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Graham Brock, Inc. |
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Broadcast Technical Consultants |
| Vol. XVI, No. 4 |
R. Stuart Graham, Jr. |
| April 2009 |
Jefferson G. Brock |
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Congress Considers LPFM Third Adjacent Change |
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The U.S. House and Senate have
legislation making its way through the respective
chambers to consider lifting the ban for LPFM stations
to be on channels with a third adjacent spacing
relationship with a full power station(s). When the
Commission originally began accepting applications for
new LPFM stations, there was no requirement to protect
stations that operated on a third adjacent channel.
After the first two windows, Congress intervened,
requiring LPFM applicants to protect third adjacent
stations; now they seem to be poised to lift the ban.
The removal of this limit could alter the availability
of channels in some of the more congested markets,
either to allow for the displacement of existing LPFM
stations or for a future LPFM window. However, the
opportunity for channels may still be impeded by the
thousands of applications for FM translators that were
filed in 2003. While there is a glimmer of hope that
some of these mutually exclusive translators may be
addressed through dismissal, engineering resolution,
and/or settlement, these hopes are still on hold. |
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More TV to Transition Early |
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More than a third of the full power analog TV
stations ceased analog operation in February. An
additional 158 stations have advised the Commission
that they too will cease analog operation before the
new June 12 transition date. The remaining 927
stations have indicated they will continue analog
operation until June. The FCC also advised TV
stations what steps to take to educate viewers
regarding transition in advance of the termination
of analog service. |
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Non-Commercial FM Stations Must Wait |
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The FCC issued a Public Notice on April 1, 2009
stating that new or minor change applications
for FM non-commercial stations must continue to
provide the required protection to nearby full
power Channel 6 television stations, until the
final digital transition date.
Any applications that contain a contingent
agreement from the Channel 6 licensee (for
example the non-commercial station will not
commence operation until after transition) will
not be accepted. The applicant must have
unconditional consent from the Channel 6
facility or otherwise comply with §73.525 of the
rules. Pending applications for new
non-commercial stations that relied on a
contingent agreement, or sought a waiver of the
rule regarding Channel 6, will be dismissed. The
Notice indicates that prior to the June 12, 2009
transition deadline, another Public Notice will
be issued to provide details of how
non-commercial stations may seek changes once
analog Channel 6 operations have ceased. |
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It’s Always Been This Way |
| In response to a recent
Prior Coordination Notification, we received a call
regarding a possible conflict. While the station
initiating the call indicated the proposed STL
system was on the same frequency, it was
sufficiently removed geographically and of no
concern. However, the station’s licensed STL system
was not really on the frequency, but was operating
on either side of the licensed channel on two
separate frequencies (split channel), from a
location that was about a half mile from its
licensed location, and using a different
polarization. Only licensed facilities are protected
in any interference analysis, so if the licensed
operation does not reflect the actual operating
parameters, real interference may result. |
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See you in Vegas |
| A reminder that Stu and
Jeff will be in attendance at the
National Association of Broadcasters
Convention April 19, 2009 through April
21, 2009. If you would like to get
together, please let them know. |
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