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Graham Brock, Inc. |
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Broadcast Technical Consultants |
| Vol. XIV, No. 12 |
R. Stuart Graham, Jr. |
| December 2007 |
Jefferson G. Brock |
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LPFM’s Receive Additional Help |
In a meeting that was delayed nearly twelve hours from
its original 9:30 AM start time, the FCC decided to make
some clarifications and changes to LPFM stations. As of
this newsletter, the full text of the decision has not
been released; as such, we have limited details. First,
the Commission will allow LPFM licenses to be
transferred, subject to significant limitations;
re-affirmed that a single entity can have only one
station license; limited the responsibility of LPFM
stations to resolve interference caused to subsequently
authorized full-service stations; established a
procedure for considering shortspacing waivers to assist
the LPFM station to relocate to another channel should
it be displaced by a full-service station; and clarified
that repetitious automated programming does not meet the
local origination requirements. As part of the
proceeding, the Commission is proposing to establish a
retroactive limit on the number of translator
applications filed in the 2003 window, not allowing more
than ten applications from the same entity. This in an
apparent effort to make additional spectrum available
for LPFM stations.
The Commission also will issue a Second Notice of Rule
Making that will expand LPFM licencing opportunities;
consider a switch to a contour based protection scheme
rather than spacing; require full- service stations to
provide technical and financial assistance to LPFM
stations when the full service station would cause
interference to the LPFM station; and recommend that
Congress remove the requirement for LPFM stations to
protect other FM stations on a third adjacent channel.
The FCC also hopes to conclude the second notice on a
timely basis to allow the opening of a filing window for
LPFM stations. |
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Non-commercial Settlement Window |
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As reported last month, the FCC has now entered all
of the non-commercial applications filed during the
October window into its database. It also announced
a 60 day settlement window, ending January 7, 2008,
to allow mutually exclusive applicants to settle
their respective conflicts. Of the more than 3,000
applications filed, nearly 90% are tied to one or
more applications filed during the same window. As
applicants seek to determine who is in their MX
groups, many are finding substantially more
applicants than they originally thought. While a
particular applicant may only have a conflict with
three other applications, each of these other
applications also have to be studied to see if they
are mutually exclusive with are other applications.
In one case, an initial group of three, became
thirty-two. With so many potential conflicts,
settlements in these complex cases may be very
difficult. Once the settlement period closes, the
FCC plans to create an updated list of mutually
exclusive applications. At some point, a review of
the applications will be undertaken to determine
prospective winners. |
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The FCC has issued two new Emergency Alert
System handbooks, one for radio and one for
television. These handbooks can be downloaded
from the FCC’s website at www.fcc.gov. The
handbooks can be located through a search on the
home page for “EAS Handbook”. |
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Holiday Schedule |
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Graham Brock, Inc., will be closed
December 24th and 25th for Christmas and December
31st and January 1st, 2008 for New Year’s. All of us
at Graham Brock wish you and all of yours a joyous
holiday season, as well as success and happiness in
the New Year. We at Graham Brock
wish you
a joyous holiday season with
success and happiness in the New Year! |
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What Would You Like to See? |
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If you have a suggestion of a topic for an
upcoming newsletter, just send us a note or
email. Also, if you would like to receive the
newsletter via email, rather than postal service
delivery, please send an email to
cathy@grahambrock.com. |
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