Telethon 2009
Click here for the link to the 2009 Becon Santa Telethon webpage.
WAVM New Antenna Background
WAVM began operations in 1974 as a ten watt FM radio station. During the mid-eighties, the station applied for an increase in power to 200 watts and also applied to operate as an educational stereo radio station. These applications were filed by a representative of the Federal Communications Commission who assured WAVM that they were done correctly. WAVM operated at 200 watts for many years before being notified that certain parts of the application process were not conducted properly and therefore WAVM would have to reduce there power output back to ten watts.
The decrease in power drastically decreased the listening area that WAVM enjoyed for many years. Numerous listeners found that they could no longer receive the radio station. The station engineer filed a new application on behalf of WAVM with the Federal Communications Commission to increase its power to two hundred and fifty watts. Whenever a radio station files for a change in its technical operations, such an application, by law, allows for any other radio station operating on its frequency to apply to the FCC to acquire the original applicant’s broadcasting area.
WAVM was challenged twice by different radio stations and during the second challenge, the radio stations frequency and broadcasting area was tentatively assigned by the FCC to “Living Proof” a radio network which offers religious programming in many areas. This FCC action triggered a political tsunami involving state and federal reps. Many letters were written by Maynard residents, past WAVM members and others petitioning the FCC to reconsider their decision to give the WAVM frequency to another radio station. In the end a three way agreement between WAVM, WUMB UMASS Boston, and Living Proof was agreed to and accepted by the FCC.
As part of the new agreement, WAVM would be allowed to operate at five hundred watts while Living Proof would reduce its power and not interfere with the WAVM broadcast area. We will also now broadcast largely to the east rather than in all directions. In order for this increase to take place, it is necessary for WAVM to erect a new one hundred and twenty foot aerial which will hold a new antenna capable of broadcasting in a directional wave pattern. Immediately following the FCC decision, the Superintendent made a series of contacts w/local cell phone companies and put out two RFPs in an attempt to have a cell carrier construct an antenna tower which WAVM would eventually own and rent to others. These efforts were ultimately fruitless, but such opportunities continue to exist in theory. However, we now need to pursue plan B.An area behind the high school was chosen for the placement of the new aerial. A survey was then conducted by an independent company to make sure that no historical landmarks or tribal Indian lands would be adversely affected by the new aerial. Once this survey was approved by the FCC, we were granted a three year construction permit to complete the purchase and installation of the new equipment.
We are now in the second year of our construction permit and need to move forward with the final phase of this project. With that in mind, we have submitted a warrant article for the upcoming May town meeting which will allow us to purchase the new antenna and have the necessary installation work done. The total amount for the warrant is $40,000