|
Graham Brock, Inc. |
|
Broadcast Technical Consultants |
| Vol. XII, No. 1 |
R. Stuart Graham, Jr. |
| January 2005 |
Jefferson G. Brock |
| Several months ago we reported the FCC staff was
asking TV/DTV stations to insure the data regarding
their operation was in agreement with the Commission’s
database, so that the on-going transition to digital
could continue. Once the database is corrected, those TV
stations with an analog and digital station in the core
TV spectrum (Channels 2 through 51) were to decide on
which channel they would continue digital operation
after transition. Late last month, the Commission set a
deadline of January 27, 2005, for the first round of
channel selections to be submitted on FCC Form 382. Once
this initial round is completed, round two for stations
with one channel in the core and one outside the core
will commence, but this is not expected for several
months. |
Non-Commercial MX applications |
| There are numerous mutually exclusive
applications for new non-commercial FM stations and
translators, which have been pending for some time.
The FCC has announced that it will soon be
conducting a review of these applications using the
new non-commercial comparative criteria. Several
years ago many applicants submitted 307-B studies
regarding community and population data for their
prospective facilities as to whether they provided
service to any under-served areas. These studies are
to be updated now to reflect changes which may have
occurred since the initial filings, specifically
changes that would decrease their comparative
position. No improvements to a comparative position
can be submitted for consideration based on the
Public Notice. Amendments are to be filed by January
21, 2005. |
FM Auction Applications
Submitted |
All winning bidders in the November 2004, FM
Auction 37 were to have submitted their
respective applications for the new stations by
January 3, 2005. Staff at the FCC is already
reviewing the submissions for technical and
legal compliance. In some cases, applications
request one-step upgrades, new towers, and
station downgrades (Class C to
Class C0). One station that required a Class C0
downgrade to accommodate one of the auction
filings has already been sent a Show Cause Order
by the Commission. This was done only 6 days
after the triggering auction application was
filed. We have also heard a rumor that the next
batch of FM vacant channels are being cued up
for auction. The public notice announcing the
channels and dates for the next FM auction may
be out in the next few months. |
Expanded band rules
change |
| A Petition for Rulemaking has been filed
(RM-11136) which proposes to amend the rules
with regard to the AM expanded band
frequencies (1605-1705 kHz). Specifically,
the petition calls for the expanded band
frequencies to be added as “regional
“channels, maximum power of stations in the
band to be extended from the present 10.0 kW
power level to 50.0 kW and to allow the use
of directional antenna systems to provide
contour protection to other stations. The
expanded band stations are presently
authorized under spacing rules, as opposed
to the contour protection rules for the
lower frequencies. While this petition does
not propose to open the expanded band to
additional applications, it may be the first
step to opening the band to new applicants. |
| Recent fines have been issued
involving two different AM stations
located in Florida. Both stations were
cited regarding fences around their AM
tower. The licensee of the first station
was assessed a fine of $7,000 for
failure to keep the fence around the
tower locked to prevent access to the
base of the radiating tower. The other
licensee was also fined $7,000 for
failing to have any fence around the
tower. This is a reminder that fencing
protects the general public from the
danger of radio frequency energy
emanating from the AM tower, unlike FM
and TV towers where the radiating
element is usually mounted at or near
the top of the tower. |
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