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Graham Brock, Inc. |
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Broadcast Technical Consultants |
| Vol. XIV, No. 11 |
R. Stuart Graham, Jr. |
| November 2007 |
Jefferson G. Brock |
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Non-Commercial Window Closes |
The FCC’s October window for the filing of new or major
change FM non-commercial applications closed, albeit a
couple of days later than expected. The window was to
close October 19, 2007, but a CBDS failure for about
seven hours in the wee hours of the morning on October
19th caused the Commission to extend the window until 2
p.m. on Monday, October 22nd. Counts differ slightly,
but there were in excess of 3,400 applications filed
during the window. The data from the filings was made
available in the FCC’s various databases last week. Of
these filings, about 10% have been found not to be
mutually exclusive with any of the other filings. Around
100 applications were dismissed and the balance, more
than 3,000, are tied up in multiple MX groups.
The FCC also issued a Public Notice announcing the
opening of a sixty day window for applicants in an MX
group to submit settlements or technical amendments to
resolve the MX issues in the group. For a settlement, at
least one of the applications in the group must remain
and be technically acceptable, and may not create any
new conflicts. Universal settlements are encouraged, but
not required. A partial settlement may be possible for a
series of applicants who are mutually exclusive to a
bigger group caused by one (or more) linked
applications. Settlements must comply with the
Commission’s settlement rules and must be submitted by
January 7, 2008.
Alternatively, an applicant may file a minor amendment
to remove it from being in conflict with one or more of
the mutually exclusive filings. Only minor amendments
may be submitted, such as a site change, reduction in
power, use of directional antenna, or relocation to an
adjacent channel, and not create any new conflicts.
Amendments will be processed under the first-come,
first-served process. Applicants who submit technical
amendments with others in the MX group must reference
all other filings by the other applicants.
The FCC has not issued a list of the MX groups. Instead,
the FCC is leaving this up to each applicant’s
engineering consultants. The FCC will issue a list of
those applications that remain mutually exclusive after
the close of the settlement period.
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As we reported several months ago, the FCC has
initiated a proceeding that seeks comments on the
retransmission of AM stations on FM translators.
However, the comment period was tied to the
publication of the Notice of Rule Making in the
Federal Register. The Notice has now appeared in the
Register. The comment date for this proceeding
closes January 7, 2008, with reply comments due
February 4, 2008. |
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DTV Proceeding Draws Interesting Comment |
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As part of the last Further Notice of Rule
Making for the final digital table, a consulting
engineer has asked the FCC to consider the use
of VHF Channel 6 and Channel 5 for the use of
expanding the FM band. If implemented, the FM
band would begin at 76.1 MHz if Channel 5 were
used and at 82.1 MHz if just Channel 6 were
used. As there are very few HD TV stations using
these channels, only eight on Channel 6, they
feel the spectrum would be better suited for the
use of FM or shared with FM. Were this expansion
to go forward, it could be used to reduce the
interference on the AM band, expand
non-commercial and commercial channels, and
provide for additional spectrum for LPFM and FM
translators. |
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Thanksgiving |
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Graham Brock offices will be closed
Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23, 2007
in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday. Stu,
Jeff, Marilyn, Cathy, and Jessica would like to wish
all of you a happy and safe Thanksgiving. |
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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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