I'm guessing that the height restriction would have to be the height of the antenna above the ground. Someone situated in a gully is basically stuffed. No point in starting a station at all, unless 50 listeners is all you are after. Those living in higher areas have an unfair advantage.
There is no mention of making links illegal, so there is nothing stopping anyone from linking to a site on a hill or mountain. This is what those in low areas will now be forced to do. Just extra expense for no good reason.
Ross.
----- Original Message -----From: Richard PhelpsTo: LPFM_Radio@...Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 2:12 PMSubject: [LPFM] re: LPFM height restrictionHi group,
I support height restriction for LPFM.
Many LPFMers who are fortunate to either live on the side of a hill
overlooking some of their broadcast area, or using a friends
place/site on a hill will no doubt NOT like height restriction.
Even those broadcasters who have gone through strenuous effort to buy
filtering equipment or constructing transmitter towers to best reach
their indended community of people, while being mindful of the
volatile LPFM environment may disagree, but I believe they are the
ones that need to be applauded and I'd expect the govt to consider
them first when it comes to applications for community licenses.
NZ is geographically hilly, so yes, height restrictions would limit
the range for most LPFM operators, yet the doubling of power would
increase the signal strength to the broadcast area instead. Thats the
pressing topic from half the correspondence I get from listeners!
"when are you increasing your power?". While it won't give us bigger
reach, our signal will me much easier to pick up (within the intended
b/c area).
Some areas/towns in NZ are elevated like Titirangi, so height
restriction may not be the best idea for this area, nor would a
community license do anyone any favours because of the altitude (and
leaking coverage into other community licensed co-channel zones).
However, neighbouring Piha is geographically tricky, but because it is
isolated, something like a community license would benefit. I feel if
things were dealt on a case by case basis, it would be the best way to
tackle power issues. Licensing (even if it results with a special
granted MPFM frequency, for example) would be the way forward for
those affected by a height restriction.
cheers,
Richard
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