FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
445 TWELFTH STREET SW
WASHINGTON DC 20554
MEDIA BUREAU
AUDIO DIVISION
APPLICATION STATUS: (202) 418-2730
HOME PAGE: www.fccgov/mb/audio/

ENGINEER: Joseph Szczesny
TELEPHONE: (202) 418-2700
FACSIMILE: (202) 418-1410
E-MAIL: Joseph.Szczesnyfcc.gov

July 22, 2014
Bruce L. Merchant, President
Merchant Broadcasting, Inc.
115 East Napoleon Street
Sulphur, Louisiana 70663
Re:

Merchant Broadcasting, Inc. (MBI)
KEZM (AM), Sulphur, Louisiana
Facility Identification Number: 36210
Special Temporary Authority (STA)
BESTA- 2013031 1AEM

Dear Mr. Merchant:
This is in reference to the request filed on March 11, 2013.1 MBI requests a third
extension of the STA originally granted on July 19, 2011, to operate Station KEZM with
temporary facilities due to loss of the licensed transmitter site.2 In support of the request, MBI
stated that additional time is needed to file a construction permit for a new site.
Requests for extension of STA will be granted only where the licensee can show that one
or more of the following criteria have been met:
• Restoration of licensed facilities is complete and testing is underway;
• Substantial progress has been made during the most recent STA period toward restoration
of licensed operation; or
• No progress has been made during the most recent STA period for reasons clearly
beyond the licenseets control, and the licensee has taken all possible steps to
Action on this request was delayed because it was filed incorrectly as a legal STA instead of an extension of an
existing engineering STA. To avoid this problem in the future we recommend that MBI's legal or engineering
representative review the STA web page online (http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedialemergency-antennas-silentstations-special-temporary-authority-sta-broadcast-services ) for more info before attempting to file any future
request for a technical STA extension.
2IZM is licensed for DA operation on 1310 kHz with 0.5 kW day and 0.05 kW night.

expeditiously resolve the problem.
We noted that an FCC Form 301 construction permit application for a new site has not
been filed in the past year. As a result, we will grant additional time, but caution MBI to note that
failure to file an acceptable FCC Form 301 application before the expiration date shown below (or
to submit new information showing that substantial progress has been made) may result in a
cancellation of this STA.
Accordingly, the request for extension of STA IS HEREBY GRANTED. Station KEZM
may continue to operate with the following facilities:
Geographic coordinates
Frequency
Hours of operation
Operating power
Antenna type
Antenna efficiency
Overall height

30° 14' 11" N, 93° 20' 47" W (NAD 1927)
1310KHz
Unlimited
Not to exceed 0.125 kW daytime, 0.0125 kW nighttime
Existing tower with skirt feed, nondirectional
201 mV/mlkm!kW
42.6 meters

It will be necessary to further reduce power or cease operation if complaints of
interference are received. MBI must use whatever means are necessary to protect workers and
the public from exposure to radio frequency radiation in excess of the Commission's exposure
guidelines. See 47 CFR § 1.13 10.
This authority expires on November 22, 2014.
Sincerely,

Joseph Szczesny, Engineer
Audio Division
Media Bureau
cc: Merchant Broadcasting, Inc.

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