§  73.1510   Experimental authorizations.

   (a) Licensees of broadcast stations may obtain experimental
   authorizations to conduct technical experimentation directed toward
   improvement of the technical phases of operation and service, and for
   such purposes may use a signal other than the normal broadcast program
   signal.

   (b) Experimental authorizations may be requested by filing an informal
   application with the FCC in Washington, DC, describing the nature and
   purpose of the experimentation to be conducted, the nature of the
   experimental signal to be transmitted, and the proposed schedule of
   hours and duration of the experimentation. Experimental authorizations
   shall be posted with the station license.

   (c) Experimental operations are subject to the following conditions:

   (1) The authorized power of the station may not be exceeded, except as
   specifically authorized for the experimental operations.

   (2) Emissions outside the authorized bandwidth must be attenuated to
   the degree required for the particular type of station.

   (3) The experimental operations may be conducted at any time the
   station is authorized to operate, but the minimum required schedule of
   programming for the class and type of station must be met. AM stations
   also may conduct experimental operations during the experimental period
   (12 midnight local time to local sunrise) and at additional hours if
   permitted by the experimental authorization provided no interference is
   caused to other stations maintaining a regular operating schedule
   within such period(s).

   (4) If an experimental authorization permits the use of additional
   facilities or hours of operation for experimental purposes, no
   sponsored programs or commercial announcements may be transmitted
   during such experimentation.

   (5) The licensee may transmit regularly scheduled programming
   concurrently with the experimental transmission if there is no
   significant impairment of service.

   (6) No charges may be made, either directly or indirectly, for the
   experimentation; however, normal charges may be made for regularly
   scheduled programming transmitted concurrently with the experimental
   transmissions.

   (d) The FCC may request a report of the research, experimentation and
   results at the conclusion of the experimental operation.

   [ 43 FR 32783 , July 28, 1978]

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