Sec. 73.1680  Emergency antennas.

    (a) An emergency antenna is one that is erected for temporary use 
after the authorized main and auxiliary antennas are damaged and cannot 
be used.
    (b) Prior authority from the FCC is not required to erect and 
commence using an emergency antenna to restore program service to the 
public. However, an informal request to continue operation with the 
emergency antenna must be made to the FCC in Washington, DC within 24 
hours after commencement of its use. The request is to include a 
description of the damage to the authorized antenna, a description of 
the emergency antenna, and the station operating power with the 
emergency antenna.
    (1) AM stations. AM stations may use a horizontal or vertical wire 
or a nondirectional vertical element of a directional antenna as an 
emergency antenna. AM stations using an emergency nondirectional antenna 
or a horizontal

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or vertical wire pursuant to this section, in lieu or authorized 
directional facilities, shall operate with power reduced to 25% or less 
of the nominal licensed power, or, a higher power, not exceeding 
licensed power, while insuring that the radiated filed strength does not 
exceed that authorized in any given azimuth for the corresponding hours 
of directional operation.
    (2) FM and TV stations. FM and TV stations may erect any suitable 
radiator, or use operable sections of the authorized antenna(s) as an 
emergency antenna.
    (c) The FCC may prescribe the output power, radiation limits, or 
other operating conditions when using an emergency antenna, and 
emergency antenna authorizations may be modified or terminated in the 
event harmful interference is caused to other stations or services by 
the use of an emergency antenna.

[ 43 FR 53741 , Nov. 17, 1978, as amended at  44 FR 22740 , Apr. 17, 1979; 
 50 FR 30948 , July 31, 1985]