Sec.  73.1350   Transmission system operation.

   (a) Each licensee is responsible for maintaining and operating its broadcast
   station in a manner which complies with the technical rules set forth
   elsewhere in this part and in accordance with the terms of the station
   authorization.

   (b) The licensee must designate a chief operator in accordance with
    Sec. 73.1870. The licensee may designate one or more technically competent
   persons to adjust the transmitter operating parameters for compliance with
   the technical rules and the station authorization.

   (1) Persons so authorized by the licensee may make such adjustments directly
   at the transmitter site or by using control equipment at an off-site
   location.

   (2) The transmitter control personnel must have the capability to turn the
   transmitter off at all times. If the personnel are at a remote location, the
   control system must provide this capability continuously or must include an
   alternate method of acquiring control that can satisfy the requirement of
   paragraph (d) of this section that operation be terminated within 3 minutes.

   (c) The licensee must establish monitoring procedures and schedules for the
   station and the indicating instruments employed must comply with  Sec. 73.1215.

   (1) Monitoring procedures and schedules must enable the licensee to
   determine compliance with  Sec. 73.1560 regarding operating power and AM station
   mode of operation,  Sec. 73.1570 regarding modulation levels, and, where
   applicable,  Sec. 73.1213 regarding antenna tower lighting, and  Sec. 73.69 regarding
   the parameters of an AM directional antenna system.

   (2) Monitoring equipment must be periodically calibrated so as to provide
   reliable indications of transmitter operating parameters with a known degree
   of accuracy. Errors inherent in monitoring equipment and the calibration
   procedure must be taken into account when adjusting operating parameters to
   ensure that the limits imposed by the technical rules and the station
   authorization are not exceeded.

   (d) In the event that a broadcast station is operating in a manner that is
   not in compliance with the technical rules set forth elsewhere in this part
   or the terms of the station authorization, and the condition is not listed
   in paragraph (e) of this section, broadcast operation must be terminated
   within three hours.

   (1) Examples of conditions that require termination of operation include
   excessive power or excessive modulation.

   (2) Additional examples for AM stations are any mode of operation not
   specified by the station license for the pertinent time of day or hours of
   operation and any condition of antenna parameters or monitoring points out
   of the tolerances specified elsewhere in this part or by the station's
   instrument of authorization. For these conditions, operation must be
   terminated within three minutes unless antenna input power is reduced
   sufficiently to eliminate any excess radiation.

   (3) For AM stations using directional arrays, additional procedures apply
   when array operating parameters are at variance, monitoring points exceed
   specified limits, or authorized directional mode capability is lost. See
    Sec. 73.62, Directional antenna system tolerances;  Sec. 73.158, Directional antenna
   monitoring points; and  Sec. 73.1680(b), Emergency antennas.

   (e) If a broadcast station is operating in a manner that is not in
   compliance with one of the following technical rules, operation may continue
   if the station complies with relevant alternative provisions in the
   specified rule section.

   (1) AM directional antenna system tolerances, see  Sec. 73.62;

   (2) AM directional antenna monitoring points, see  Sec. 73.158;

   (3) TV visual waveform, see  Sec. 73.691(b);

   (4) Reduced power operation, see  Sec. 73.1560(d);

   (5) Reduced modulation level, see  Sec. 73.1570(a);

   (6) Emergency antennas, see  Sec. 73.1680.

   (f) The transmission system must be maintained and inspected in accordance
   with  Sec. 73.1580.

   (g) Whenever a transmission system control point is established at a
   location other than the main studio or transmitter, a letter of notification
   of that location must be sent to the FCC in Washington, DC, Attention: Audio
   Division (radio) or Video Division (television), Media Bureau, within 3 days
   of the initial use of that point. The letter should include a list of all
   control points in use, for clarity. This notification is not required if
   responsible station personnel can be contacted at the transmitter or studio
   site during hours of operation.

   (h) The licensee must ensure that the station is operated in compliance with
   Part 11 of this chapter, the rules governing the Emergency Alert System
   (EAS).

   [ 60 FR 55481 , Nov. 1, 1995, as amended at  63 FR 33877 , June 22, 1998;  67 FR 13232 , Mar. 21, 2002]