Small Town News

Future source of radio waves remain a mystery

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The radio waves over Rolla may be changing, but no one knows for sure when or what will happen next.

The radio translator which sits atop of the Westside C-Store in Rolla was recently reassigned to Down East Communications,

Inc/CDC/Center for the Performing Arts.

The translator currently rebroad-casts KNDK-FM radio out of Lang-don on channel 100.1.

Despite numerous attempts i to contact listed directors for Down East Communications, no one has returned calls or emails requesting information on plans for the translator.

Bob Simmons, general manger of KNDK, hasn't had much luck either in trying to ascertain the future of the translator.

"I don't know who owns (the translator) now or what their intentions are. No one has contacted me," Simmons said. "Right now, we're still rebroadcasting out of Rolla, so it's still business as usual."

The translator was owned by Ed Standef, who is also the former owner of KBTO-FM radio in Botineau. He sold that station but maintained ownership of the translator.

Simmons said he and Standef had a "gentleman's agreement" to allow for the rebroadcast of KNDK via the translator. He also pointed out that KNDK has purchased equipment for the translator in Rolla, but he could not buy the apparatus outright.

"We're very limited in terms of what we could do," Simmons said. "We don't own the translator. We simply provide the right to the owner to rebroadcast our signal. We can help do things with the translator but we cannot lay claim to ownership rights. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) frowns on that."

The reason a translator even exists in Rolla is because the area is somewhat impervious to radio signals given the slight valley in which the city lies. Simmons said radio waves go "right over the top" of the city which prompted Standef to file with the FCC many years ago to get the "fill-in translator."

When Standef sold KBTO, the new owners gave up rebroadcasting rights and that's when Simmons and KNDK stepped up to the plate. He said local ownership of the translator is also full of obstacles.

"We had a local owner in mind, but the attorney fees (for such a transaction) were too, high," Simmons said. "You'd have to pay thousands of dollars to hire a Washington, D.C.-based communications attorney. These guys charge $700 to $800 per hour. That's just not worth it for most folks."

Simmons said he isn't sure what the new owners have in mind but did mention such a transaction isn't unusual in the radio industry.

"There are all sorts of special interest groups trying to get their hands on little translators," Simmons said.

In addition, Simmons said translators don't hold many options for owners. "There's not a lot you can do with them. You can't broadcast locally because it's just a translator to rebroadcast another signal." he said. While Simmons and the rest of the KNDK listening area waits for news on the future, the radio general manager said he would not like to see the Rolla area go without its usual broadcast of classic rock and area sporting events. In addition, KNDK has played a major role in the city's annual holiday promotions by broadcasting winning numbers for the Rolla Customer Appreciation drawings.

"What we would miss is the opportunity to work with the Rolla Chamber and all the other people in town," Simmons said. "For now, though, it will be business as usual and we'll just wait for the phone to ring."

When contacted by The Star, a lawyer for Down East Communications did not have any specific information on the company's plan for the translator and just passed on an email address for one of the directors.



Copyright 2009 Turtle Mountain Star, Rolla, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 Turtle Mountain Star Rolla, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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