Indiana’s WFNI-AM, Blessed Beginnings Broadcasting, Inc., is looking to acquire land to build more radio towers to support 50 kW station broadcasts. According to the Lebanon Reporter, BBB has its eye on a 75-acre parcel currently zoned as agricultural. The town of Zionsville Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is reviewing a request to change the land use from agricultural to commercial, which would allow the BBB to erect a six-tower array of 200-foot tall.
The land in question is currently occupied by Crow Family Farm, which leases its use to BBB. BBB President Brian Walsh says that the family would continue to operate the farm. The current occupant is the mother of Walsh’s brother-in-law.
“In my experience,” said Alex Roman of AR Broadcasting Technology in a written statement, “Interference by AM transmitters to other services is a very uncommon issue, mainly because there are very few other devices that operate in a similar frequency range to AM transmission. Everything from garage door openers to television sets operate spectrally distant from the AM band.” Roman added that he has operated radio stations for many years and has never received credible complaints about health issues, or interference with household electronic devices.
Roman’s letter reassured residents who’ve expressed concerns about additional radio towers in the region, according to the Lebanon Reporter. “I fully understand, appreciate and respect property owner rights and defend a property owner’s decision to profit from the sale or lease of their land,” wrote neighbor Tony Carrell. “In this instance, if the proposed petition is granted, it will forever change the landscape and potential use of surrounding land well into the future.”
If approved for commercial use, the BBB would add the additional towers to boost its coverage so it can share its Oldies music format with Indianapolis. Walsh said the 200-foot height of the towers would not require lighting, which would help minimize its impact on neighbors. The petition will be the subject of discussion at an upcoming town meeting. During its preliminary findings the BZA noted that it has already completed a fact finding mission and determined that the “proposed use will not be injurious to the public health, safety, comfort, community moral standards, convenience or general welfare.”
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