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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBocc Packet 08142013 FM Radio Station AllocationsAGENDA ITEM SUMMARY REGULAR MEETING DATE: August 14, 2013 AGENDA ITEM TITLE: A Resolution Adopting Changes in the FM Radio Station Allocations on the Pitkin County Translator System STAFF RESPONSIBLE: Phylis Mattice, Assistant County Manager; Jodi Smith TAB Staff Liaison ISSUE STATEMENT: The Translator Advisory Board (TAB) has advanced recommendations for FM radio station changes on the Pitkin County Translator System (PCTS) for the Board of County Commissioners consideration and adoption. BACKGROUND: The TAB is responsible for recommending allocation of FM radio broadcasting space on the Pitkin County Translator System. At the last meeting of the TAB, July 2, 2013, the TAB voted to advance recommendations for change in FM space allocation to the BOCC. The TAB reviewed their 2012 work regarding station placement and the decision criteria used and voted to advance those changes. The TAB reviewed the stations currently on the system and the requests for placement. At the July 23, 2013 Work Session the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) reviewed the recommendations of the TAB and agreed to make changes to the Pitkin County Translator System FM radio station allotments. The Board asked staff to prepare a resolution to make the FM radio lineup changes on the system based on the TAB's recommendations. The resolution has been prepared with the recommended changes and is attached for your review. The recommendations are as follows (see attached chart of current and recommended lineup): 1. KKVT - Grand Junction Station: removal (Sunlight, Elephant, Thomasville, Crown, Williams) because it does not provide content relevant to Pitkin County. 2. KMGJ - Grand Junction Station: removal ((Sunlight) because it does not provide content relevant to Pitkin County. 3. KRVG — removal (Upper Red) mainly due to the unreliability of its signal (the station had been silent for the better part of a month during the time the TAB had been working on this in 2012 and is again having technical problems with their signal being very noisy since July 17). 4. KKCH - removal (Thomasville) because it does not provide content relevant to Pitkin County (broadcasting from Avon) with an out of Pitkin County license (Glenwood Springs). And, as one of the most powerful stations in the valley they had the least need for help in Thomasville. Being replace by KTND's direct connection to the dispatch center, allowing the County to take over their airwaves for emergency messages, would be useful in Thomasville's remote and isolated location. 5. KMTS — added at Sunlight, Redstone. Thomasville and Williams. 6. KTND — added at Sunlight and Thomasville (see comment above Re: KKCH). 7. Radio CMC — added at Upper Red. 8. KUUR — provide an additional space at Crown (already on the system at Redstone). LINK TO STRATEGIC PLAN: The Core Focus area of Prosperous Economy is advanced. KEY DISCUSSION ITEMS: • Stations being recommended for removal from the system. • Stations being recommended for placement on the system. BUDGETARY IMPACT: None BOCC RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve the Resolution attached. ATTACHMENTS: • Memo from TAB Chair, John Emerick with recommendations of FM space allotment changes • Chart of Translator system FM station space allocations and recommended changes (frequencies may change based on technical capabilities) • Resolution Allocating Space on the Pitkin County Translator System for FM Radio Stations Date: July 17, 2013 To: Pitkin County Board of Commissioners From: John Emerick, Chair, Translator Advisory Board Stabject: Fecommended reallocation of FM radio stations at Pitkin County translator sites The Translator Advisory Board recommends the following 1) Feallocating the translators on the Pitkin County Translator Sjstem that presently carry KKVTand KMGJ, both out of Grand Junction, and KKCH, broadcasted from Avon, to KMTS KIND, and KUUR, stations licensed in the Fbaring Fork Valley; 2) Feallocating the translator on Upper Fed above Aspen that presently carries KRVG, a station that has proven to be unreliable, to Colorado Mountain College; and 3) That there be no changes to the current stations until each of the newly allocated stations can demonstrate that they can meet the requirement to broadcast Emergency Alert Sjstem messages and that they are technically reliable. Badcg-ound The Translator Advisory Board met on July 2, 2013 to reconsider, in light of recent changes to the Board, translator reallocations that were determined in July 2012. Because of issues with the TAB bylaws and three appeals, the Commissioners have not considered the proposed reallocation. The present TAB believes the original recommendations are still appropriate and by a vote of 5 in favor, 0 opposed, and 1 abstention, agreed to send the 2012 recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. A key reason for forwarding the recommendations at thistime isthat there are four stations on the translator system that do not meet the previous FM policy standards in effect at the time of the original evaluation in 2012, or the standards newly drafted in July 2013. Both sets of standards place a priority on station reliability, aswell as on stations having their Iicense or transmitter in the Raring Fork Valley, and the ability to deliver accurate and timely public safety, emergency, public service, and community information relevant to the citizens of Pitkin County. Aspen (Upper Red 3 spaces) cn Old Snowmass (Williams 6 spaces) O 89.3/89.7 C) O . ,"°�� Basalt (Crown 6 spaces) '4) CO CO CD C) M N 01, LO CD CD �1^,,,,,,111 �nn �N l Thomasville (6 spaces) 0) 0) III'��^��,ro� C) '" Redstone (Elephant 8 spaces) 10 CO CO 10 — 0) 01 et) 0) M CO MCD O ,����;l. mi'^����dll ^si4 f . CD O 1 . CO O Carbondale (Sunlight 5 spaces) 0) C) CD C) Z 0 X - < Y > 0 > Y 0 Z (i) Y z a Cl) Y H > Y Y 0 u z Y —) 0 2 Y 0 > Ce Y _ U Y Y Ce Y CO 1- CD s 'a L 13 O CD O E O E o ._ J c O O as O t _°' i� Aspen (Upper Red 3 spaces) • 01 in II j Old Snowmass (Williams 6 spaces) O 89.3/89.7 C) Basalt (Crown 6 spaces) 14) CO CO O O Mm,�,�����, N O O '— CD %— r Thomasville (6 spaces) C) '1 C) C) CD C) CO C) III (Y°o M CDt^e$. C) (11 Redstone (Elephant 8 spaces) in 00 CO 14) r C) C) c i C)CD . M M 00 O ,��y� '^����dll C ^si4 ti CD ti 00 O Carbondale (Sunlight 5 spaces) C) 0) M 0) cl.1 c'l°;I1 M 0) z CI Y -,> < 0 > Y 0 z (1) Y z a ;, „° °° I���������"?��;, p i'000ilullro 0 u- Z Y z, Il,,,,,,,,� !:::: fj • �011� f o' ����������� f, A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO, ALLOCATING SPACE ON THE PITKIN COUNTY TRANSLATOR SYSTEM FOR FM RADIO STATIONS Resolution # - 2013 RECITALS 1. Pitkin County operates a TV/FM radio translator system on eight different sites to provide coverage throughout the County and is known as the Pitkin County Translator System (PCTS). 2. The Translator Advisory Board (TAB) is a citizen board established to assist the Pitkin County Board of Commissioners ("BOCC") in the implementation of the Translator Fund Program, as authorized by the Pitkin County voters. They are also tasked with advising the BOCC on the expenditures, administration, and operations of an economical system for re -broadcasting of television and radio signals and for extending wireless communication and interne services for the citizens of Pitkin County. 3. The TAB has reviewed the FM stations currently on the PCTS, took application and heard presentations from stations wishing to be allocated space on the PCTS. 4. The TAB reviewed the applications and has advanced recommended changes to the FM Radio station Lineup to the Board of County Commissioners, 4. The Board of County Commissioners wishes to allocate space on the PCTS as recommend by the TAB. 5. The allotment changes are effective September 1, 2013 or as soon thereafter as the system changes can be accomplished. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Pitkin County, Colorado, that the following changes to the FM allocations of the Pitkin County Translator System be made as follows: Removing: Location(s)/Frequency(s) KJYE (was KKVT) Sunlight 95.9, Elephant 102.3, Thomasville 93.7, Crown 102.1, Williams 105.5 KMGJ Sunlight 100.9 KRVG Upper Red 102.7 KKCH Thomasville 97.1 Adding: Location(s)/Frequency(s) KMTS Sunlight 95.9, Elephant 102.3, Thomasville 97.1, Williams 105.5 KTND Sunlight 100.9, Thomasville 93.7 Radio CMC Upper Red 102.7 KUUR Crown 102.1 INTRODUCED, FIRST READ, AND SET FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE l4th DAY OF August, 2013. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND TITLE AND SHORT SUMMARY OF THE RESOLUTION PUBLISHED IN THE ASPEN TIMES WEEKLY ON , 2013. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND THE FULL TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION POSTED ON THE OFFICIAL PITKIN COUNTY WEBSITE ( www.aspenpitkin.com ) ON THE DAY OF 2013. ADOPTED AFTER FINAL READING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 28th DAY OF August, 2013. PUBLISHED BY TITLE AND SHORT SUMMARY, AFTER ADOPTION, IN THE ASPEN TIMES WEEKLY ON THE DAY OF 2013. ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO By: Jeanette Jones George Newman, Chair Deputy Clerk & Recorder Date: MANAGER APPROVAL: Jon Peacock, County Manager