My name is William Hicks. I’m President and primary shareholder of Bryan Broadcasting Corp. in Bryan-College Station, . As part of our radio group, we own four AM radio stations; WTAW-AM 1620 Khz, KWBC-AM 1550 Khz, KAGC-AM 1510 Khz, and KZNE-AM 1150 Khz. Each of these AM radio stations is information oriented, serving the area around Bryan, College Station and Navasota. These stations have the primary business objective of providing news, sports, weather and other information to these local communities. There are a wide variety of other types of information including religious services and discussion, political discussion, and various other types of information relevant on a local, regional and national level.

As with most AM signals, nighttime service is reduced in these communities. Whether these stations are daytime only, nighttime directional, or just reduced power, our ability to provide critical information services to our local communities is reduced, restricted and, with a daytime only station, eliminated.

The AM band has evolved into an information band in our community. As such, local citizens typically seek out AM radio stations for their local airwave information needs. Reduced nighttime service has a negative impact on that relationship. Over the years, I’ve discussed this with hundreds of local citizens, all complaining about their ability to hear our AM signals at night. To the laymen, they just want information, not an explanation of the AM band.

The concept of allowing AM stations to broadcast on a low power FM signal, at night, is an interesting concept; one meriting our study and review. It truly appears that this would provide a solution to the nighttime information needs of the Bryan-College Station and Navasota areas.

Our goal/objective is to serve our communities with information. This business objective serves us well from a business perspective, and serves the citizens of this community. As such, anything that would enhance this relationship is going to receive my wholehearted support. The information provided is important. An effective vehicle during nighttime hours would certainly add to our ability to serve these communities.

I ask that you give serious consideration to the positive impact of allowing AM stations to broadcast on low power FM signals during the nighttime hours of operation.

William R. Hicks President Bryan Broadcasting Corp., licensee of, WTAW, KZNE, KAGC, KWBC all AM’s and KNDE-FM Bryan, College Station, and Navasota, Texas