UTICA/ROME -- The company planning to build a new AM station licensed to serve Little Falls has filed paperwork with the FCC to move the station to a new location, southeast of the original tower site. As a result, it appears WKAJ 1120 will eventually sign-on with Saint Johnsville as it's community of license.
The change was reported in this week's edition of NorthEast Radio Watch. Scott Fybush notes that the new application could result in a significant power increase for WKAJ when it eventually signs-on.
The existing CP authorizes WKAJ for 1500 watts daytime, 250 watts nighttime. But owner Cranesville Block Company, Inc., has applied to build the station at a new location southeast of the original plan. With the move, Cranesville is expecting approval for 10,000 watts daytime and 400 watts between sunset and sunrise.
Fybush notes the newest proposal, if approved, would allow WKAJ "5 mV/m coverage from Herkimer almost to Johnstown, neatly complementing the reach of sister station WCSS (1490 Amsterdam) to the east."
The application was listed as "Accepted for Filing" by the FCC on February 11, meaning that the FCC doesn't have any immediate concerns, but as per standard procedure, the FCC must allow 30 days for public comment before issuing a final approval.
That change means this could very well both the first and last you'll read of WKAJ here on CNYRadio.com. Little Falls, in Herkimer County, is part of the Utica-Rome market. But Saint Johnsville is in Montgomery County, part of the Albany/Schenectady/Troy market -- beyond this website's coverage area.