunting the regs' is wrong, or saying that for other reasons
Sounds like a conspiracy
FCC audio division's regulations have done little to stop AM and satellite radio from broadcasting right-wing streams-of-consciousness throughout the lower 48 states.
I'll listen to the local NPR affiliate and the local news and talk station with the "right wing nutjobs" depending on which one happens to hold my interests that day. On Rush Limbaugh's show I hear him giving away brand new high end iPhones to people that call in. On NPR they keep asking listeners for money and trying to keep their government funding.
How much money does Rush make on his show? I don't know. Enough to hand out a dozen iPhones every week? Maybe he gets the phones for free from Apple but then Apple is making money on this from the advertising it brings in.
It's not the FCC's job to stop the "right wing stream of consciousness" that licensed stations bring to people. If you don't like it then listen to the competition. Buy the stuff advertised on those stations, give them money on their funding drives, and so on. If you want them to keep transmitting then make sure that they can pay their bills.
Why hasn't the FCC done anything about the "right wing" slant of AM radio? Because those stations make money, pay their fees, and file the proper license applications.
I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
The 107 comments so far relate to an inaccurate original post. First, with the exception of Cuba's probaganda machine called Radio Havana, there is no longer any use of short-wave anywhere on the Caribbean islands. On most Caribbean island nations, AM radio has been shuttered with many FM stations operating from seemingly every island and atol in the region. Further, there are no shortwave radio receivers available. Then there is the question of why anyone would open a shortwave station in Puerto Rico, since US radio regulations prohibit serving the domestic population on shortwave. The poster seems to believe that WAPA is a unique service. Not counting translators and LPFM stations, Puerto Rico has over 120 licensed AM and FM stations. Several others, including WIPR, WKAQ and WODA were only briefly, if at all, off the air and continued to serve the Island population. WKAQ and WIPR, in conditions where there is little man-made interference, cover the entire island adequately. So does WAPA's single San Juan transmitter. Other stations, like news outlet WUNO, came back shortly after the storm had passed. There is no lack of radio signals; there is a lack of power and even batteries to operate radio receivers at the listener end. The discussion of program content on the US mainland does little to solve the horrible problems of basic necessities for food, water, power and information in Puerto Rico. Our communications policy is not to regulate content, and, in fact, Puerto Rico had a thriving radio sector with multiple Island-wide networks of news and talk stations reflecting both of the major political parties and philosophies in the Commonwealth.
Regulatory agencies should be removed every 10-20 years. This would mean completely eliminating all personnel and a minimum of regulation. government does not have the agility to meet the needs of the changing technologies and regulatory agencies tend to stifle growth, cater to companies that pay them off and do not listen to the consumers . They need a time limit, I would actually suggest that everything have an expiration date, WTF is this that politicians make decision with lifelong generational effects ? This is making a decision in a vacuum
"from broadcasting right-wing streams-of-consciousness throughout the lower 48 states"
what?
"FCC's increasingly pointless jurisdiction."
what?
If it was important to the station owners, they wouldn't have messed up the license renewals.
But WAPA's signal coverage was significantly cut in March 2017 when the FCC refused to renew the license for synchronous AM booster stations at Arecibo, Mayaguez and Aguadilla in March due to procedural issues with the petition for renewal.
They messed up the paperwork, the gov't merely expected the station to follow the rules...
This decision limited the coverage, signal strength and signal quality of this station for remote and mountainous parts of Puerto Rico where the need for emergency communications is greatest.
This so-called "decision" was not, in fact, a decision, it was in fact the the result of failing to follow the legal process of requesting a renewal six months before the hurricane hit the island - nothing more.
Ken
"FCC audio division's regulations have done little to stop AM and satellite radio from broadcasting right-wing streams-of-consciousness throughout the lower 48 states."
We call this free speech
AKA The First Amendment
If you don't like it, there's an island very close to Puerto Rico named Cuba
Try spouting your ideas off there and see how far you get!
And worse yet, FCC regulations, the Constitution & The Bill of Rights allow subversive, facist, communist, socialist, democrats to spew hatred, racism, and lies out every orifice!!!
So if you are not happy here, I suggest you give up your citzenship, move, at your own expense, to a facist, socialist or communist country of your choice where I'm sure you will be much happier!!!
...like bullshit. I can pretty much guarantee that this story is full of holes.
if the equipment exists on the island and the need is there then it's time to ignore the rules and do what is needed to try and help people ans protect their lives.
If that means firing up these synchronized stations so that emergency radio transmissions can be spread across the island then do it and the feds won't be able to do anything to you as it would mean turning on people who actually saved lives.
Puerto Rico COULD have senators (it would have two) and congressmen (it would have more than connecticut) if only its people would decide to be a state.
As it is, they have been allowed representatives in congress who may bring their concerns to the House (this is more than a territory is entitled to), but may not vote on bills.
The simple fact is that there are many in Puerto Rico who enjoy US Citizenship but who are perfectly happy to not have many of the burdens of being a state. The USA, NOT being the imperial power the left has often accused it of being, has not forced Puerto Rico, The Virgin Islands, or Guam to become states. Also disproving the whole xenophobia and racism theme, the USA has not forced these non-white and non-English-speaking people to separate and lose their American citizenship. The US Government has been perfectly content to allow the peoples of these island territories to have the relationship with the USA that they prefer. For now they seem to want to just be territories.
"FCC audio division's regulations have done little to stop AM and satellite radio from broadcasting right-wing streams-of-consciousness throughout the lower 48 states" - good - they're not supposed to do that, due to the pesky 1st Amendment. Free speech and all that.
There is no God, and Dirac is his prophet.
"FCC audio division's regulations have done little to stop AM and satellite radio from broadcasting right-wing streams-of-consciousness throughout the lower 48 states." Seriously? Guess you don't believe in free speech.
WAPA replaced the synchronized stations by buying other stations on different frequencies. They have 6 stations across the island. WAPA was not "neutered". People just had to move the dial as they moved around the island.
Thus allowing this single station to unnecessarily monopolize valuable public bandwidth that could have been used for competing stations, competing ideas, community radio, emergency broadcasts...
So which of the FCC's strategic goals does this fall under? 1) Promoting Economic Growth and National Leadership, 2) Protecting Public Interest Goals, 3) Making Networks Work for Everyone or 4) Promoting Operational Excellence?
This experimental license had been renewed for more than a decade. It was pulled with only a 30 day notice for public comments and many of those comments were ignored for procedural issue. It was not possible for WAPA obtain a non-experimental synchronous A.M. booster license because despite this experiment's success, the FCC provided no legal path to such a license. Blanco-Pi complied with the FCC's demand to go back to the original license despite its inferiority in spectrum efficiency and coverage.
Regarding the use of the 455-1600Khz A.M. spectrum as a vehicle for anti-immigrant, anti-Latino, pro-gun, pro-hate, white-supremacists propaganda. This does go against the FCC's goals,especially regarding universal service, public safety and national security. This administration's failures make it clearer each day how toxic this propaganda has been. The hate, conspiracy theories and accusations spewed here is another indication. But I apologize for adding that final paragraph. It deserves a separate story.