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Graham Brock, Inc. |
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Broadcast Technical Consultants |
| Vol. XIV, No. 9 |
R. Stuart Graham, Jr. |
| September 2007 |
Jefferson G. Brock |
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The Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making
seeking comments on a proposal, which if granted, will
allow an AM station to be rebroadcast on an FM
translator. The proposal seeks comments on requirements
that the translator’s 60 dBu contour not extend beyond
the 2.0 mV/m contour (daytime) of the AM station or is
within 25 miles of the AM station’s transmitter site,
whichever is more limiting; whether there should be a
cap on the number of translators an AM station might
have; should the rules be phased in, allowing some
classes of AM to be able to immediately propose a
translator or allow all AM stations to use an FM
translator. The FCC has also requested comments
regarding the use of FM translators by daytime only
stations. The final comment deadline is based on the
publication of the Notice in the Federal Register. Some
AM stations continue to request Special Temporary
Authority to use existing FM translators to rebroadcast
their AM stations. At present there is no indication
whether the Commission will allow AM stations to be
rebroadcast on FM translators on a permanent basis nor
whether a filing window for new translators will be
opened to accommodate this new use of FM translators. |
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As we reported last month, the FCC imposed a freeze
on minor change applications for existing
non-commercial licensees and permittees in advance
of the opening of the window for new and major
change filings. The filing window opens October 12th
and closes October 19th. The freeze went into effect
at midnight on September 8th and, prior to that
time, numerous non-commercial minor change
applications were submitted. In fact, on the last
day before the freeze, the Commission’s electronic
filing system stopped accepting minor changes,
thinking the freeze was already in place. The system
had to be re-instructed that the freeze was not yet
in place, so the remaining applications could be
submitted. Now that the non-commercial database has
stabilized, any possible channels on which to file
in the upcoming window should be re-verified to be
sure that a pre-freeze filed minor change
application has not impacted the availability of the
new channel. |
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Revised IBOC Rules Effective |
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As we reported several months ago, the revised
IBOC rules regarding notification requirements
would go into effect thirty days after
publication in the Federal Register. The rules
have been published; as such, the new IBOC rules
become effective September 14, 2007. This allows
FM stations to simply notify the FCC if they are
using an authorized auxiliary antenna system for
IBOC operation, rather than requesting an STA.
Also, use of the new hybrid IBOC system can be
implemented with a notification. Use of HD-2 and
HD-3 would no longer require an experimental
authorization. The notification requirements
still must meet the public notice requirements
for IBOC operations. |
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Regulatory Fees |
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September 19th is quickly
approaching. That is the date by which annual
regulatory fees for all stations must be paid to the
Commission. For commercial TV stations, the fees are
based on whether the station is VHF or UHF and in
which market they operate. For example, a VHF
station in New York will pay a fee of $64,300. By
comparison, a VHF station in a non-rated market
would pay just $5,125. AM and FM stations are based
on Class and population served within the station’s
protected contour. LPTV, TV boosters, FM translators
and FM boosters must pay a $345 fee per station.
Auxiliary licenses, studio transmitter links and
remote pickup stations have a fee of $10 each. |
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See You in Charlotte? |
| The annual NAB Radio Show will
convene in Charlotte at the end of September. If you
or someone from your organization would like to
schedule a meeting in Charlotte, please let us know
as soon as possible. |
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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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