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KJCC gets hit with $2,000 fine by Christopher Geer Editor-in-Chief
For the frrst time in more than eight years of broadcasting, San JoseCityCollege'sKJCChas been fined $2,000 by the Federal Communications Commission. The fme comes after a surprise visit from an agent of the FCC on Nov. 3, 1992 in response to an allegation filed by KKSF, a commercial station in Modesto, that KJCCwasdegrading their station's signal by broadcasting at excessive wattage. The formal charge from the FCC is that KJCC "willfully" violated FCC regulations by broadcasting, without a license, on 104.1 FM. Technically, KJCC has never been licensed to operate on any frequency. The station usually operates within guidelines provided by the FCC for unlicensed stations. Private stations are allowed to lroadcast at 250 microvolts per
meter, which equals about half a watt, which at best, can be received from 1 mile away. When David Doone, a FCC agent from the Hayward, came to City College to investigate KKSF' s allegations, he found KJCC to be broadcasting at 11 .5 watts, over 100 times the legal limit "If I knew we were in violation, I would have reached over and shut off the switch." said Raymond Collins, Broadcasting Instructor. There are two possibilities for the reason why KJCC was broadcasting at such a high voltage: an attenuator inside the transmitter could have failed causing the power to increase or someone physically turned up the voltage without permission. Both possibilities are being investigated by an outside engineer. "I would like to believe the electronic failure myselfrather than somebody went in there and cranked it up," said Collins. When KJCC goes back on the
Wishing upon a star
Mike Baker and Kim Heany listen to the last minutes of their broadcast. by Artie Lashbrook/The Times air next semester it will be broad- ten response showing why the for- 19 class, which produces KJCC,
casting on a new transmitter that can't possibly transmit at a higher wattage. City College has decided to protest the allegation but no formal letter as of yet has been sent to the FCC. The school has untilJan. 2 to pay the fine or show, " ... writ-
feiture (fine) should be reduced or not imposed." according to the FCC notice. No FCC spokesperson was unavailable Wednesday for comment at their offices in Hayward or San Francisco. Since the shutdown, the Drama
by Mark Gomez Staff Writer
vision benefits of the employees. The Faculty Association and district have been unable to settle, and negotiations are now at an impasse. The Faculty Association, headed by City College instructor Fran McBrien, refused a similar offer that the classified/administrators accepted. The teachers insists that all part-time instructors be paid on a per credit unit rather than per class hour. The district's principle opposition to giving the rate increase to part-time instructors is the uncertainty of the budget over the next few years. "It is very difficult to predict the state budget. We don't want to jeopardize the district," said District ChancellorRonaldKong.Headded, "Wecan'tmake
Turtnoil in ASC by Ilene Meeks Staff writer
never know, but the children seem to enjoy Cherie VanDer Molen's holiday stories. Ryan Bates/The Times
a direct transmission into the College Union. "I am hoping the school can get everything straightened out soon so we can be back on the air when I return next semester," said Amelia Lara, a journalism student
Negotiations come to impasse Both the classified and administrative staff in the San Jost-Evergreen Community College District found an early Christmas gift under their tree this year - a bonus from the district. Members of the Faculty Association, on the other hand, will be going home to empty stockings. Classified and administrators recently settled their contract dispute with the district, accepting a onetime bonus and an increase in their health, welfare and vision benefits. The bonus, a one-time lump sum of 2% of their 1990-91 salary, was given with the Nov. 30 payroll. The district also improved the health and
Could the light above the chil d ren be the magical Christmas star? We may
has been airing their broadcast via
Even though the semester is almost over,Associated Student Body (ASC) Vice-President Jerome Jones has resigned from the ASC citing much frustration with President David Purdue and the council. Jones said he resigned because he could not work with the Administrative Council or the executive council. "I do not like to be part of a losing team ...Purdue does basically whatever he wants," claimed Jones.
Jones hoped his resignation will shock the council, into doing something. According to Jones, the council relinquished their power to the president, failing to understand that they could exercise power independenty. Secretary, Tania Wells submitted her official letter of resignation to the council Dec. 9 to be effective January 27. Advice Jones would like to give to the present and future council is,"to keep yourself honest and true ...you will always know you were good at it," said Jones.
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