WBAA-FM Granted Construction Permit for Higher Power

WBAA-FM has been granted a construction permit by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to increase its power from 5,000 watts to 14,000 watts. We will begin construction of the increased power facility as well as moving to HD Radio Technology on FM later this year.

The power increase will allow WBAA Radio to increase its audience area.  General manager Tim Singleton says “It will increase the size of the coverage area a few miles but, more importantly, it will increase the strength and quality of the signal in Tippecanoe County.”

Another radio station moving its transmitter led WBAA to seek an increase in power.  “When the FM station went on the air in 1993, 5,000 watts was the maximum power we could get because of a station on the same frequency in Richmond, Indiana” Singleton said.  “Last winter we found out the station in Richmond moved its transmitter” allowing us to petition the FCC for an increase in power.

WBAA-FM will also be able to broadcast using HD Radio Technology in addition to its conventional FM signal.  WBAA received grant funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to pay for approximately 50% of the additional HD Radio conversion costs.   The increase in power for the FM will increase the costs of the transmitter.  Station funds from listeners have been allocated to make the conversion to HD Radio technology and increase power.

Converting WBAA FM to digital will allow the possibility of more programming.  Singleton says “For FM, digital will allow us to add one or two channels to the main channel.  The main channel will carry the current FM programming, but the addition of HD Technology will allow us to add additional programming on the supplemental channels.  As with digital TV, you can get more channels and programming.  We have not yet determined what programming we will add to the supplementary FM channels . Unlike TV, you will not need to buy a new receiver unless you want to listen to the supplementary channels on FM or the high-fidelity signal on AM.”