FCC Adopts Final Rules For FM Booster Program Origination

FCC Seal 2020 Federal Communications CommissionThe FCC has adopted final rules allowing FM boosters to originate up to three minutes of programming per hour different from their primary station to super-serve local areas.

First adopted in April on an experimental basis, the final rule-making adopts processing, licensing, and service rules for licenses willing to do it on a permanent basis. Among the rule-making’s points:

  • A booster of a full-powered FM or LPFM may originate up to three minutes of programming per hour. The time can not be aggregated to be used in a larger lump sum.
  • New booster applications will not be granted if the grant will result in interference to the reception of a regular used, off-the-air signal of any co-channel, first, second, or third adjacent station including previously authorized secondary services such as a translator or LPFM within the 45 dBu contour of the infringed station.
  • Each booster originating programming will need to file an FM Booster Program Origination Notification form in LMS within 15 days before starting or within 30 days or terminating origination.
  • No station will be allowed more than 25 program originating boosters and each station will be required to maintain a separate Political File for each booster in their online public file.

This story first appeared on radioinsight.com