KPSA-FM

KPSA-FM
KPSA-FM's logo under previous 97.7 frequency
Frequency98.5 MHz
Branding98.5 The Planet
Programming
FormatClassic rock
Ownership
OwnerCochise Media Licenses, LLC
History
First air date
1986 (as KXKK at 97.7)
Former call signs
KXKK (1984–1997)
KQTN (1997–2002)[1]
Former frequencies
97.7 MHz (1989–2022)
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID29027
ClassA
ERP250 watts
HAAT−41 meters (−135 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
32°20′56.5″N 108°42′22″W / 32.349028°N 108.70611°W / 32.349028; -108.70611
Links
Public license information

KPSA-FM (98.5 FM, "98.5 The Planet") is a radio station licensed to serve Lordsburg, New Mexico, United States. The station, established in 1986, is currently owned by Cochise Media Licenses, LLC. The station is a member of the New Mexico Broadcasters Association.[3]

Programming

KPSA-FM broadcasts a classic rock music format.[4] In addition to its usual music programming, KPSA-FM broadcasts Major League Baseball games as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks radio network.[5]

History

Launch

This station received its original construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission on May 22, 1984.[6] The new station was assigned the KXKK call sign by the FCC on August 6, 1984.[1]

In October 1986, permit holders Charles R. Crisler and John W. Krehbiel, doing business as Interstate 10 Broadcasting of New Mexico, applied to the FCC to transfer the permit for the still-under construction KXKK to a new corporation called Interstate 10 Broadcasting of New Mexico, Inc. The transfer was approved by the FCC on June 30, 1987, and the transaction was consummated on August 18, 1987.[7] After several extensions and engineering modifications, KXKK finally received its license to cover from the FCC on September 22, 1989, broadcasting on 97.7 MHz.[8]

KQTN

In July 1994, after an aborted attempt to sell the station the previous year, Interstate 10 Broadcasting of New Mexico, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Loretta L. Farrier. The deal was approved by the FCC on June 14, 1995, and the transaction was consummated on August 14, 1995.[9] The new owner had the FCC change the station's call sign to KQTN on January 31, 1997.[1]

In May 1998, Loretta L. Farrier, announced a deal to sell KQTN to LuRunn Broadcasting System, LLC. The deal was approved by the FCC on September 1, 1998, and the transaction was consummated on October 20, 1998.[10] In October 1999, LuRunn Broadcasting System owner Phillip H. Runnels applied to transfer control of this station to Dewey Matthew Runnels as part of a multi-station deal valued at $180,000.[11] The transfer was approved by the FCC on December 20, 1999, and the transaction was consummated on January 20, 2000.[12] At the time of the transfer, KQTN's signal was dark.[11] Shortly thereafter, the company changed its name to Runnels Broadcasting System, LLC.

KPSA-FM

Facing financial difficulties, the broadcast license for KQTN was involuntarily transferred in August 2002 from Runnels Broadcasting System, LLC, to Runnels Broadcasting System, LLC, as Debtor-In-Possession. The transfer was approved by the FCC and consummated on September 19, 2002.[13] The station was assigned new call sign KPSA-FM by the FCC on October 22, 2002.[1]

As the financial issues continued, the license was again involuntarily transferred, this time from Runnels Broadcasting System, LLC, as Debtor-In-Possession to Linda S. Bloom acting as bankruptcy trustee for Runnels Broadcasting System, LLC. The transfer was approved by the FCC on January 7, 2005, and the transaction was consummated on January 10, 2005.[14] In February 2006, with approval from the bankruptcy court, trustee Linda S. Bloom reached an agreement to sell KPSA-FM to SkyWest Media subsidiary SkyWest Licenses New Mexico, LLC, as part of a three-station deal valued at $565,000.[15] The deal was approved by the FCC on March 28, 2006, and the transaction was consummated on June 1, 2006.[16]

Sale

In July 2009, SkyWest Media, through its Skywest Licenses New Mexico, LLC, subsidiary, reached an agreement to sell this station to Cochise Media Licenses, LLC, as part of a three-station deal in exchange for $552,000 in debt forgiveness.[17][18][19] SkyWest Media is owned by Ted Tucker Jr. and Cochise Media Licenses is owned by his father, Ted Tucker Sr.[17][19] This application was accepted for filing on July 13, 2009, and granted on October 9, 2009.

Construction permit

KPSA-FM applied to the FCC in July, 2010 for a construction permit that would allow them to change broadcast frequencies to 97.9 MHz, dramatically increase its effective radiated power from 250 to 43,000 watts, raise its antenna to 622 meters (2,041 ft) in height above average terrain, and relocate its transmitter site northeast to 32°34'57"N, 108°25'29"W. The improvements will increase the coverage area of the KPSA-FM broadcast signal.[20] The FCC granted the permit on August 26, 2010, and the permit is scheduled to expire on August 26, 2013.

Effective July 26, 2022, KPSA-FM was licensed to operate on 98.5 MHz.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KPSA-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "Broadcast Directory". New Mexico Broadcasters Association. Archived from the original on January 9, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
  4. ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
  5. ^ "D-backs Radio Affiliates". Arizona Diamondbacks. Retrieved August 5, 2009.
  6. ^ "Application Search Details (BPH-19830321AJ)". FCC Media Bureau. May 22, 1984.
  7. ^ "Application Search Details (BAPH-19861010HS)". FCC Media Bureau. August 18, 1987.
  8. ^ "Application Search Details (BLH-19860729KA )". FCC Media Bureau. September 22, 1989.
  9. ^ "Application Search Details (BALH-19940705GF)". FCC Media Bureau. August 14, 1995.
  10. ^ "Application Search Details (BAPLH-19980519EA)". FCC Media Bureau. October 20, 1998.
  11. ^ a b "Changing Hands". Broadcasting & Cable. November 29, 1999. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012.
  12. ^ "Application Search Details (BTC-19991012ABW)". FCC Media Bureau. January 20, 2000.
  13. ^ "Application Search Details (BAL-20020826AAI)". FCC Media Bureau. September 19, 2002.
  14. ^ "Application Search Details (BALH-20041221ABO)". FCC Media Bureau. January 10, 2005.
  15. ^ "Deals - 2006-03-11". Broadcasting & Cable. March 12, 2006.
  16. ^ "Application Search Details (BAL-20060213ACU)". FCC Media Bureau. June 1, 2006.
  17. ^ a b Taylor, Tom (July 14, 2009). "Ted Tucker Jr. sells two western FMs and a CP to his dad". Taylor on Radio-Info. Radio-Info.com. Retrieved August 4, 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  18. ^ "Transactions: 8-05-09". Radio Business Report. August 4, 2009. Archived from the original on January 3, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  19. ^ a b "Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License (BALH - 20090709ANY)". Federal Communications Commission. July 9, 2009.
  20. ^ "Predicted coverage area for KPSA 97.9 FM, Lordsburg, NM (construction permit)". Radio Locator. Retrieved August 5, 2009.