**Federal Communications Commission**

**Washington, D.C. 20554**

*In reply refer to:*

1800B3-DEB

October 31, 1996

Richard E. Wiley, Esq.

Wiley, Rein & Fielding

1776 K Street NW

Washington, DC 20006

In re: KBUE; Long Beach, CA

Liberman Broadcasting, Inc.

BPH-951102ID

Dear Mr. Wiley:

This letter is in reference to the above-captioned application for a
construction permit to increase the effective radiated power of KBUE,
Long Beach, CA to the maximum permitted for a Class A station. An
informal objection has been filed against this application by KPWR
License, Inc., licensee of KPWR, Los Angeles, CA.[^1] For the reasons
explained below, we dismiss the application without fully ruling on
KPWR\'s informal objection.[^2]

**Short-spacing to cochannel station KAVC, Rosamond, CA**

Presently, KBUE is spaced 110.3 km from cochannel Class A station KAVC,
Rosamond, CA, whereas 47 CFR \' 73.207 requires a minimum separation of
115 km. The short-spacing was created by the revision in the spacing
rules adopted in the *Second Report and Order* in MM Docket 88-375, 4
FCC Rcd 6375 (1989)**.** Consequently, KBUE and KAVC are grandfathered
with respect to each other and are governed by the provisions of 47 CFR
\' 73.213(c).

*Waiver request*. The applicant indicates that it sought to obtain a
mutual increase agreement with KAVC pursuant to 47 CFR \' 73.213(c) but
was unable to obtain that station\'s consent. Having failed to obtain
consent in keeping with the rule, KBUE now requests waiver of 47 CFR
\'\' 73.213 or 73.207 to obtain its desired power increase. In support
of the request for waivers, KBUE states that a large mountain barrier
which exists at a distance of approximately 45 to 65 km from KBUE and
between KAVC and KBUE will impose terrain shielding of each station\'s
signal and thereby prevent any actual interference. A supplemental
terrain analysis is provided to support this conclusion. In addition,
KBUE claims that the increased power sought will help the station
overcome the effects of atmospheric interference caused by ducting
created by a temperature inversion layer between KBUE and a San Diego
station. Affidavits of persons with knowledge of such complaints are
provided. Once the station\'s power is increased, KBUE will provide
Spanish language 60 dBu service to 41.6% more persons (totalling
5,670,482), of which 2,345,495 speak Spanish. Consequently, KBUE
believes that grant of the requested waivers would serve the public
interest. In its response to KPWR\'s objection, KBUE asserts that the
policy of not granting spacing waivers adopted by the Commission in 1989
only applies to new transmitter sites and not cases where an applicant
seeks to increase power at its present transmitter site.

*KPWR\'s Informal Objection.* KPWR\'s objection to the application
states that the Commission discontinued granting spacing waivers in
1989, citing *Short-Spaced FM Assignments*, 4 FCC Rcd 1681 (1989),
*a\'ffd*, 6 FCC Rcd 5356 (1991). KPWR also cites *Letter to Rebecca L.
Dorch*, 9 FCC Rcd 2753 (1994) in support of its proposition that the
Commission will not entertain requests for spacing waivers of \' 73.207.
Further, KPWR states that the use of terrain shielding to justify grant
of a waiver has been attempted (and denied) may times before. Concerning
the ducting interference cited by KBUE, KPWR indicates that they are not
aware of any cases which a waiver request was granted because of
interference caused by this phenomenon. KPWR does cite allotment
proceedings wherein the Commission has rejected such requests, citing
*Fairview and Cambridge Springs, PA and North Kingsville, OH*, 10 FCC
Rcd 2149 (1995) and *San Clemente, CA*, MM Docket 84-442, released
August 13, 1986. Moreover, KPWR contends that some of the affidavits
alleging this type of interference are from persons located outside the
60 dBu protected contour of KBUE and are thus not protected from
interference caused by other FM stations. Consequently, KPWR believes
that there is no basis to grant any rule waiver.

*Discussion.* As indicated above, KBUE is governed by the provisions of
47 CFR \' 73.213(c) with respect to KAVC, Rosamond, CA. That rule
section provides a mechanism to be employed for applicants who wish to
increase power above the limit in \' 73.213(c)(1). Specifically, an
applicant grandfathered under this rule section may seek to implement a
mutual increase with the short-spaced station, or obtain written
permission from that station for a unilateral increase. *See* 47 CFR \'
73.213(c)(2); *Second Report and Order* in MM Docket 88-375, 4 FCC Rcd
6375 (1989) at Paragraph 52, *Memorandum Opinion and Order* in MM Docket
88-375, 6 FCC Rcd 3417 (1991) at Paragraphs 19 and 20. As KBUE has
noted, it has been unable to obtain such consent from KAVC, and thus
requests waiver of the rule.[^3]

Grant of a waiver of \' 73.213(c) is not warranted with respect to KAVC.
The terms of that rule were written so as to prevent the creation of new
interference between the short-spaced stations, using the standard
contour prediction method in 47 CFR \' 73.313.. For example, if KBUE
were to increase its ERP to the equivalent of 6.0 kW ERP and 100 meters
HAAT (maximum Class A), no interference would be caused to KAVC\'s
presently licensed operation. Yet that same increase would permanently
preclude KAVC from increasing its ERP in the future at its present
transmitter site, since any increase in ERP would cause new predicted
interference within the 60 dBu contours of both KAVC and KBUE.[^4]
*Memorandum Opinion and Order* in MM Docket 88-375, *supra* at
Paragraphs 34 - 36. KAVC is entitled to withhold its consent for a power
increase by KBUE if it so desires. Moreover, the Commission has held
that written consent is necessary from the opposite station before a
power increase may be implemented pursuant to 47 CFR \' 73.213(c). *See
The Livingston Radio Company*, 10 FCC Rcd 574 (1995). Consequently, we
will not grant an authorization to KBUE which would preclude the
potential of KAVC to increase its facilities at some future date without
the written consent of KAVC containing a recognition of this impact.[^5]

The reference to the intervening mountain range by KBUE, which is said
to preclude any interference between KAVC and KBUE, also does not
justify grant of the requested waivers. As KPWR has correctly noted, the
Commission does not use terrain shielding to determine the locations of
predicted interference. Nor does the Commission accept alternative
propagation methods to demonstrate lack of interference between FM
stations. Rather, the standard contour prediction method in 47 CFR \'
73.313 is employed. This issue was examined in the contour protection
rule proceeding which adopted 47 CFR \' 73.215. *Memorandum Opinion and
Order* in MM Docket 87-121, 6 FCC Rcd 5356 (1991) at Paragraphs 9, 12.

Like KPWR, the staff is not aware of any case in which the Commission
has granted a rule waiver based on the premise of interference from
atmospheric effects, nor has KBUE cited any. Atmospheric ducting is not
limited to Southern California only, but also occurs in such widely
scattered places as the Gulf of Mexico coast states and the Great Lakes
region, as well as inland areas of the United States. Thus many FM
stations are affected by similar disturbances. Moreover, the Commission
recently affirmed the staff\'s denial of a spacing waiver request based
in part on ducting phenomena. *See ECI License Company, L.P (WYUU)*, 11
FCC Rcd 3545 (1996). Consequently, this issue does not justify waiver of
\' 73.213.

The Spanish language programming aired by the station also does not
justify waiver of a technical rule. The Commission does not scrutinize
or regulate entertainment programming formats, nor does it take
programming format into consideration in making its licensing decisions.
In 1977, the Commission issued a Policy Statement in which it concluded
that review of program formats was not required by the Communications
Act, would not benefit the public, and would deter innovation, as well
as impose substantial administrative burdens on the Commission.
*Entertainment Formats*, 60 FCC 2d 858 (1979), *reconsideration denied*,
66 FCC 2d 78 (1977). The Supreme Court of the United States has upheld
this policy, stating that \"the public interest is best served by
promoting diversity in entertainment formats through market forces and
competition among broadcasters\...\" *WNCN Listeners Guild v. FCC*, 450
U.S. 582 (1981). See also, *Riverside Broadcasting Co., Inc*., 53 RR 2d
1154, 1157 (1983), *reconsideration denied*, 56 RR 2d 618 (1984).

Moreover, waiving technical rules on the basis of non-technical
considerations would tend to undermine the FM allocation scheme as a
whole. The policy considerations underlying our current FM allocations
scheme clearly outweigh any future benefits which would accrue were your
waiver to be granted based on the nontechnical consideration of a
particular type of programming. *See North Texas Media, Inc. v. FCC*,
FCC 84-456 (released October 5, 1984), *aff\'d*, Case No. 84-1511, slip.
op. (D.C. Cir. December 6, 1985). Consequently, the station\'s current
or ptoposed programming format has not been made a factor in our
analysis.

*Conclusion*. We conclude that the additional population and area which
would be served by a grant of KBUE\'s proposal does not outweigh the
considerations explained above. Accordingly, KBUE\'s request for waiver
of \' 73.213(c) will be denied.

**Short-spacings to second -adjacent channel stations KPWR, Los Angeles,
CA and KKGO-FM, Los Angeles, CA**

It is undisputed that KBUE, having been severely short-spaced to KPWR
and KKGO-FM since the inception of the FM spacing rules in 47 CFR \'
73.207 in 1962, is governed by the grandfathered station provisions of
47 CFR \' 73.213(a) with respect to these two second-adjacent channel
stations. As matters presently stand, KBUE\'s proposed 60 dBu contour
(as well as its smaller 100 dBu interfering contour) is completely
encompassed by the 60 dBu contours of these two Class B stations.

Presently, \' 73.213(a) prohibits stations covered by the rule from
extending the station\'s 1 mV/m (60 dBu) contour toward the 1 mV/m
contour of the grandfathered short-spaced station. Consequently, the
rule forbids KBUE from extending its 60 dBu contour in any direction.

*Waiver requests*. KBUE has requested waiver of the rule to allow the
proposed power increase. In addition to the ducting interference,
Spanish language format, and additional population served arguments
raised by the station (which were addressed in the preceding section on
KAVC and need not be reiterated here). KBUE asserts that the staff has a
policy which permits stations like it to increase facilities in
directions away from the grandfathered short-spaced station. In
addition, the application concludes that KBUE\'s signal will never be 40
dB greater than the corresponding KPWR or KKGO-FM signal strength at any
location, and thus no interference will be caused. Consequently, KBUE
believes that its requested waivers of \' 73.213(a) are justified.

*Objection*. KPWR\'s objection contends that KBUE has not demonstrated
that its present service to Long Beach is \"patently inadequate\". Nor
will the station serve any persons who currently lack service; indeed,
the area proposed to be served by KBUE is served by a plethora of other
radio services. KPWR alleges that the proposed power increase would
cause new interference to both KPWR and KKGO-FM. Finally, KPWR notes
that \' 73.213(a) is the subject of a Petition for Rulemaking (RM-7651)
which could affect the outcome of the KBUE proposal, and that any
Commission consideration on the proposal would be premature at this
point.

*Discussion.* We do not find that the KBUE proposal merits grant at this
time. As KPWR has correctly noted, the application of \' 73.213(a) is
the focus of a petition for rulemaking to examine this rule.[^6]
Therefore, we will not now anticipate the results of that rulemaking
proceeding in the context of the present application with respect to \'
73.213(a). In any event, it is unnecessary for us to address this matter
at this time in light of the \' 73.213(c) deficiency covered above.

**Final Conclusions**

When an applicant seeks waiver of the rules, it must plead with
particularity the facts and circumstances which warrant such action.
*Columbia Communications Corp. v. FCC*, 832 F.2d 189, 192 (D.C. Cir.
1987) (quoting *Rio Grand Family Radio Fellowship, Inc. v. FCC*, 406
F.2d 644, 666 (D.C. Cir. 1968) (per curiam)). We have afforded your
waiver request the \"hard look\" called for under the *WAIT* Doctrine,
*WAIT Radio v. FCC*, 418 F2d 1153 (D.C. Cir. 1969), but find that the
facts and circumstances set forth in the justification are insufficient
to establish that granting waiver of 47 CFR \' 73.213(c) with respect to
KAVC would be in the public interest.

Consequently, the informal objection filed by KPWR IS GRANTED IN PART to
the extent indicated above. The informal objection of Mount Wilson FM
Broadcasters, having been withdrawn as indicated in Footnote 1, IS
HEREBY DISMISSED AS MOOT. The requests for waiver of 47 CFR \' 73.213(c)
with respect to KAVC IS HEREBY DENIED, and the application BPH-951102ID
IS HEREBY DISMISSED. These actions are taken pursuant to 47 CFR \' 0.283
of the Commission\'s rules.

Sincerely,

Dennis Williams

Assistant Chief

Audio Services Division

Mass Media Bureau

cc: Radio Station KBUE (FM)

: Mr. Jules Cohen, PE

: Cohn & Marks

: Mr. John J. Davis

: Gardner, Carton & Douglas

: Lohnes & Culver

[^1]:     ^?^ KPWR styled its pleading as a formal objection pursuant to
    47 CFR \' 1.202(e) of the Commission\'s rules. However, only
    informal objections lie against minor change applications.
    Therefore, we are treating KPWR\'s filing as an informal objection
    pursuant to 47 CFR \' 73.3587.

[^2]:     ^?^ A second informal objection was filed by Mount Wilson FM
    Broadcasters (\"Mount Wilson\"), licensee of second-adjacent channel
    station KKGO-FM, Los Angeles, CA , on January 11, 1996. However, on
    May 16, 1996, Liberman Broadcasting, Inc. and Mount Wilson filed an
    agreement in which the Mount Wilson objection was withdrawn, with
    Mount Wilson giving its consent to grant of the present KBUE
    application. However, because other deficiencies remain in the
    application which render it unacceptable for filing (as explained
    below), we have not considered the merits of the agreement at this
    time. Thus, in light of the agreement and our actions in this
    letter, Mount Wilson\'s informal objection will be dismissed as moot
    below.

[^3]:     ^?^ KBUE\'s concurrent request for waiver of \' 73.207 is
    unnecessary since KBUE does not propose to change transmitter site
    or the spacing separations with respect to any other FM station.
    That rule deals only with minimum separation requirements, not the
    maximum permitted power and antenna height for a station which does
    not comply with the rule. Therefore, KBUE\'s request for waiver of
    \' 73.207 will not be addressed further.

[^4]:     ^?^ This does not occur where a mutual increase is proposed,
    since the protected and interfering signal strengths increase by
    corresponding amounts.

[^5]:     ^?^ KBUE is limited to maximum facilities of no more than 1.05
    kW ERP and 173 meters HAAT (its presently licensed facilities)
    toward the 1 mV/m (60 dBu) contour of KAVC. A directional antenna
    could be employed to provide this protection, although KBUE has
    rejected this approach since KBUE would not serve as many people as
    a nondirectional operation would. Alternatively, KBUE could employ
    the contour protection provisions of 47 CFR \' 73.215, which would
    not require the consent of KAVC, but would also require directional
    operation.

[^6]:     ^?^ *Grandfathered Short-Spaced FM Stations (NPRM)* , MM
    Docket 96-120, 61 Fed. Reg. 33474, released June 14, 1996.