The FCC has introduced a proposal for rulemaking to determine whether to permanently approve the use the spectrum of television channel 6 for analog radio service on 87.75 MHz and will vote on whether to proceed with it at its June meeting.
In July 2021, all of the remaining analog low-power television stations were required to convert to digital, which would then lead to thirteen of them resuming analog audio transmission within their ATSC 3 broadcasts on an experimental basis. The rulemaking proposal seeks comments whether FM on channel 6 operations server the public interest and should be authorized to continue, whether they should be authorized as ancillary or supplementary services and if so subject to a new rule that permits their operation subject the certain technical and operational requirements, whether they can limit future channel 6 FM operations to those stations with active STAs, whether to consider a proposal to license additional non-commercials FMs on 82-88 MHz in areas where no television stations are operating, and whether to eliminate or revise the distance separation rules between television stations on channel 6 and radio licenses in the non-commercial band.
The full proposal can be read at this link.
The petition by Educational Media Foundation and antenna manufacturers Dielectric, Jampro Antennas, Radio Frequency Systems, and Shively Labs to allow FM antenna directional pattern verification by computer modeling was approved at the FCC’s monthly open meeting.
Currently applicants must verify a directional pattern with real world measurements by building a full-size mockup of the antenna and supporting structures or by constructing a scale model of the antenna and structures. The proposal would bring the FM directional antenna rules into conformity with other broadcast services.
As part of the rulemaking, the first time the directional pattern of a particular model of antenna is verified using computer results, the applicant would be required to submit both computer modeling and measurements and the current mockup or model. Once the particular antenna type or series of elements has been verified, subsecquent applications using the same antenna model number or elements and same modeling software can cross-reference the original submission.
After originally granting a CP to Full Potential Ministry as the winner of MX Group 130 from the non-commercial filing window for 88.3 Coahoma MS, a petition to deny filed by Open Sky Radio Corp’s on behalf of its application 88.1 Clarksdale has seen the decision reversed. FPM originally beat out Open Sky and Elijah Radio’s 88.3 Coffeeville application by stating its proposed second NCE service exceeds Open Sky’s by more than 5,000 people.
After the filing window, FPM’s engineer told FCC staff that he had experienced problems uploading to the LMS and asked to replace the original fair distribution exhibit with a revised one. The staff misconstrued this email as suggesting that LMS had not accepted the original fair distribution exhibit, but FPM simply uploaded an incorrect document with missing population figures. Open Sky’s petition stated that the FCC erred on relying on the revised population exhibit as filing instructions for the window stated that any supporting documents must be filed prior to the close of the filing window, which the FCC agreed on and reversed its decision.
The FCC is opening a comment period on Spottswood Partners II Ltd’s petition to modify the FCC’s Table of Allotments to add a Class C3 allocation on 100.9 Big Coppitt Key FL. Comments are due by July 11 and replies by July 26.
Sonora Broadcasting’s 930 KAPR Douglas AZ has been issued a $3000 fine for failing to timely file a license renewal application. KAPR was due to file its renewal by June 1, 2021, but did not do so until September 27.
Pin Investments’ 1040 KXPD Tigard OR and Catalina Island Performing Arts Foundation’s 88.7 KISL Avalon CA have entered into Consent Decrees for failing to maintain its online public file.
License Reinstatements
Ahead of its yet-to-be filed sale to Family Life Ministries, Paul Izard Communications’ 105.9 WGWE Little Valley NY has requested and received reinstatement of its license.
Deletions
Cumulus Media has surrendered the license of 102.3 WCYN-FM Cynthiana KY. WCYN-FM had most recently been simulcasting Variety Hits “101.5 Jack-FM” WLXX Richmond/Lexington.
FM Changes
Commonwealth Broadcasting Hot AC 106.3 WOVO-FM Horse Cave KY applies to move
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com