Case Studies

Developing Advanced Software and Other New Technologies in our Spectrum Innovation Lab™—First Broadcasting’s Spectrum Innovation Lab™ unifies, in a single venue, some of the industry’s leading engineers, software developers, strategists and financiers. Our professionals include experts in complex software algorithms, digital and signal propagation, project finance, competitive strategy and results-oriented management. Using an array of sophisticated systems, devices and facilities, our multi-disciplinary team develops new systems and solutions involving spectrum allocation, analog signal wave forms, digital signal propagation, interservice interference, and digital data transmission.

Adding Millions of New Pops in Major Markets – First Broadcasting successfully completed a counterproposal to a proposed rulemaking to upgrade a radio station from a Class A to a Class C in a top 5 market. Through an innovative engineering and strategic plan, First Broadcasting's proposal permitted the station to increase its coverage by almost 2.5 million people. The spectrum improvement provided dramatically increased value to the owner and significantly increased the number of listeners served.

Minimizing Community Disruption in Tower Construction – In many development situations, one of the biggest challenges can be the construction of a new tower in a strategic location. Faced with an inability to secure a new tower site for the improvement of a radio station into a top-25 market, First Broadcasting developed a creative solution. We successfully negotiated the right to place an antenna on top of a major power company’s electric transmission tower. End result? A problem solved, a new revenue stream for the power company, and a dramatically improved major market signal in the process.

Signal Synchronization Using Proprietary Software – Sometimes the development challenge is not simply more signal coverage over a broader geographic region, but rather to enhance the signal quality in its targeted service area and thereby increase the number of listeners. We did just that in the number one radio market in the country. Our proprietary and innovative signal enhancement tools, software and development strategies eliminated the interference between two signals while adding over 1,000,000 new listeners who couldn’t receive the station's signal previously.

Spectrum Innovation Lab™ Speeds Completion for Complex Projects – First Broadcasting completed one of the most complex major radio station upgrade projects in history. We upgraded a top five market radio station from a Class A to a Class C facility. In the process, we successfully negotiated contracts with 15 separate stations to accommodate or otherwise make possible the station development. The process involved the physical modification of over ten radio stations, the investment of millions of dollars of our own capital and several years of effort, but resulted in over 2 million new listeners to the station. Without a relentless dedication to execution, this project would not have been possible.

Creative Solutions For Spectrum Owners and their Communities – First Broadcasting always searches for ways to benefit all of the communities affected by our spectrum development projects. In a recent project in Washington state, First Broadcasting worked with several local school districts to identify alternative locations for their stations and helped them build out their stations keeping them on the air and serving their student populations and local communities.

Letter From the Peninsula School District

In a small town in Northern California, we worked with community leaders to ensure a continuity of broadcast service in their town by funding a new non-profit corporation and by financing the development and equipment for a sub-carrier signal to continue to service their community. In a small town in Mississippi, we worked with community leaders to address their concerns regarding unwanted roosting vultures on local broadcast towers. At our own expense and without obligation, we commissioned a study and plan from a local university expert to devise a structure that would safely repel and not attract the unwanted birds. First Broadcasting continues to believe that broadcasters are here first and foremost to serve our communities.