|
Graham Brock, Inc. |
|
Broadcast Technical Consultants |
| Vol. XII, No. 8 |
R. Stuart Graham, Jr. |
| August 2005 |
Jefferson G. Brock |
| The window for filing FCC Form 175 is now closed for
the upcoming FM auction. We do not know how many parties
expressed an interest in bidding, but there seems to be
considerably less interest in this year’s auction than
in last year’s. The minimum payments for the channels of
interest must be paid to the Commission by September
30th, and the auction will begin November 1st. |
LPFM and Translator
Comment Date Extended |
| In March, the FCC issued a Further Notice of
Rule Making regarding proposed rule changes for LPFM
stations. As part of the notice, the Commission
asked whether LPFM stations should have priority
over translators. One of the parties planning to
comment asked the Commission for an extension to
allow it to poll its membership at an annual
meeting. Therefore, the FCC extended the comment
date in MM Docket 99-25 until August 22nd , with
reply comments now due September 6th . |
Is Your Proposed Site Near
Something
of Historical Relevance ? |
| Last March, the Commission updated its
environmental rules, changing the procedures for
demonstrating compliance with §1.1306 of the
rules. Most notable was the requirement for
historical analysis of proposed new tower sites
located within several miles of structures or
sites with historic significance. If your
proposed new tower is not located within a
designated commercial or zoned industrial area,
you could be affected by this change. The
necessary review requires the services of an
individual or company with the qualifications to
conduct such studies. While this environmental
question is listed in the engineering section of
broadcast applications, an affirmative answer to
the question now requires the services of an
outside party. Specific details of these changes
can be viewed at the Commission’s website, in WT
Docket #03-128. If you are considering a site
change which requires a new tower, allow
sufficient time for the local historic
evaluations to be completed before filing the
application with the FCC. |
| While many stations prepare to file
their license renewal in a timely manner,
others wait until the last few weeks before
renewals must be filed to consider whether
their stations are in compliance with the RF
exposure limits. In many cases, a single AM
or FM station with no other RF emitting
devices within 315 meters can generally
certify compliance using the RF worksheets
associated with the renewal applications.
However, multi-user sites, stations with a
co-located TV station and sites where there
are numerous FM stations are generally
required to submit studies and/or RF
measurements of the site to show compliance.
Prior to the renewal deadline, each station
should determine how many other contributors
must be considered in their review and, if
there are significant contributors,
measurements may be needed. Finding the
equipment and personnel to take these
measurements on short notice is unlikely,
since everyone in the state has the same
renewal deadline. Be sure to plan ahead. |
| The FCC annual collection of
regulatory fees is coming up. Each
commercial broadcast station and its
ancillary facilities must pay their
annual regulatory fees between August
23rd and September 7th. The fees vary
based on the type of service (AM, FM and
TV) as well as market size and
population coverage. For example, a VHF
TV station in New York will pay a fee of
$61,975, while a VHF station in a market
below number 100 will pay a fee of just
$4,625. A stiff 25% penalty is assessed
if the fees are not paid by the
deadline, and the Commission will not
process any other application filed
(i.e., a minor change application to
relocate to a new site) for any station
who fails to pay its regulatory fees. |
| Stu and Jeff will be in
Philadelphia September 21st through
23rd for the National Association of
Broadcasters Radio Show. If you plan
to attend, please let them know so
time can be scheduled to get
together. |
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