Originally posted Monday, April 22, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
After several weeks off 101.1 and another month on limited power, Smooth Jazz 101.1 is back with its full signal intact once interference complaints regarding another station were addressed.
The Federal Communications Commission forced the signal off the air in early February because of complaints from listeners of classic country station WLJA/101.1 in Jasper, GA.
Smooth Jazz 101.1 fixed the signal problem and the FCC gave it clearance to return to full 250-watt power a couple of days ago.
Greg Davis Sr. of Columbus-base Davis Broadcasting, which owns the signal, said its core jazz audience is in Atlanta proper and suppressing the signal north of Atlanta isn't an issue. For north Georgia fans of smooth jazz, the station is simulcast on a 25,000-watt signal near Canton called WNSY-FM at 100.1. The station is also heard on AM 1310.
In February, Davis said he was aware of the interference issue when his company purchased the station from Youngers Colorado Broadcasting but didn't know it would reach a point where the FCC would force Smooth Jazz off the air.
WJZA-FM, its official call letters, debuted in October, 2017 at the 101.1 signal and eventually hired veteran Atlanta jock René Miller as program director and afternoon host. It competes directly with Clark Atlanta University's non-commercial 91.9/WCLK-FM.
Davis, who own several other radio stations, said he lost money while the station was off its primary signal but he managed to keep the payroll going.
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