Ahead of the LPFM filing window set to run from November 1 through 8, the FCC has announced a freeze on translator and LPFM modifications set to run from 11:59pm on August 31 until the close of the filing window.
As part of the rules for the LPFM filing window, the FCC is also giving a limited exception preventing full-power licensees from participating in the LPFM window. Any qualified applicant from the 2021 non-commercial filing window whose application is still pending may file for an LPFM as long as they include a listing of all pending non-commercial applications and a pledge to dismiss their full-power or LPFM application should both be granted.
FEMA and the FCC have scheduled the seventh nationwide EAS test for Wednesday, October 4 at approximately 2:20pm Eastern.
The test will last around one minute and will go out to radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, wireline video providers and all mobile devices. The broadcast test message will state “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public”.
FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this fall.
The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test to all cellular devices. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.
The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. This will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.
FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and to maximize the public safety value of the test.
The purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Oct. 11.
The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system administered by FEMA that enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple communications networks. The WEA test will be administered via a code sent to cell phones.
This year the EAS message will be disseminated as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS-OPEN).
All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test:
- Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message.
- For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
- Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”
WEA alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies through IPAWS to participating wireless providers, which deliver the alerts to compatible handsets in geo-targeted areas. To help ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including people with disabilities, the alerts are accompanied by a unique tone and vibration.
Important information about the EAS test:
- The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and will be conducted with the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers and wireline video providers.
- The test message will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. It will state: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public
FCC Actions
The FCC has proposed a $12,000 fine against Crocodile Broadcasting Company’s 94.7 W234DH Baton Rouge LA (formerly Norco LA) after a late-filed petition for reconsideration was dismissed but because the allegations raised significant concerns about CBC’s truthfulness, the FCC raised the matters on their own finding that Crocodile violated FCC rules by failing to file a required form to obtain consent to change antennas, constructing and operating with an unauthorized antenna for approximately two months, and falsely certifying to construction as authorized but without an intent to deceive. W234DH rebroadcasts Spanish Tropical “Tropical 105.7” 830 KGLA Norco/New Orleans.
The FCC has adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on whether to allow FMs to increase their digital power levels. The proposal seeks comment on whether to change the methodology used by digital FM stations to determine whether they are eligible to increase digital FM ERP up to -10 dBc, or 10% of analog power, upon basic notification to the Commission and without the need for additional individual special authorization; to allow a power increase up to -10 dBc by notifying the Commission in the Bureau’s Licensing and Management System (LMS), utilizing the same notification procedures as currently used; whether changing the method for calculating whether a digital FM station can increase its digital power will create an unacceptable risk of interference to adjacent-channel stations; whether to continue to limit the power level for previously authorized superpowered FM stations to their class maximum; the type of notification, if any, we should require of a digital FM station increasing digital power, and whom should be notified; whether the interference mitigation and remediation procedures currently used for inter-station digital FM interference should be sufficient to remedy any reports of interference to FM broadcast stations or other spectrum users as a result of a station’s increase in its digital power; whether to grant blanket authorization to digital FM stations to originate digital transmissions at different power levels on the upper and lower digital sidebands without having to request experimental authorization; and whether the interference mitigation and remediation procedures currently used for inter-station digital FM interference should be sufficient to remedy any reports of inter-station interference as a result of asymmetric sideband operation.
The full rulemaking can be read here.
The Federal Communications Commission has adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that seeks to give digital FM and Low Power FM stations more flexibility to increase digital power levels. This would encourage more FM broadcasters to adopt digital technology and would make digital broadcasts available to a greater number of listeners.
Broadcasters and consumers increasingly prefer digital FM radio because it delivers better sound quality than traditional analog FM service. Currently, over 2,000 FM stations broadcast digitally, providing listeners with enhanced sound quality, song information, and other data through their FM broadcast radio signals. The NPRM seeks comment on two proposals and asks whether these changes will benefit the public or impact existing FM services. Specifically, the NPRM proposes to change the way an FM station can determine its maximum permissible digital power level, thus expanding the number of stations that can broadcast at higher digital power levels. Additionally, it proposes to allow FM stations to operate their digital sidebands at different power levels in order to give broadcasters greater flexibility to maximize power while avoiding interference. These proposed actions would offer more efficient FM digital operation, increase digital signal coverage and provide a more robust digital signal for reception inside buildings.
Digital Notifications
Crawford Broadcasting will take Southern Gospel 1260 WYDE Birmingham AL all-digital on September 1. WYDE serves as the parent signal of 95.3 W237EK Birmingham and simulcasts 92.5 WYDE-FM Cordova AL. It will become the third all-digital AM along with Hubbard’s 820 WWFD Frederick MD and Cumulus Media’s 1230 WFAS White Plains NY.
License Cancellations
Piedmont Radio Company has turned in the license for Oldies “EZ 1280” WPID Piedmont AL. Station owner Jimmy Kennedy’s daughter Daphne Rogers requested the license surrender via Power of Attorney as Kennedy was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia and is no longer able to make sound business decisions concerning the station.
Silent Notifications
- Radio 74 Internationale’s 1510 KPLS Littleton CO (Transmitter site fire)
- CSN International’s 93.5 KXCD Fairfield ID (Technical issues)
- Kanza Society’s 91.9 KONQ Dodge City KS (Tower site sold & demolished)
- South Central Oklahoma Christian Broadcasting’s 90.1 KNEF Franklin NE (Transmitter lease terminated)
- Penfold Communications’ 91.3 KYJC Commerce TX (Implementation of new CP)
- Munbilla Broadcasting Properties’ 104.7 KHSB-FM Kingsland TX (Transmitter lightning strike)
- Moving Target Consulting Works’s 690 KPET LaMesa TX (Death of owner David Stewart)
AM Changes
Kirkman Broadcasting’s 910 WTMZ
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com