WOBC improves its FM signal

Campus radio to spread influence across larger listening area

WOBC, Oberlin's radio station, has been granted a permit by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the construction of a new transmitter. The new transmitter will allow the station to upgrade its power output from 440 watts to 900 watts.

According to WOBC operations manager double-degree fifth-year Charles Watson, "This will basically allow the station to reach more people, as well as to provide a stronger signal to those already receiving the station."

Hoping to get more of a radio presence, the station began its drive for a stronger output in Spring 1997. "Applications for non-commercial stations usually don't get a higher frequency," said Watson. Former managers Lora Nunn and Art Ettinger started the process of trying to get approval and were able to obtain donations to pay for the consulting firm and transmitter from President Nancy Dye and other administrators.

According to Watson, Communications Technology, a company responsible for aiding in the preparation of the permit and the transmitter, had already made sure that the station would meet all the requirements for obtaining the permit. "WOBC just needed to flip a switch to turn the transmitter on." he said

Communications Technology was hired to attempt to upgrade the frequency without conflicting with other stations. The station's original goal was to increase the power to 1750 watts in an attempt to increase reception in Cleveland. If the original request for a permit was granted they would have been able to, but it was rejected multiple times. While WOBC was requesting an application, a station in Bainbridge, Ohio was granted a permit for the same frequency. This prevented WOBC from having anything but the faintest reception on the outskirts of Cleveland.

Beginning on Sept. 4, the permit allowed the station 18 months to build a new transmitter. Because the station had already purchased and constructed the equipment it was able to immediately upgrade after receiving the permit.

The FCC first rejected the application because of a technicality concerning the location of the transmitter, and then because they claimed that Communications Technology's calculations were wrong and that the station could only go up to 660 watts. Finally, the station made another request and was able to get permission to transmit at 900 watts. "We aren't sure if it will stay at that or we will have to go back down to 660 watts. The FCC takes it pretty seriously," said Watson.

The station purchased and constructed the transmitter prior to approval because they felt confident that they would get the FCC's approval. Watson said, "When you have a company like Communications Technology telling you that it's feasible to do, then it is pretty sure."

Although the improvement in signal strength has not yet been documented, Watson said the station has already received some calls from people who noticed the difference. The calls came from people who lived on the fringes of the broadcast area or who noticed they could receive the station while driving in places they previously could not receive it.

In spite of the improved signal, Watson said there are still some internal concerns to be dealt with. These included cutting back on the number of DJ's in order to assure that they are experienced.

Applicants were told there was a good chance that they might not get a show, but they need to work over a semester and "Learn the ropes," said Watson. There were also some general organizational things which needed to be dealt with, such as shelving problems. This year the management structure was split in an attempt to get more people to interact and hopefully make the station more user-friendly.