Wind Power GeoPlanner™
Off-Air TV Analysis
Crown City Wind Energy Project
Prepared on Behalf of Air Energy TCI Inc
September 28, 2012
Air Energy TCI Inc Wind Power GeoPlanner™ Off-Air Television Report Crown City Wind Energy Project
Table of Contents
1. Introduction - 1 -
2. Summary of Results - 1 -
3. Impact Assessment - 7 -
4. Recommendations - 7 -
5. Contact Us - 7 -
6. Appendix A - 8 -
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Air Energy TCI Inc Wind Power GeoPlanner™ Off-Air Television Report Crown City Wind Energy Project
1. Introduction
In this report, Comsearch analyzed the off-air television stations whose service could potentially be affected by the proposed Crown City Wind Energy Project in Cortland County, New York. Off-air stations are television broadcasters that transmit signals that can be received directly on a television receiver from terrestrially located broadcast facilities. Comsearch examined the coverage of the off-air TV stations and the communities in the area that could potentially have degraded television reception because of the location of the proposed wind energy projects.
2. Summary of Results
The proposed wind energy project area and local communities are depicted in Figure 1 on the next page.
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Air Energy TCI Inc Wind Power GeoPlanner™ Off-Air Television Report Crown City Wind Energy Project
Figure 1: Wind Farm Project Area and Local Communities
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Air Energy TCI Inc Wind Power GeoPlanner™ Off-Air Television Report Crown City Wind Energy Project
To begin the analysis, Comsearch compiled all off-air television stations 1 within 150 kilometers of the wind project area of interest (AOI). Appendix A contains a tabular summary of these stations. A plot depicting their locations appears in Figure 2, below.
Figure 2: Plot of Off-Air TV Stations within 150 Kilometers of Project Area
TV stations at a distance of 75 kilometers or less are the most likely to provide off-air coverage to the project areas and their neighboring communities. These stations are listed in Table 1, below, and a plot depicting these locations is provided in Figure 3. There are a total of sixty database records for stations within approximately 75 kilometers of the wind energy project. Of these stations, thirty-six are currently licensed and operating, twenty-four of which are low-
1 Comsearch makes no warranty as to the accuracy of the data included in this report beyond the date of the report. The data presented in this report is derived from the TV station’s FCC license and governed by Comsearch’s data license notification and agreement located at http://www.comsearch.com/files/data_license.pdf .
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Air Energy TCI Inc Wind Power GeoPlanner™ Off-Air Television Report Crown City Wind Energy Project
power stations or translators. Translator stations are low-power stations that receive signals from distant broadcasters and retransmit the signal to a local audience. These stations serve local audiences and have limited range, which is a function of their transmit power and the height of their transmit antenna. The twelve remaining operational stations in Table 1 broadcast at full power and are licensed under call signs WNYI, WSYT, WNYS-TV, WSYR-TV, WSTM-TV, WCNY-TV, WTVH, WSKG-TV, WIVT, WBNG-TV, WICZ-TV, and WSPX-TV.
Figure 3: Plot of Off-Air TV Stations within 75 Kilometers of Project Area
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Distance to State / ID Call Sign Status 2 Service 2 Channel City Nearest Province Turbine (km) 1 WNYI CP MOD DT 20 ITHACA NY 9.71 2 WNYI LIC DT 20 ITHACA NY 9.71 3 WSYT LIC DT 19 SYRACUSE NY 26.30 4 WNYS-TV LIC DT 44 SYRACUSE NY 26.30 5 WSYR-TV LIC DT 17 SYRACUSE NY 30.50 6 WDSS-LP LIC TX 38 SYRACUSE NY 30.85 7 WDSS-LP APP LD 38 SYRACUSE NY 30.85 8 WDSS-LP CP LD 38 SYRACUSE NY 30.86 9 WDSS-LP APP LD 38 SYRACUSE NY 30.86 10 WSTM-TV LIC DT 24 SYRACUSE NY 30.95 11 WCNY-TV LIC DT 25 SYRACUSE NY 30.95 12 WTVH LIC DT 47 SYRACUSE NY 31.95 13 W07BJ LIC TX 7 ITHACA NY 35.42 14 W20BT LIC TX 20 ITHACA NY 36.91 15 NEW APP LD 27 ITHACA NY 36.91 16 WIXT-CA LIC CA 40 DEWITT NY 37.49 17 WIXT-CA CP DC 40 DEWITT NY 37.49 18 WNDR-LP LIC TX 49 SYRACUSE NY 37.71 19 WNDR-LP CP LD 49 SYRACUSE NY 37.71 20 W07BA LIC TX 7 SYRACUSE NY 38.65 21 W16AX LIC CA 16 ITHACA NY 39.23 22 W16AX APP DC 51 ITHACA NY 39.23 23 WNYI APP DM 20 ITHACA NY 39.23 24 W42EB-D CP TX 31 SYRACUSE NY 42.90 25 W42EB-D APP LD 42 SYRACUSE NY 42.90 26 W42EB-D LIC LD 42 SYRACUSE NY 42.90 27 WMBO-LP LIC TX 6 WESTVALE NY 44.07 28 WMBO-LP CP TX 6 WESTVALE NY 44.07 29 WONO-CA LIC CA 11 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 30 WBLZ-LP LIC TX 13 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 31 WSTQ-LP LIC TX 14 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 32 WTVU-LP LIC CA 22 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 33 WTVU-LP CP DC 22 SYRACUSE NY 44.07
2 Definitions of service and status codes: DT – Digital television broadcast station LD – Low power digital television broadcast station TX – Translator station CA – Class A analog television broadcast station DC – Class A digital television broadcast station LIC – Licensed and operational station CP – Construction permit granted CP MOD – Modification of construction permit APP – Application for construction permit, not yet operational
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Air Energy TCI Inc Wind Power GeoPlanner™ Off-Air Television Report Crown City Wind Energy Project
Distance to State / ID Call Sign Status 2 Service 2 Channel City Nearest Province Turbine (km) 34 WTVU-LP APP DC 22 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 35 WTVU-LP APP DC 22 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 36 NEW APP LD 34 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 37 WOBX-LP LIC TX 35 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 38 WHSU-CA LIC CA 51 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 39 WHSU-CA CP DC 51 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 40 W48AO LIC TX 48 AUBURN NY 48.67 41 WNNY-LD CP LD 31 AUBURN NY 51.80 42 WNNY-LP LIC TX 6 AUBURN NY 51.96 43 WCUL-CA LIC CA 13 ONEIDA NY 53.55 44 WTKO-LP LIC TX 15 ONEIDA NY 53.55 45 WXXW-LP LIC TX 6 BINGHAMTON NY 57.89 46 WSKG-TV LIC DT 42 BINGHAMTON NY 61.75 47 WBGH-CA LIC CA 20 BINGHAMTON NY 61.81 48 WIVT LIC DT 34 BINGHAMTON NY 61.81 49 WBNG-TV LIC DT 7 BINGHAMTON NY 61.98 50 WICZ-TV LIC DT 8 BINGHAMTON NY 62.32 51 WBPN-LD CP LD 23 BINGHAMTON NY 62.32 52 W26BS LIC TX 26 BINGHAMTON NY 62.32 53 W26BS APP LD 26 BINGHAMTON NY 62.32 54 WBPN-LP LIC TX 10 MORRIS NY 62.32 55 WFXV APP DT 27 UTICA NY 62.64 56 W59DG CP LD 38 ELMIRA NY 65.46 57 WTKO-LP CP TX 32 SYLVAN BEACH NY 67.62 58 W31BP LIC TX 31 BURLINGTON NY 68.92 59 WSPX-TV LIC DT 15 SYRACUSE NY 70.42 60 DK02CG STA LD 40 WATKINS GLEN NY 74.93
Table 1: Off-Air TV Stations within 75 Kilometers of Project Area
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Air Energy TCI Inc Wind Power GeoPlanner™ Off-Air Television Report Crown City Wind Energy Project
3. Impact Assessment
There are a significant number of full-power digital TV stations broadcasting to the communities in and around the project area. These stations are primarily located in Syracuse, Ithaca and Binghamton. The twelve full-power digital stations within 75 kilometers of the project boundary may have their reception disrupted in and around the turbines, or in locations on the opposite side of the project area relative to the station antennas. After the turbines are installed, communities and homes to the south of the project may have degraded reception of stations WNYI, WSYT, WNYS-TV, WSYR-TV, WSTM-TV, WCNY-TV, WTVH, and WSPX-TV, which are north of the project area. Similarly, stations WSKG-TV, WIVT, WBNG-TV, and WICZ-TV, which broadcast from south of the project area, may have diminished reception in communities directly to the north.
However, the TV stations are geographically distributed around the project area so that no community should have all of its available off-air channels affected by the presence of the wind turbines. In addition, recent surveys of TV reception in the U.S. found that only 10% of households now rely solely on off-air television. TV cable service, where available, and direct broadcast satellite service (DBS) are more likely the dominant modes of service delivery.
4. Recommendations
Both cable service and direct broadcast satellite service will be unaffected by the presence of the wind turbine facility and may be offered to those residents who can show that their off-air TV reception has been disrupted by the presence of the wind turbines after they are installed.
5. Contact Us
For questions or information regarding the Off-Air TV Analysis, please contact:
Contact person: Lester Polisky Title: Senior Principal Engineer Company: Comsearch Address: 19700 Janelia Farm Blvd., Ashburn, VA 20147 Telephone: 703-726-5860 Fax: 703-726-5595 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.comsearch.com
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Air Energy TCI Inc Wind Power GeoPlanner™ Off-Air Television Report Crown City Wind Energy Project
6. Appendix A
Distance to ID Call Sign Status 3 Service 3 Channel City State Nearest Turbine (km) 1 WNYI CP MOD DT 20 ITHACA NY 9.71 2 WNYI LIC DT 20 ITHACA NY 9.71 3 WSYT LIC DT 19 SYRACUSE NY 26.30 4 WNYS-TV LIC DT 44 SYRACUSE NY 26.30 5 WSYR-TV LIC DT 17 SYRACUSE NY 30.50 6 WDSS-LP LIC TX 38 SYRACUSE NY 30.85 7 WDSS-LP APP LD 38 SYRACUSE NY 30.8 5 8 WDSS-LP CP LD 38 SYRACUSE NY 30.86 9 WDSS-LP APP LD 38 SYRACUSE NY 30.86 10 WSTM-TV LIC DT 24 SYRACUSE NY 30.95 11 WCNY-TV LIC DT 25 SYRACUSE NY 30.95 12 WTVH LIC DT 47 SYRACUSE NY 31.95 13 W07BJ LIC TX 7 ITHACA NY 35.42 14 W20BT LIC TX 20 ITHACA NY 36.91 15 NEW APP LD 27 ITHACA NY 36.91 16 WIXT-CA LIC CA 40 DEWITT NY 37.49 17 WIXT-CA CP DC 40 DEWITT NY 37.49 18 WNDR-LP LIC TX 49 SYRACUSE NY 37.71 19 WNDR-LP CP LD 49 SYRACUSE NY 37.71 20 W07BA LIC TX 7 SYRACUSE NY 38.65 21 W16AX LIC CA 16 ITHACA NY 39.23 22 W16AX APP DC 51 ITHACA NY 39.23 23 WNYI APP DM 20 ITHACA NY 39.23 24 W42EB-D CP TX 31 SYRACUSE NY 42.90 25 W42EB-D APP LD 42 SYRACUSE NY 42.90 26 W42EB-D LIC LD 42 SYRACUSE NY 42.90 27 WMBO-LP LIC TX 6 WESTVALE NY 44.07
3 Definitions of service and status codes : TV – Analog television broadcast station DT – Digital television broadcast station DS – Digital special temporary authority (STA) LP – Low power analog television broadcast station LD – Low power digital television broadcast station CA – Class A analog television broadcast station DC – Class A digital television broadcast station TX – Translator station LIC – Licensed and operational station CP – Construction permit granted CP MOD – Modification of construction permit APP – Application for construction permit, not yet operational STA – Special transmit authorization, usually granted by FCC for temporary operation
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Air Energy TCI Inc Wind Power GeoPlanner™ Off-Air Television Report Crown City Wind Energy Project
Distance to ID Call Sign Status 3 Service 3 Channel City State Nearest Turbine (km) 28 WMBO-LP CP TX 6 WESTVALE NY 44.07 29 WONO-CA LIC CA 11 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 30 WBLZ-LP LIC TX 13 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 31 WSTQ-LP LIC TX 14 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 32 WTVU-LP LIC CA 22 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 33 WTVU-LP CP DC 22 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 34 WTVU-LP APP DC 22 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 35 WTVU-LP APP DC 22 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 36 NEW APP LD 34 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 37 WOBX-LP LIC TX 35 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 38 WHSU-CA LIC CA 51 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 39 WHSU-CA CP DC 51 SYRACUSE NY 44.07 40 W48AO LIC TX 48 AUBURN NY 48.67 41 WNNY-LD CP LD 31 AUBURN NY 51.80 42 WNNY-LP LIC TX 6 AUBURN NY 51.96 43 WCUL-CA LIC CA 13 ONEIDA NY 53.55 44 WTKO-LP LIC TX 15 ONEIDA NY 53.55 45 WXXW-LP LIC TX 6 BINGHAMTON NY 57.89 46 WSKG-TV LIC DT 42 BINGHAMTON NY 61.75 47 WBGH-CA LIC CA 20 BINGHAMTON NY 61 .81 48 WIVT LIC DT 34 BINGHAMTON NY 61.81 49 WBNG-TV LIC DT 7 BINGHAMTON NY 61.98 50 WICZ-TV LIC DT 8 BINGHAMTON NY 62.32 51 WBPN-LD CP LD 23 BINGHAMTON NY 62.32 52 W26BS LIC TX 26 BINGHAMTON NY 62.32 53 W26BS APP LD 26 BINGHAMTON NY 62.32 54 WBPN-LP LIC TX 10 MORRIS NY 62.32 55 WFXV APP DT 27 UTICA NY 62.64 56 W59DG CP LD 38 ELMIRA NY 65.46 57 WTKO-LP CP TX 32 SYLVAN BEACH NY 67.62 58 W31BP LIC TX 31 BURLINGTON NY 68.92 59 WSPX-TV LIC DT 15 SYRACUSE NY 70.42 60 DK02CG STA LD 40 WATKINS GLEN NY 74.93 61 WWDG-CA APP CA 6 ROME NY 75.06 62 WWDG-CA APP CA 6 ROME NY 75.06 63 WWDG-CA LIC CA 12 ROME NY 75.06 64 WISF-LP LIC TX 15 ONEONTA NY 77.41 65 WVVC-LD APP LD 28 UTICA NY 78.25 66 WVVC-LD LIC LD 33 UTICA NY 78.25 67 W26BF LIC TX 26 ELMIRA NY 78.89
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Air Energy TCI Inc Wind Power GeoPlanner™ Off-Air Television Report Crown City Wind Energy Project
Distance to ID Call Sign Status 3 Service 3 Channel City State Nearest Turbine (km) 68 W59DG CP LD 32 ELMIRA NY 82.70 69 W59DG LIC TX 59 ELMIRA NY 82.70 70 WETM-TV LIC DT 18 ELMIRA NY 85.78 71 W21BW LIC TX 21 ELMIRA NY 86.43 72 W21BW CP LD 28 ELMIRA NY 86.43 73 W51CV APP LD 18 UTICA NY 86.62 74 W51CV LIC TX 51 UTICA NY 86.62 75 W51CV CP LD 51 UTICA NY 86.62 76 W22DO-D LIC LD 22 UTICA NY 86.68 77 WPNY-LP LIC TX 11 UTICA NY 86.87 78 WFXV LIC DT 27 UTICA NY 86.87 79 WUTR LIC DT 30 UTICA NY 86.87 80 W53AM APP LD 35 UTICA NY 86.87 81 W53AM CP LD 42 UTICA NY 86.87 82 W53AM LIC TX 53 UTICA NY 86.87 83 WMYH-LP LIC TX 6 ELMIRA NY 87.84 84 W46DY LIC TX 46 UTICA NY 95.90 85 WYDC LIC DT 48 CORNING NY 96.78 86 NEW APP LD 16 ELMIRA NY 96.78 87 NEW APP LD 22 CORNING NY 96.78 88 WENY-TV LIC DT 36 ELMIRA NY 96.78 89 WJKP-LD LIC LD 39 CORNING NY 96.78 90 W41DB LIC TX 41 CORNING NY 96.78 91 W45DZ-D CP LD 45 ELMIRA NY 96.78 92 W46EZ-D CP LD 46 ELMIRA NY 96.78 93 NEW APP LD 50 ELMIRA NY 96.78 94 NEW APP LD 50 ELMIRA NY 96.78 95 NEW APP LD 51 ELMIRA NY 96.78 96 WSKA LIC DT 30 CORNING NY 96.79 97 WFBT CP MOD DT 14 BATH NY 98.25 98 WFBT APP DT 14 BATH NY 98.25 99 W20BL-D LIC LD 20 BATH NY 98.25 100 W04AE LIC TX 4 HERKIMER NY 98.32 101 WKTV LIC DT 29 UTICA NY 99.59 102 W38FM-D CP LD 38 LINDLEY NY 107.15 103 W25AQ-D LIC LD 25 TOWANDA PA 108.23 104 W10CP-D LIC LD 10 TOWANDA PA 108.40 105 W15CO-D LIC LD 15 TOWANDA PA 108.40 106 W26BZ LIC TX 26 VICTOR NY 115.75 107 W20CP-D LIC LD 20 MANSFIELD PA 117.39
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Air Energy TCI Inc Wind Power GeoPlanner™ Off-Air Television Report Crown City Wind Energy Project
Distance to ID Call Sign Status 3 Service 3 Channel City State Nearest Turbine (km) 108 W26CV-D LIC LD 26 MANSFIELD PA 117.39 109 WUCB-LD APP LD 41 COBLESKILL NY 119.27 110 WUCB-LD LIC LD 41 COBLESKILL NY 119.27 111 WNEP-TV LIC LD 22 WAYMART PA 119.80 112 WYOU LIC LD 25 WAYMART PA 119.80 113 WBRE-TV LIC LD 28 WAYMART PA 119.80 114 WSWB LIC LD 36 SCRANTON PA 119.80 115 WVIA-TV LIC LD 44 WAYMART PA 119.80 116 WOLF-TV LIC LD 47 HAZLETON PA 119.80 117 WQPX-TV LIC LD 49 SCRANTON PA 119.80 118 W18BN LIC TX 18 SCRANTON PA 123.54 119 W14CO-D LIC LD 14 CLARKS SUMMIT PA 130.43 120 W47DH-D LIC LD 47 CLARKS SUMMIT PA 130.43 121 W48AQ LIC TX 48 CLARKS SUMMIT PA 130.43 122 WHEC-TV APP DT 10 ROCHESTER NY 132.13 123 WHEC-TV LIC DT 10 ROCHESTER NY 132.14 124 WROC-TV LIC DT 45 ROCHESTER NY 132.14 125 WHAM-TV LIC DT 13 ROCHESTER NY 132.15 126 WXXI-TV LIC DT 16 ROCHESTER NY 132.15 127 WXXI-TV APP DT 16 ROCHESTER NY 132.15 128 WUHF LIC DT 28 ROCHESTER NY 132.21 129 WHSH-LD CP LD 8 ROCHESTER NY 132.23 130 WAWW-LP CP TX 20 ROCHESTER NY 132.23 131 DWROH-LP CP LD 22 ROCHESTER NY 132.23 132 WHSH-LP LIC TX 36 ROCHESTER NY 132.23 133 WAWW-LP LIC TX 38 ROCHESTER NY 13 2.23 134 W42CO-D LIC LD 42 ROCHESTER NY 132.23 135 WAWW-LD CP LD 48 ROCHESTER NY 132.23 136 W24DB LIC CA 24 CLARKS SUMMIT PA 133.11 137 WSWB LIC DT 31 SCRANTON PA 133.11 138 WQPX-TV LIC DT 32 SCRANTON PA 133.24 139 W06AR LIC TX 6 HORNELL NY 134.06 140 W16BE-D LIC LD 16 HORNELL NY 134.06 141 WPBS-DT LIC DT 41 WATERTOWN NY 134.90 142 WPBS-DT CP DT 41 WATERTOWN NY 134.90 143 WWTI LIC DT 21 WATERTOWN NY 136.86 144 W21CP-D LIC LD 21 GLOVERSVILLE NY 139.32 145 WBGT-CA CP DC 46 ROCHESTER NY 140.34 146 WBGT-CA LIC CA 40 ROCHESTER NY 140.35 147 W51BN-D LIC LD 51 WHITE LAKE NY 141.00
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Distance to ID Call Sign Status 3 Service 3 Channel City State Nearest Turbine (km) 148 WFNY-CA LIC TX 49 GLOVERSVILLE NY 141.29 149 WFNY-CD LIC DC 48 GLOVERSVILLE NY 141.30 150 WFNY-CD LIC DC 48 GLOVERSVILLE NY 141.30 151 WGCE-CA LIC CA 6 GREECE NY 143 .30 152 WGCE-CA CP DC 25 GREECE NY 143.30 153 WNYF-CA LIC CA 28 WATERTOWN NY 143.77 154 W43CO-D LIC LD 43 KINGSTON PA 144.69 155 WWNY-TV LIC DT 7 CARTHAGE NY 144.85 156 WWNY-TV CP DT 7 CARTHAGE NY 144.85 157 WNYF-CD LIC LD 35 WATERTOWN NY 144.85 158 WTKJ-LP LIC TX 19 WATERTOWN NY 145.38 159 WTKJ-LP CP LD 19 WATERTOWN NY 145.38 160 WYBN-LD LIC LD 14 COBLESKILL NY 145.79
Table A: Off-Air TV Stations within 150 Kilometers of Project Area
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