Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
Approved by OMB
3060-0386 (July 2002)
FOR FCC USE ONLY
 
Engineering STA

Read Instructions/FAQ before filling out form

FOR COMMISSION USE ONLY
FILE NO.

BSTA - 20081027ADA
Section I - General Information
1. Legal Name of the Applicant
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Mailing Address
STATION WGVU
301 W. FULTON, ROOM 820

City
GRAND RAPIDS
State or Country (if foreign address)
MI
Zip Code
49504 - 6492
Telephone Number (include area code)
6163316666
E-Mail Address (if available)
WALENTAM@GVSU.EDU
FCC Registration No
0006986723
Call Sign
WGVU-TV
Facility ID Number
24784
2. Contact Representative (if other than licensee/permittee)
MARK VAN BERGH
Firm or Company Name
MARK VAN BERGH, ESQUIRE
Mailing Address
2538C SOUTH ARLINGTON MILL DRIVE

City
ARLINGTON
State or Country (if foreign address)
VA
ZIP Code
22206 -
Telephone Number (include area code)
7032984870

E-Mail Address (if available)
MVANBERGH@COMCAST.NET
3. Purpose:
Engineering STA
Extension of Existing Engineering STA
Legal STA
Extension of Existing Legal STA         
4. Service: TV 
5. Community of License:
City: GRAND RAPIDS     State: MI
6. If this application has been submitted without a fee, indicate reason for fee exemption (see 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1114):
Governmental Entity Noncommercial Educational Licensee/Permittee Other
N/A (Fee Required)
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Ensure that the specifications below are accurate. Contradicting data found elsewhere in this application will be disregarded. All items must be completed. The response "on file" is not acceptable.
TECH BOX
7.1. Channel:
35
7.2 Frequency Offset: Zero offset Plus offset Minus offset
7.3. Zone: I II III
7.4.
Antenna Location Coordinates: (NAD 27)
Latitude:    
Degrees 42 Minutes 57 Seconds 35     North     South

Longitude: 
Degrees 85 Minutes 53 Seconds 45     West     East
7.5. Antenna Structure Registration Number: 1005721
Not Applicable Notification filed with FAA
7.6.
Antenna Location Site Elevation Above Mean Sea Level: 210  meters
7.7.
Overall Tower Height Above Ground Level: 259  meters
7.8.
Height of Radiation Center Above Ground Level: 251  meters
7.9.
Height of Radiation Center Above Average Terrain: 261   meters  
7.10.
Maximum Effective Radiated Power: 924  kW     
7.11. Antenna Specifications:    
Nondirectional Directional

a. Manufacturer HAR     Model TWSC-30V

b.  Electrical Beam Tilt:
0.5 degrees    Not Applicable

c.   Mechanical Beam Tilt:
degrees toward azimuth
degrees True    Not Applicable

d.  Polorization:
Horizontal    Circular    Elliptical

Directional Antenna Relative Field Values:
Rotation (Degrees):    No Rotation
Degrees Value Degrees Value Degrees Value Degrees Value Degrees Value Degrees Value    
0 10 20 30 40 50
60 70 80 90 100 110
120 130 140 150 160 170
180 190 200 210 220 230
240 250 260 270 280 290
300 310 320 330 340 350
Additional 
Azimuths

8.
Please explain in detail the "extraordinary circumstances" which warrant temporary operations at variance from the Commission's Rules. In addition, please specify 1)the specific rules and/or policies from which the applicant seeks temporary relief; 2) how the public interest will be furthered by grant; and 3) the expected duration of the STA and the licensee's plan for restoration of licensed operation. If requesting variance with other than authorized technical facilities, please specify the exact facilities sought.
[Exhibit 40]
9.
Anti-Drug Abuse Act Certification. Applicant certifies that neither applicant nor any party to the application is subject to denial of federal benefits pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, 21 U.S.C. Section 862.
Yes No

I certify that I have prepared Engineering Data on behalf of the applicant, and that after such preparation, I have examined and found it to be accurate and true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Name
ROBERT LUMBERT
Relationship to Applicant (e.g., Consulting Engineer)
CHIEF ENGINEER
Signature
Date (mm/dd/yyyy)
10/27/2008
Mailing Address
STATION WGVU
301 W. FULTON, ROOM 820
City
GRAND RAPIDS
State or Country (if foreign address)
MI
Zip Code
49504 -6492
Telephone Number (include area code)
6163316666
E-Mail Address (if available)
LUMBERTR@GVSU.EDU

I hereby certify that the statements in this application are true, complete, and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and are made in good faith. I acknowledge that all certifications and attached Exhibits are considered material representations.

Typed or Printed Name of Person Signing
MICHAEL WALENTA
Typed or Printed Title of Person Signing
GENERAL MANAGER
Signature
Date (mm/dd/yyyy)
10/27/2008

WILLFUL FALSE STATEMENTS ON THIS FORM ARE PUNISHABLE BY FINE AND/OR IMPRISONMENT (U.S. CODE, TITLE 18, SECTION 1001), AND/OR REVOCATION OF ANY STATION LICENSE OR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (U.S. CODE, TITLE 47, SECTION 312(a)(1)), AND/OR FORFEITURE (U.S. CODE, TITLE 47, SECTION 503).



Exhibits
Exhibit 40
Description:
EXPLANATION OF STA REQUEST

WGVU-TV OPERATES WITH AN OLDER ANALOG TRANSMITTER WHICH IS NO LONGER OPERATING AT FULL EFFICIENCY OR ABLE TO MAKE ITS FULL, AUTHORIZED OUTPUT POWER OF 1320 KILOWATTS. THIS STA REQUEST THEREFORE SEEKS AUTHORITY TO ALLOW WGVU-TV TO OPERATE WITH AN ANALOG ERP OF 924 KILOWATTS, WHICH REPRESENTS 70% OF ITS AUTHORIZED ERP. OPERATING AT THIS REDUCED POWER WGVU-TV WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO APPROXIMATELY 90% OF THE POPULATION WITHIN ITS AUTHORIZED ANALOG SERVICE AREA. THE REDUCED POWER ANALOG OPERATION REQUESTED HEREIN WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE OPERATION OF WGVU-TV'S DIGITAL FACILITY, WHICH IS CURRENTLY OPERATING AT ITS FULL, LICENSED POST-TRANSITION DTV FACILITIES.

THE PROBLEMS WITH THE WGVU-TV ANALOG TRANSMITTER INCLUDE A WEAK KLYSTRON. WGVU-TV HAS DETERMINED THAT OPERATING AT 70% OF ITS AUTHORIZED ANALOG ERP WILL PERMIT THE STATION TO MAINTAIN PROPER SYNC RATIOS IN ITS TRANSMISSION, ALLOWING TELEVISION RECEIVERS TO LOCK-ON TO THE WGVU-TV SIGNAL, MAINTAINING SERVICE TO APPROXIMATELY 90% OF THE WGVU-TV ANALOG SERVICE AREA.

BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE WGVU-TV TRANSMITTER, AND THE FACT THAT THE ANALOG CUT-OFF DATE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DIGITAL TRANSITION IS LESS THAN 120 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS FILING, IT IS NOT COST-EFFECTIVE TO REPAIR (OR ATTEMPT TO REPAIR) THE WGVU-TV TRANSMITTER (ASSUMING THAT REPAIRS ARE EVEN POSSIBLE AT THIS TIME GIVEN THE TRANSMITTER'S AGE). THUS, WGVU-TV ANTICIPATES THAT IT WILL OPERATE ITS ANALOG CHANNEL AT THE REDUCED POWER PROPOSED IN THIS STA REQUEST UNTIL FEBRUARY 17, 2009, WHEN THE ANALOG CHANNEL WILL BE SHUT OFF AS PART OF THE DTV TRANSITION.

THE REASONS FOR THIS STA REQUEST ARE WHOLLY UNRELATED TO THE DTV TRANSITION (AS NOTED, WGVU-TV IS CURRENTLY OPERATING WITH ITS LICENSED POST-TRANSITION DTV FACILITIES). IN THE THIRD PERIODIC REVIEW OF THE COMMISSION'S RULES AND POLICIES AFFECTING THE CONVERSION TO DIGITAL TELEVISION, FCC 07-228, RELEASED DECEMBER 31, 2007, THE COMMISSION ESTABLISHED CERTAIN PROCEDURES THAT STATIONS ARE TO FOLLOW TO OBTAIN AN STA FOR REDUCED ANALOG SERVICE WHEN SUCH SERVICE REDUCTIONS ARE RELATED TO THE DTV TRANSITION. SEE, E.G., PARAGRAPHS 114-117. THE COMMISSION DID NOT, HOWEVER, ADDRESS PROCEDURES THAT WOULD APPLY TO AN STA FOR REDUCED ANALOG SERVICE THAT IS DUE TO AN ANALOG EQUIPMENT FAILURE, AS IS WGVU-TV'S SITUATION. WGVU-TV HAD INTENDED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A FULL-POWER ANALOG SERVICE UNTIL THE TRANSITION DATE PRIOR TO EXPERIENCING THE TRANSMITTER PROBLEMS. WGVU-TV BELIEVES IT WILL BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ANALOG SERVICE TO 90% OF ITS SERVICE AREA POPULATION AS OPPOSED TO TERMINATING ANALOG OPERATIONS PRIOR TO THE TRANSITION DATE.

AFTER DISCUSSING THIS MATTER WITH STAFF OF THE VIDEO SERVICES DIVISION, WGVU-TV IS FILING THIS STA REQUEST PURSUANT TO 'NORMAL' PROCEDURES FOR REQUESTING TEMPORARY AUTHORITY DUE TO AN EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION, AND FOR THAT REASON IS NOT PROVIDING THE ADDITIONAL SHOWING DESCRIBED IN THE THIRD PERIODIC REVIEW'S REPORT AND ORDER (PARAGRAPHS 115-117) FOR MATTERS RELATED TO THE DTV TRANSITION.

BECAUSE WGVU-TV ANTICIPATES OPERATING AT THE REDUCED FACILITIES SPECIFIED HEREIN UNTIL THE DTV TRANSITION DATE, IT IS REQUESTED THAT ANY TEMPORARY AUTHORITY GRANTED AS A RESULT OF THIS REQUEST ALLOW SUCH OPERATION THROUGH FEBRUARY 17, 2009.

Attachment 40