Transmitter at Cape Fanshaw operational

About two weeks ago, the Wrangell Sentinel received an email regarding a weather transmitter at Cape Fanshaw that was not operating. The email claimed that the transmitter has not been in operation for over a year, and is supposed to provide weather and navigation information for Frederick Sound and Stephens Passage. The email went on to say that it was the responsibility of the Coast Guard to repair the transmitter, which they have not done.

Cape Fanshaw is located north of Petersburg, along a point of mainland between Kupreanof Island and Admiralty Island. According to the National Weather Service website, as of two weeks ago, the Cape Fanshaw transmitter was out of service. However, as of Oct. 6, NOAA and Coast Guard personnel confirmed that the transmitter was now operational.

Kip Wadlow, Coast Guard spokesperson, said that the transmitter fell under the domain of NOAA. He later clarified in a brief conversation on Oct. 6 that they had a memorandum of understanding with NOAA regarding the transmitters.

Angel Corona, with NOAA, went into more detail about the transmitter. According to him, the transmitter at Cape Fanshaw is part of an inter-agency agreement between NOAA and the Coast Guard. NOAA would provide weather information to the Coast Guard, he said, which the Coast Guard would then broadcast through "high site" transmitters like the one at Cape Fanshaw.

Corona went on to say that both NOAA and the Coast Guard were aware of the problems with the Cape Fanshaw transmitter. He said that the transmitter had been unable to broadcast weather information since July of 2019. The Coast Guard made two unsuccessful attempts to repair the transmitter previously, he went on to say. Angel said that there are several challenges to getting to the site for repairs. The transmitter is in a remote location and the Coast Guard has to helicopter in to reach it. Furthermore, he added that the COVID-19 pandemic has recently added further complications to organizing a repair attempt. Corona said that it was his understanding there were several radios in the Cape Fanshaw transmitter, it was NOAA's weather radio that was having problems

Wadlow said that the transmitter became operational again on Oct. 1. Technicians with the Coast Guard were doing some remote troubleshooting on the transmitter last Thursday. Their troubleshooting appeared to be a catalyst to get the transmitter's NWS beacon operational once again, he said.

There are two transmitters out of service in Southeast Alaska, according to the National Weather Service website last Tuesday, one near Sitka and one near Mt. McArthur. More information regarding the transmitters can be found at http://www.weather.gov/nwr/.