WEER (FM)

WEER
City Montauk, New York
Frequency 88.7 MHz
First air date 2006
Format Community
Language(s) English
ERP 1,700 watts (vertical)
5 watts (horizontal)
HAAT 91 meters (299 ft)
Class A
Facility ID 91175
Transmitter coordinates 41°01′55.00″N 71°58′33.00″W / 41.0319444°N 71.9758333°W / 41.0319444; -71.9758333
Callsign meaning W East End Radio[1]
Former callsigns WPKM (2004-2011)[2]
Owner Eastern Tower Corp.

WEER (88.7 FM) is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Montauk, New York, since 2006. The station's broadcast license is held by Eastern Tower Corp. WEER normally broadcasts a light jazz format to Montauk and East Hampton, New York.[3][4]

History

This station received its original construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission on March 21, 2002.[5] The new station was assigned the WPKM call sign by the FCC on November 26, 2004.[2] WPKM received its license to cover from the FCC on August 30, 2006.[6]

In October 2010, license holder WPKN, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Hamptons Community Radio Corporation for $60,000. The deal was approved by the FCC on December 8, 2010, and the transaction was consummated on June 6, 2011.[7] The station changed its call sign to WEER on June 16, 2011, with a callsign swap with the now-defunct WEEG.[2]

In October 2013 the station was returned to the air, and sold to Eastern Tower Corporation. The sale was consummated on January 22, 2014. For over a year, the station boldly only broadcast audio on the Right Channel. It is believed to be the only such broadcast station in the world to have adopted this groundbreaking concept, only to "go dark" again. The station finally returned the air in June 2015, following extended silent periods permitted by the FCC in response to pleas citing financial problems, a search for an alternative tower/transmitter site, and damage from Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Silence

On October 1, 2011, WEER went dark for financial reasons and the licensee filed a request with the FCC for special temporary authority to remain silent. The Commission granted this authority on January 2, 2012, with a scheduled expiration of July 2, 2012.[8] Just days before that deadline, a new application was filed and silent authority was extended through October 2, 2012.[9] Under the terms of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, as a matter of law a radio station's broadcast license is subject to automatic forfeiture and cancellation if they fail to broadcast for one full year.[10]

The station reported that it returned to normal broadcast operations on September 27, 2012.[11] However, power loss and damage from Hurricane Sandy knocked the station off the air again on October 29, 2012.[12] On January 29, 2013, the station was granted a new authority to remain silent with an expiration date on July 28, 2013.[12]

As of October 2013, WEER seemed to be back on the air again, broadcasting modern jazz (1980's/1990's). It does so without benefit of studios, offices or any local presence in the Montauk area. It therefore is again in the forefront of new broadcast concepts: a virtual studio and office, a virtual staff, and mo local presence in the community of license. The station is not operating under an AFTRA labor contract which may account for the lack of disk jockeys. No EAS tests are broadcast, and there is no news broadcast.

References

  1. ↑ O'Reilly, Brendan (November 5, 2008). "FCC approves new East End radio station". The East Hampton Press. East Hampton, NY. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access Database. FCC Media Bureau. June 16, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  4. ↑ Young, Beth (May 25, 2010). "New radio station will focus on East End community". The East Hampton Press. East Hampton, NY. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Application Search Details ()". FCC Media Bureau. March 21, 2002. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Application Search Details ()". FCC Media Bureau. August 30, 2006. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Application Search Details (BALED-20101021ACY)". FCC Media Bureau. June 6, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Application Search Details (BLSTA-20111004ACD)". FCC Media Bureau. January 3, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Application Search Details (BLESTA-20120629AAE)". FCC Media Bureau. September 6, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Silent AM and FM Broadcast Station Lists". The FCC Encyclopedia. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Resumption of Operations". FCC Media Bureau. September 28, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  12. 1 2 "Application Search Details (BLSTA-20121107AEG)". FCC Media Bureau. January 29, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
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