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California: Editorial: KDRT, KMJE conflict

http://media.www.californiaaggie.com/media/storage/paper981/news/2007/04/24/Opinion/Editorial.Kdrt.Kmje.Conflict-2876657.shtml
The California Aggie - Editorial: KDRT, KMJE conflict

Editorial: KDRT, KMJE conflict

Stations must compromise, collaborate

By:

Posted: 4/24/07

When the Davis City Council voted Apr. 17 to publicly support the low-power radio station KDRT 101.5 FM, councilmembers were well within its rights and should be commended for their attempts to protect a local resource.



The station may be pushed off the air by commercial station KMJE 101.5 FM, based in Gridley, Calif., which announced plans to broadcast from a tower in Woodland. Because commercial stations have legal priority over low-power ones, KMJE would retain control of the 101.5 FM frequency.



KDRT, underwritten by 40 local businesses and a past collaborator with the Davis Downtown Business Association and Yolo County Elections Office, is an important asset to the city. Since it represents a local interest, the council rightly responded to the issue.



However, while some may be quick to condemn the incoming station KMJE for threatening KDRT's broadcasting, the station's move is a logical step from a business standpoint. The proposed relocation would increase KMJE's reach from 134,000 to 548,000 people, according to Jack Fritz, president of the station's parent company, Results Radio.



In fact, so far KMJE appears to have taken the interests of its new territory into account, pledging to cooperate with KDRT to help keep it on the air after the move is completed.



The struggle to continue broadcasting, however, will not be easy, according to Davis Media Access Executive Director Autumn Labbe-Renault.



Of the two courses of action being considered by KDRT - contesting KMJE's plan to move or petitioning the Federal Communications Commission to make a new frequency available for KDRT - the station should pursue the second option, since contesting KMJE's move may not prevent it. Although this means that KDRT will have to spend an estimated $20,000 in legal and engineering fees to audit radio frequencies and submit the petition, this route will prove the most accommodating to both stations.



With no immediate solution to the problem, KDRT and KMJE should collaborate to ensure that both have a continued presence on the local radio bandwidth.
© Copyright 2007 The California Aggie