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Lightner Buying WTRN(AM)

Pending FCC-approval, he will take over the station from the late Cary Simpson

CLAYSBURG, Pa. � Lightner Electronics founder/President Matthew Lightner, CBE, will purchase Tyrone, Pa., radio station WTRN(AM), pending FCC approval, the Altoona Mirror reports.

WTRN(AM) also broadcasts on W264BZ, which retransmits the 1340 AM signal on the FM band at 100.7 MHz.�

He plans to take over the station from its late founder, Cary H. Simpson, who died last December. According to the article, Lightner was approached about the opportunity by other local broadcasters.

Although he plans to continue the station�s community focus and maintain its location and local staff, he plans to hire an operations manager and tweak the programming/format. He also intends to add a smartphone app and streaming for the station, as well as buy modern broadcast equipment � and a new roof for the 62 year-old station.

Lightner is also president of Lightner Communications LLC and currently serves as the engineering consultant for the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters and as the chairman of the Pennsylvania State Emergency Communication Committee. He joined the industry at age 15 as a maintenance technician at WJSM(AM), Martinsburg, W.Va.�

He expects to hear back from the FCC by the beginning of August.

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