WUSC requesting F
By LAURA L. HENDRIX
Gamecock Staff Writer
A transference of WUSC-FM's broadcasting license to WUSC-AM
will be requested by the AM station in order for it to convert to FM.
Ed Turner. manager of the AM station, says he plans to ask the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to approve a frequency
change from 89.9 to 91.9 megahertz and a permit to begin broadcasting
on FM if. and when, the changes are approved Turner plans to
change the name on the license the Extension Division of the
University of South Carolina to another name which is unknown. The
Extension Division holds the license under which WUSC-FM is
broadcasting on the frequencyy of 89.9.
The university's FM station will relinquish its frequency in order for
Columbia Bible College to begin operating on the 89.7 frequency. The
subsequent activities of the FM station will be done in cooperation
with the South Carolina Educational Television Commission's
Educational Radio Network.
The relinquishing of the frequency came about through a series of
events. ETV, Benedict College and Columbia Bible College all wanted
FM frequencies from the FCC. There were three existing frequencies
in the Columbia area. USC already had one of these. The FCC said
other three institutions could work out among themselves a plan as to
who would get the other two frequencies. USC agreed to give up its
frequency to Columbia Bible College with the stipulation that USC
would be able to assist ETV with programing. This arrangement was
agreed to.
Columbia Bible College is in the process of building its station. Until
that station is ready, WUSC-FM will continue to broadcast on its
frequency. It is not known when the Bible College will be ready for
broadcasting.
WUSC-FM may relinquish its frequency before Columbia Bible
College is ready for it if ETV wants to incorporate USC programming
into its 1000,000-watt station first. This turnover may occur by August,
according to Zane Knauss, of USC'c public and cultural affairs ofice.
There has been some question as to whether the plans of the AM
station are possible according to Dr. Richard Uray, chairman of the
College of Journalism's broadcasting sequence, the procedure for
getting a broadcasting license for a particular frequency is , first of
all, if that frequency is not allocated for the area by FCC, a request for
allocation must be submitted. The three frequencies allocated to the
Columbia area are those held by WUSC-FM, Benedict College and
ETV. The frequency that WUSC-AM wants, 91.9 is not allocated for
this area. Once the frequency may apply to the FCC for a license.
Turner said he was not aware that he may have to ask the FCC to
allocate the frequency he wants to this area before he can apply for it.
"I don't know about the allocation. I would assume that since my
consultant hasn't mentioned this that it's no problem," said Turner.
WUSC-AM hired a consultant from Educational FM Associates in
Boston, Mass. to study their situation. Edward F. Perry, the firm's
president, is consulting the station, using information gained from
FCC computer files, Turner said. The radio station is paying the firm
approxiamately $ 1,000 for its services.
One of the problems Turner has come upon is finding a frequency
that the station can use. FCC regulations stipulate that within certain
geographic distances frequencies must be at a certain number of
chapnels apart. For example, when Columbia Bible College begins
broadcasting on 89.7, the frequencies from 89.5 to 89. megahertrx will
News briefs
Education dean is honored
From staff reports and news releases
Dr. Leon M. Lessinger, dean of the USC College of Education,
has been named an "outstanding educator of the century" by
the American Association of School Administrators. Lessinger,
a former associate commissioner of the U.S. Office of
Education, will be honored and will present a paper to the group
when it meets Feb. 22 in Atlantic City, N.J. Lessinger's paper
will be on "Teaching As a Performing Art." Lessinger, along
with Dr. Don Gillis, director of the USC Center for Media Arts
Studies, have created a new television course for teachers based
on looking at a teacher as a performing artist. The association
is considered the country's leading and most prestigious
organization of school administrators, drawing its membership
largely from school superintendents from across the country.
Scholarship winners announced
Recipients of the Edward M. Fersner Scholarships at USC for
the 1975-76 school year have been announced. Paul Fersner,
Susan Hunter and William Laurence Moore are this year's
recipients. The scholarships for Orangeburg County high school
graduates have been funded since 1965 through the USC
Educational Foundation by Orangeburg businessman Edward
M. Fersner, a 1929 graduate of Carolina. The scholarship is
awarded on the basis of economic need, character, scholastic
achievement, and potential promise of the applicant.
M f requency
be unavailable for use by anyone within 30 miles of their transmitter.
Another question has arisen as to whether the plans for transferring
the Extension Division's license to WUSC-AM are possible. Turner
said he plans to do this before WUSC-FM relinquishes its frequency.
This way the university would still retain the license but on a different
frequency. "I feel this would be easier than applying for another
license and would be more economical. If this isn't possible, it will
take more time, but I plan to have an FM station," Turner said.
"The Extension Division has already applied for a renewal of its
license," Knauss said," so it will continue to have a license," until it
gives its frequency up. He said Turner's plans may be feasible, but
Knauss does not know all the situation's legal aspects.
Turner was reluctant to discuss the plans for trying to have the
license transferred. "The journalism school will catch on. It's a
matter of who gets what. There's jealousy about control of depart
ments here. This is a very political school," he said.
The College of Journalism would try to get permission to get the
license if they realized his plans, Turner said. "Everybody has been
saying that it will be impossible for me to get an FM frequency," he
said.
Turner said the "administration at the journalism school" would
want the FM satation. "It really wouldn't be competition. How could I
compete? The journalism school broadcasts during the day from their
remote station(at the Coliseum). They already have a foot in the
door," Turner said.
Turner's plans have been approved by USC President Dr. William
H. Patterson. "The basic reason the administration has approved of
what we've done is that we'll give the journalism school the morning
half of our broadcast day, from eight to two or eight to four, depending
on our hours," Tdrner said.
WUSC -AM radio station has been rennovating to accomodate an FM
station if Turner's application is approved by FCC. "The studio was
inadequate for what we're doing now. It's noisy," Turner said. New
consoles have been bought, and there is a purchase order in the
process for tape decks. Turner said even if they do not get an FM
frequency, the equipment will upgrade the broadcasting of the AM
station.
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