FCC 73.1690 Revised as of October 1, 2005
Goto Year:2004 |
2006
Sec. 73.1690 Modification of transmission systems.
The following procedures and restrictions apply to licensee modifications of
authorized broadcast transmission system facilities.
(a) The following changes are prohibited:
(1) Those that would result in the emission of signals outside of the
authorized channel exceeding limits prescribed for the class of service.
(2) Those that would cause the transmission system to exceed the equipment
performance measurements prescribed for the class of service (AM, Sec. 73.44;
FM, Sec. Sec. 73.317, 73.319, and 73.322; TV and Class A TV, Sec. Sec. 73.682 and 73.687).
(b) The following changes may be made only after the grant of a construction
permit application on FCC Form 301 for commercial stations or Form 340 for
noncommercial educational stations:
(1) Any construction of a new tower structure for broadcast purposes, except
for replacement of an existing tower with a new tower of identical height
and geographic coordinates.
(2) Any change in station geographic coordinates, including coordinate
corrections of more than 3 seconds latitude and/or 3 seconds longitude. FM
and TV directional stations must also file a construction permit application
for any move of the antenna to another tower structure located at the same
coordinates.
(3) Any change which would require an increase along any azimuth in the
composite directional antenna pattern of an FM station from the composite
directional antenna pattern authorized (see Sec. 73.316), or any increase from
the authorized directional antenna pattern for a TV broadcast (see Sec. 73.685)
or Class A TV station (see Sec. 73.6025).
(4) Any change in the directional radiation characteristics of an AM
directional antenna system. See Sec. 73.45 and Sec. 73.150.
(5) Any decrease in the authorized power of an AM station or the ERP of a TV
or Class A TV station, or any decrease or increase in the ERP of an FM
commercial station, which is intended for compliance with the multiple
ownership rules in Sec. 73.3555.
(6) For FM noncommercial educational stations, any of the following:
(i) Any increase in the authorized maximum ERP, whether horizontally or
vertically polarized, for a noncommercial educational FM station operating
on Channels 201 through 220, or a Class D FM station operating on Channel
200.
(ii) For those FM noncommercial educational stations on Channels 201 to 220,
or a Class D FM station operating on Channel 200, which are within the
separation distances specified in Table A of Sec. 73.525 with respect to a
Channel 6 television station, any increase in the horizontally or vertically
polarized ERP from the presently authorized ERP.
(iii) For those FM noncommercial educational stations on Channels 201
through 220 which are located within the separation distances in Sec. 73.525
with respect to a Channel 6 television station, or a Class D FM station
operating on Channel 200, any decrease in the presently authorized
horizontal effective radiated power which would eliminate the horizontal ERP
to result in use of vertical ERP only.
(iv) For those FM noncommercial educational stations which employ separate
antennas for the horizontal ERP and the vertical ERP, mounted at different
heights, the station may not increase or decrease either the horizontal ERP
or the vertical ERP without a construction permit.
(7) Any increase in the authorized ERP of a television station, Class A
television station, FM commercial station, or noncommercial educational FM
station, except as provided for in Sec. Sec. 73.1690(c)(4), (c)(5), or (c)(7), or in
Sec. 73.1675(c)(1) in the case of auxiliary facilities.
(8) A commercial TV or noncommercial educational TV station operating on
Channels 14 or Channel 69 or a Class A TV station on Channel 14 may increase
its horizontally or vertically polarized ERP only after the grant of a
construction permit. A television or Class A television station on Channels
15 through 21 within 341 km of a cochannel land mobile operation, or 225 km
of a first-adjacent channel land mobile operation, must also obtain a
construction permit before increasing the horizontally or vertically
polarized ERP (see part 74, Sec. 74.709(a) and (b) for tables of urban areas and
corresponding reference coordinates of potentially affected land mobile
operations).
(c) The following FM, TV and Class A TV station modifications may be made
without prior authorization from the Commission. A modification of license
application must be submitted to the Commission within 10 days of commencing
program test operations pursuant to Sec. 73.1620. With the exception of
applications filed solely pursuant to paragraphs (c)(6), (c)(9), or (c)(10)
of this section, the modification of license application must contain an
exhibit demonstrating compliance with the Commission's radio frequency
radiation guidelines. In addition, except for applications solely filed
pursuant to paragraphs (c)(6) or (c)(9) of this section, where the
installation is located within 3.2 km of an AM tower or is located on an AM
tower, an exhibit demonstrating compliance with Sec. 73.1692 is also required.
(1) Replacement of an omnidirectional antenna with one of the same or
different number of antenna bays, provided that the height of the antenna
radiation center is not more than 2 meters above or 4 meters below the
authorized values. Any concurrent change in ERP must comply with
Sec. 73.1675(c)(1), 73.1690(4), (c)(5), or (c)(7). Program test operations at
the full authorized ERP may commence immediately upon installation pursuant
to Sec. 73.1620(a)(1).
(2) Replacement of a directional FM antenna, where the measured composite
directional antenna pattern does not exceed the licensed composite
directional pattern at any azimuth, where no change in effective radiated
power will result, and where compliance with the principal coverage
requirements of Sec. 73.315(a) will be maintained by the measured directional
pattern. The antenna must be mounted not more than 2 meters above or 4
meters below the authorized values. The modification of license application
on Form 302-FM to cover the antenna replacement must contain all of the data
in the following sections (i) through (v). Program test operations at one
half (50%) power may commence immediately upon installation pursuant to
Sec. 73.1620(a)(3). However, if the replacement directional antenna is an exact
replacement (i.e., no change in manufacturer, antenna model number, AND
measured composite antenna pattern), program test operations may commence
immediately upon installation at the full authorized power.
(i) A measured directional antenna pattern and tabulation on the antenna
manufacturer's letterhead showing both the horizontally and vertically
polarized radiation components and demonstrating that neither of the
components exceeds the authorized composite antenna pattern along any
azimuth.
(ii) Contour protection stations authorized pursuant to Sec. 73.215 or Sec. 73.509
must attach a showing that the RMS (root mean square) of the composite
measured directional antenna pattern is 85% or more of the RMS of the
authorized composite antenna pattern. See Sec. 73.316(c)(9). If this requirement
cannot be met, the licensee may include new relative field values with the
license application to reduce the authorized composite antenna pattern so as
to bring the measured composite antenna pattern into compliance with the 85
percent requirement.
(iii) A description from the manufacturer as to the procedures used to
measure the directional antenna pattern. The antenna measurements must be
performed with the antenna mounted on a tower, tower section, or scale model
equivalent to that on which the antenna will be permanently mounted, and the
tower or tower section must include transmission lines, ladders, conduits,
other antennas, and any other installations which may affect the measured
directional pattern.
(iv) A certification from a licensed surveyor that the antenna has been
oriented to the proper azimuth.
(v) A certification from a qualified engineer who oversaw installation of
the directional antenna that the antenna was installed pursuant to the
manufacturer's instructions.
(3) A directional TV on Channels 2 through 13 or 22 through 68 or a
directional Class A TV on Channels 2 through 13 or 22 through 51, or a
directional TV or Class A TV station on Channels 15 through 21 which is in
excess of 341 km (212 miles) from a cochannel land mobile operation or in
excess of 225 km (140 miles) from a first-adjacent channel land mobile
operation (see part 74, Sec. 74.709(a) and (b) for tables of urban areas and
reference coordinates of potentially affected land mobile operations), may
replace a directional TV or Class A TV antenna by a license modification
application, if the proposed horizontal theoretical directional antenna
pattern does not exceed the licensed horizontal directional antenna pattern
at any azimuth and where no change in effective radiated power will result.
The modification of license application on Form 302–TV or Form 302–CA must
contain all of the data set forth in Sec. 73.685(f) or Sec. 73.6025(a), as
applicable.
(4) Commercial and noncommercial educational FM stations operating on
Channels 221 through 300 (except Class D), NTSC TV stations operating on
Channels 2 through 13 and 22 through 68, Class A TV stations operating on
Channels 2 through 13 and 22 through 51, and TV and Class A TV stations
operating on Channels 15 through 21 that are in excess of 341 km (212 miles)
from a cochannel land mobile operation or in excess of 225 km (140 miles)
from a first-adjacent channel land mobile operation (see part 74, Sec. 74.709(a)
and (b) for tables of urban areas and reference coordinates of potentially
affected land mobile operations), which operate omnidirectionally, may
increase the vertically polarized effective radiated power up to the
authorized horizontally polarized effective radiated power in a license
modification application. Noncommercial educational FM licensees and
permittees on Channels 201 through 220, that do not use separate antennas
mounted at different heights for the horizontally polarized ERP and the
vertically polarized ERP, and are located in excess of the separations from
a Channel 6 television station listed in Table A of Sec. 73.525(a)(1), may also
increase the vertical ERP, up to (but not exceeding) the authorized
horizontally polarized ERP via a license modification application. Program
test operations may commence at full power pursuant to Sec. 73.1620(a)(1).
(5) Those Class A FM commercial stations which were permitted to increase
ERP pursuant to MM Docket No. 88–375 by a modification of license
application remain eligible to do so, provided that the station meets the
requirements of Sec. 73.1690 (c)(1) and is listed on one of the Public Notices
as authorized to increase ERP, or by a letter from the Commission's staff
authorizing the change. These Public Notices were released on November 3,
1989; November 17, 1989; December 8, 1989; March 2, 1990; and February 11,
1991. The increased ERP must comply with the multiple ownership requirements
of Sec. 73.3555. Program test operations may commence at full power pursuant to
Sec. 73.1620(a)(1).
(6) FM contour protection stations authorized pursuant to Sec. 73.215 which have
become fully spaced under Sec. 73.207 may file a modification of license
application to delete the Sec. 73.215 contour protection designation with an
exhibit to demonstrate that the station is fully spaced in accordance with
Sec. 73.207. The contour protection designation will be removed upon grant of
the license application. Applications filed under this rule section will be
processed on a first come / first served basis with respect to conflicting
FM commercial minor change applications and modification of license
applications (including those filed pursuant to Sec. 73.1690 (b) and (c)(6) and
(c)(7)).
(7) FM omnidirectional commercial stations, and omnidirectional
noncommercial educational FM stations operating on Channels 221 through 300
(except Class D), which are not designated as contour protection stations
pursuant to Sec. 73.215 and which meet the spacing requirements of Sec. 73.207, may
file a license modification application to increase ERP to the maximum
permitted for the station class, provided that any change in the height of
the antenna radiation center remains in accordance with Sec. 73.1690(c)(1).
Program test operations may commence at full power pursuant to
Sec. 73.1620(a)(1). All of the following conditions also must be met before a
station may apply pursuant to this section:
(i) The station may not be a “grandfathered” short-spaced station authorized
pursuant to Sec. 73.213 or short-spaced by a granted waiver of Sec. 73.207;
(ii) If the station is located in or near a radio quiet zone, radio
coordination zone, or a Commission monitoring station (see Sec. 73.1030 and
Sec. 0.121(c)), the licensee or permittee must have secured written concurrence
from the affected radio quiet zone, radio coordination zone, or the
Commission's Compliance and Information Bureau in the case of a monitoring
station, to increase effective radiated power PRIOR to implementation. A
copy of that concurrence must be submitted with the license application to
document that concurrence has been received;
(iii) The station does not require international coordination as the station
does not lie within the border zones, or clearance has been obtained from
Canada or Mexico for the higher power operation within the station's
specified domestic class and the station complies with Sec. 73.207(b)(2) and (3)
with respect to foreign allotments and allocations;
(iv) The increased ERP will not cause the station to violate the multiple
ownership requirements of Sec. 73.3555.
(8) FM commercial stations and FM noncommercial educational stations may
decrease ERP on a modification of license application provided that exhibits
are included to demonstrate that all six of the following requirements are
met:
(i) Commercial FM stations must continue to provide a 70 dBu principal
community contour over the community of license, as required by Sec. 73.315(a).
Noncommercial educational FM stations must continue to provide a 60 dBu
contour over at least a portion of the community of license. The 60 and 70
dBu contours must be predicted by use of the standard contour prediction
method in Sec. 73.313(b), (c), and (d).
(ii) For both commercial FM and noncommercial educational FM stations, the
location of the main studio remains within the 70 dBu principal community
contour, as required by Sec. 73.1125, or otherwise complies with that rule. The
70 dBu contour must be predicted by use of the standard contour prediction
method in Sec. 73.313(b), (c), and (d).
(iii) For commercial FM stations only, there is no change in the authorized
station class as defined in Sec. 73.211.
(iv) For commercial FM stations only, the power decrease is not necessary to
achieve compliance with the multiple ownership rule, Sec. 73.3555.
(v) Commercial FM stations, noncommercial educational FM stations on
Channels 221 through 300, and noncommercial educational FM stations on
Channels 200 through 220 which are located in excess of the distances in
Table A of Sec. 73.525 with respect to a Channel 6 TV station, may not use this
rule to decrease the horizontally polarized ERP below the value of the
vertically polarized ERP.
(vi) Noncommercial educational FM stations on Channels 201 through 220 which
are within the Table A distance separations of Sec. 73.525, or Class D stations
on Channel 200, may not use the license modification process to eliminate an
authorized horizontally polarized component in favor of vertically
polarized-only operation. In addition, noncommercial educational stations
operating on Channels 201 through 220, or Class D stations on Channel 200,
which employ separate horizontally and vertically polarized antennas mounted
at different heights, may not use the license modification process to
increase or decrease either the horizontal ERP or vertical ERP without a
construction permit.
(9) The licensee of an AM, FM, or TV commercial station may propose to
change from commercial to noncommercial educational on a modification of
license application, provided that the application contains completed
Sections II and IV of FCC Form 340. In addition, a noncommercial educational
AM licensee, a TV licensee on a channel not reserved for noncommercial
educational use, or an FM licensee on Channels 221 to 300 (except Class D
FM) on a channel not reserved for noncommercial educational use, may apply
to change from educational to commercial via a modification of license
application, and no exhibits are required with the application. The change
will become effective upon grant of the license application.
(10) Replacement of a transmission line with one of a different type or
length which changes the transmitter operating power (TPO) from the
authorized value, but not the ERP, must be reported in a license
modification application to the Commission.
(11) Correction of geographic coordinates where the change is 3 seconds or
fewer in latitude and/or 3 seconds or fewer in longitude, provided there is
no physical change in location and no other licensed parameters are changed.
The correction of coordinates may not result in any new short spacings or
increases in existing short spacings.
(d) The following changes may be made without authorization from the FCC,
however informal notification of the changes must be made according to the
rule sections specified:
(1) Change in studio location within the principal community contour. See
Sec. 73.1125.
(2) Commencement of remote control operation pursuant to Sec. Sec. 73.1400 and
73.1410.
(3) Modification of an AM directional antenna sampling system. See Sec. 73.68.
(e) Any electrical and mechanical modification to authorized transmitting
equipment that is not otherwise restricted by the preceding provisions of
this section, may be made without FCC notification or authorization.
Equipment performance measurements must be made within ten days after
completing the modifications (See Sec. 73.1590). An informal statement, diagram,
etc., describing the modification must be retained at the transmitter site
for as long as the equipment is in use.
[ 47 FR 8590 , Mar. 1, 1982]
Editorial Note: For Federal Register citations affecting Sec. 73.1690, see the
List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of
the printed volume and on GPO Access.
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