http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_list.pl?Facility_id=40798
Click on Get Data to see the application history of the station.
The first “interesting” thing is the station is owned by Pacific Broadcasting of Missouri, and the station is located near Corpus Christi, Texas. They have owned the license since 1998. The company is 1/3 owned by James Withers – there is a Withers broadcasting in downstate Illinois owned by Russ Withers – so perhaps this is a relative trying their hand in the radio business.
If you aren’t confused yet, the station is licensed to be on 106.1 MHz, but is broadcasting on 106.5 MHz
The Application Type gives hints at the legal history of the station with the FCC
BSTA / BESTA – Engineering “Special Temporary Authority” – the station wants to operate with different than their licensed capabilities
BLSTA / BELSTA – Legal STA – usually a request to “Stay Silent” – for some reason the station is unable to stay on the air (like if a hurricane destroyed your tower or the owner of your studio building takes a job in Iraq)
BTCH – Transfer of Control – the legal “owner” of the license hasn’t changed, but who controls the entity has changed
BRH – routine license renewal
BALH – Assignment of the license
The original building permit was issued in 1978 – I’m guessing it was actually outstanding before then – 1978 is when the FCC first started using computers to track licenses. Many of the applications were submitted on paper so aren’t fully available online.
Since then the station has applied for:
– 7 assignments of the license
– 2 transfers of control
– 12 legal STAs
– 7 engineering STAs
– 3 call sign changes
and several building permits / changes.
The most recent filing is for “Program Test Authority” – they are moving the station from 106.1 to 106.5 – the PTA allows the station to broadcast on the new frequency to prove out that the transmitter is working according to the construction permit and not creating interference, etc… once the engineers are happy that things are working as expected, the “License to Cover” will be requested and the station officially moves to its new parameters.
July 27th, the FCC issued their new license to cover – yay!