Goto Section: 74.1205 | 74.1232 | Table of Contents
FCC 74.1231
Revised as of October 1, 2011
Goto Year:2010 |
2012
§ 74.1231 Purpose and permissible service.
(a) FM translators provide a means whereby the signals of AM or FM
broadcast stations may be retransmitted to areas in which direct
reception of such AM or FM broadcast stations is unsatisfactory due to
distance or intervening terrain barriers, and a means for AM Class D
stations to continue operating at night.
(b) An FM translator may be used for the purpose of retransmitting the
signals of a primary AM or FM radio broadcast station or another
translator station the signal of which is received directly through
space, converted, and suitably amplified, and originating programming
to the extent authorized in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this
section. However, an FM translator providing fill-in service may use
any terrestrial facilities to receive the signal that is being
rebroadcast. An FM booster station or a noncommercial educational FM
translator station that is operating on a reserved channel (Channels
201-220) and is owned and operated by the licensee of the primary
noncommercial educational station it rebroadcasts may use alternative
signal delivery means, including, but not limited to, satellite and
terrestrial microwave facilities. Provided, however, that an applicant
for a noncommercial educational translator operating on a reserved
channel (Channel 201-220) and owned and operated by the licensee of the
primary noncommercial educational AM or FM station it rebroadcasts
complies with either paragraph (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section:
(1) The applicant demonstrates that:
(i) The transmitter site of the proposed FM translator station is
within 80 kilometers of the predicted 1 mV/m contour of the primary
station to be rebroadcast; or,
(ii) The transmitter site of the proposed FM translator station is more
than 160 kilometers from the transmitter site of any authorized full
service noncommercial educational FM station; or,
(iii) The application is mutually exclusive with an application
containing the showing as required by paragraph 74.1231(b)(2) (i) or
(ii) of this section; or,
(iv) The application is filed after October 1, 1992.
(2) If the transmitter site of the proposed FM translator station is
more than 80 kilometers from the predicted 1 mV/m contour of the
primary station to be rebroadcast or is within 160 kilometers of the
transmitter site of any authorized full service noncommercial
educational FM station, the applicant must show that:
(i) An alternative frequency can be used at the same site as the
proposed FM translator's transmitter location and can provide signal
coverage to the same area encompassed by the applicant's proposed 1
mV/m contour; or,
(ii) An alternative frequency can be used at a different site and can
provide signal coverage to the same area encompassed by the applicant's
proposed 1 mV/m contour.
Note: For paragraphs 74.1231(b) and 74.1231(i) of this section,
auxiliary intercity relay station frequencies may be used to deliver
signals to FM translator and booster stations on a secondary basis
only. Such use shall not interfere with or otherwise preclude use of
these frequencies for transmitting aural programming between the studio
and transmitter location of a broadcast station, or between broadcast
stations, as provided in paragraphs 74.531 (a) and (b) of this part.
Prior to filing an application for an auxiliary intercity relay
microwave frequency, the applicant shall notify the local frequency
coordination committee, or, in the absence of a local frequency
coordination committee, any licensees assigned the use of the proposed
operating frequency in the intended location or area of operation.
(c) The transmissions of each FM translator or booster station shall be
intended only for direct reception by the general public. An FM
translator or booster shall not be operated solely for the purpose of
relaying signals to one or more fixed received points for
retransmission, distribution, or further relaying in order to establish
a point-to-point FM radio relay system.
(d) The technical characteristics of the retransmitted signals shall
not be deliberately altered so as to hinder reception on conventional
FM broadcast receivers.
(e) An FM translator shall not deliberately retransmit the signals of
any station other than the station it is authorized to retransmit.
Precautions shall be taken to avoid unintentional retransmission of
such other signals.
(f) A locally generated radio frequency signal similar to that of an FM
broadcast station and modulated with aural information may be connected
to the input terminals of an FM translator for the purpose of
transmitting voice announcements. The radio frequency signals shall be
on the same channel as the normally used off-the-air signal being
rebroadcast. Connection of the locally generated signals shall be made
by any automatic means when transmitting originations concerning
financial support. The connections for emergency transmissions may be
made manually. The apparatus used to generate the local signal that is
used to modulate the FM translator must be capable of producing an
aural signal which will provide acceptable reception on FM receivers
designed for the transmission standards employed by FM broadcast
stations.
(g) The aural material transmitted as permitted in paragraph (f) of
this section shall be limited to emergency warnings of imminent danger
and to seeking or acknowledging financial support deemed necessary to
the continued operation of the translator. Originations concerning
financial support are limited to a total of 30 seconds an hour. Within
this limitation the length of any particular announcement will be left
to the discretion of the translator station licensee. Solicitations of
contributions shall be limited to the defrayal of the costs of
installation, operation and maintenance of the translator or
acknowledgements of financial support for those purposes. Such
acknowledgements may include identification of the contributors, the
size or nature of the contributions and advertising messages of
contributors. Emergency transmissions shall be no longer or more
frequent than necessary to protect life and property.
(h) An FM translator station that rebroadcasts a Class D AM radio
broadcast station as its primary station may originate programming
during the hours the primary station is not operating, subject to the
provisions of § 74.1263(b) of this part.
(i) FM broadcast booster stations provide a means whereby the licensee
of an FM broadcast station may provide service to areas in any region
within the primary station's predicted, authorized service contours. An
FM broadcast booster station is authorized to retransmit only the
signals of its primary station which have been received directly
through space and suitably amplified, or received by alternative signal
delivery means including, but not limited to, satellite and terrestrial
microwave facilities. The FM booster station shall not retransmit the
signals of any other station nor make independent transmissions, except
that locally generated signals may be used to excite the booster
apparatus for the purpose of conducting tests and measurements
essential to the proper installation and maintenance of the apparatus.
Note: In the case of an FM broadcast station authorized with facilities
in excess of those specified by § 73.211 of this chapter, an FM booster
station will only be authorized within the protected contour of the
class of station being rebroadcast as predicted on the basis of the
maximum powers and heights set forth in that section for the applicable
class of FM broadcast station concerned.
[ 35 FR 15388 , Oct. 2, 1970, as amended at 45 FR 37842 , June 5, 1980; 52 FR 31406 , Aug. 20, 1987; 53 FR 14803 , Apr. 26, 1988; 54 FR 35342 , Aug.
25, 1989; 55 FR 50695 , Dec. 10, 1990; 57 FR 41111 , Sept. 9, 1992; 58 FR 42026 , Aug. 6, 1993; 63 FR 33879 , June 22, 1998; 74 FR 45130 , Sept. 1,
2009]
Goto Section: 74.1205 | 74.1232
Goto Year: 2010 |
2012
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