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Graham Brock, Inc. |
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Broadcast Technical Consultants |
| Vol. XV, No. 1 |
R. Stuart Graham, Jr. |
| January 2008
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Jefferson G. Brock |
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AM on FM Translator Proceeding Continues |
The comment period just closed for those who wished to
express their opinions regarding the use of FM
transmitters for the retransmission of AM stations.
Around 300 comments were filed during the period. Many
were favorable and supported the request. Reply comments
can be submitted until February 4, 2008. The FCC has
indicated it would like to move swiftly in this
proceeding. As such, a Report and Order may be released
this spring, but be prepared, it could be longer.
As we reported last month, the Commission has another
proceeding regarding changes to the LPFM rules (MM
Docket 99-25). These changes may have an impact on the
amount of protection LPFM stations have, and these
changes might also reduce the amount of remaining
spectrum that could possibly be used for translators.
The comment period has not yet been established, since
the proposal must first be published in the Federal
Register. |
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The Commission issued a Public Notice following its
third periodic review of the TV transition to
digital. In its Notice, the Commission advised that
stations which received a new channel allotment in
the recently issued final DTV Table must be
constructed by February 17, 2009; stations with
permits that match the post-transition facilities
listed in the DTV Table must be constructed by May
18, 2008; and stations that do not have permits that
match their post-transition operations must modify
and have the facility constructed by August 18,
2008. The FCC created a new form, FCC Form 387, and
all TV stations must submit one by February 18, 2008
to provide the FCC with the station’s transition
status and what additional steps are needed to
insure cessation of analog operation by the
transition date. The FCC will allow stations to
cease analog operation up to ninety days before the
February 17, 2009 deadline, provided they notify the
Commission 30 days in advance and meet the viewer
notification requirement. The Commission also
announced that it intends to lift the freeze on DTV
maximization on August 17, 2008 and allow stations
to further improve their respective DTV facilities.
Until that time, no increase of DTV signals can be
filed. Further, the FCC has indicated that future
expansion will be subject to not increasing
interference more than 0.5%. |
Relocating your main studio? Aside from moving
your phone lines, internet connections, etc.,
have you considered your STL and RPU
authorizations? Many RPU licenses reflect a base
station, which is generally the main studio
location. If the studio moves across town, so
must the RPU. An FCC Form 601 application is
needed to implement this change. Unlike the STL
band, the RPU frequencies do not require prior
engineering analysis from outside sources. These
may be coordinated locally and then filed. STL’s,
of course, are more complex. Once the new
location is known, frequency analysis of the new
paths from the studio to your site(s) must be
checked. If the frequencies you have used for
years do not meet the new FCC interference
criteria, you may either coordinate with the
impacted stations or find clean frequencies,
which is easiest to do in very small market.
Once the paths are cleared for frequency, then
Prior Coordination Notification letters (or
e-mails) are sent. It is necessary to wait
thirty days for any responses. If none are
received, or if the responses state there are no
issues, you can proceed to the application
process. Once the application is submitted and
the FCC’s filing fees are paid, the Commission’s
rules allow operation of the modified system.
However, if an objection is submitted, it must
be addressed before the application can be
submitted. As such, it is important to allow a
minimum of two months to get the STL systems
coordinated and the application submitted.
Several stations were fined $4,000 for not
having a properly licensed STL system. If the
system moved and the move is not accurately
reflected in the license, the FCC could fine you
if the station is inspected, and your STL system
will also not be protected by other users of
systems in the band, since they will be
protecting a system/path that no longer exists.
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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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