Sec.  73.1635   Special temporary authorizations (STA).

   (a) A special temporary authorization (STA) is the authority granted to a
   permittee or licensee to permit the operation of a broadcast facility for a
   limited period at a specified variance from the terms of the station
   authorization or requirements of the FCC rules applicable to the particular
   class of station.

   (1) A request for a STA should be filed with FCC in Washington, DC at least
   10 days prior to the date of the proposed operation.

   (2) The request is to be made by letter and shall fully describe the
   proposed operation and the necessity for the requested STA. Such letter
   requests shall be signed by the licensee or the licensee's representative.

   (3) A request for a STA necessitated by unforeseen equipment damage or
   failure may be made without regard to the procedural requirements of this
   section (e.g. via telegram or telephone). Any request made pursuant to this
   paragraph shall be followed by a written confirmation request conforming to
   the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) of this section. Confirmation requests
   shall be submitted within 24 hours. (See also  Sec. 73.1680 Emergency Antennas).

   (4) An STA may be granted for an initial period not to exceed 180 days. A
   limited number of extensions of such authorizations may be granted for
   additional periods not exceeding 180 days per extension. An STA necessitated
   by technical or equipment problems, however, may, in practice, be granted
   for an initial period not to exceed 90 days with a limited number of
   extensions not to exceed 90 days per extension. The permittee or licensee
   must demonstrate that any further extensions requested are necessary and
   that all steps to resume normal operation are being undertaken in an
   expeditions and timely fashion. The license of a broadcasting station that
   fails to transmit broadcast signals for any consecutive 12-month period
   expires as a matter of law at the end of that period, notwithstanding any
   STA or provision, term, or condition of the license to the contrary.

   (5) Certain rules specify special considerations and procedures in
   situations requiring an STA or permit temporary operation at variance
   without prior authorization from the FCC when notification is filed as
   prescribed in the particular rules. See  Sec. 73.62, Directional antenna system
   tolerances;  Sec. 73.157, Antenna testing during daytime;  Sec. 73.158, Directional
   antenna monitoring points;  Sec. 73.691, Visual modulation monitoring;  Sec. 73.1250,
   Broadcasting emergency information;  Sec. 73.1350, Transmission system operation;
    Sec. 73.1560, Operating power and mode tolerances;  Sec. 73.1570, Modulation levels:
   AM, FM, TV and Class A TV aural;  Sec. 73.1615, Operation during modification of
   facilities;  Sec. 73.1680, Emergency antennas; and  Sec. 73.1740, Minimum operating
   schedule.

   (b) An STA may be modified or cancelled by the FCC without prior notice or
   right to hearing.

   (c) No request by an AM station for temporary authority to extend its hours
   of operation beyond those authorized by its regular authorization will be
   accepted or granted by the FCC except in emergency situations conforming
   with the requirements of  Sec. 73.3542, Application for Emergency Authorization.
   See also  Sec. 73.1250, Broadcasting Emergency Information.

   [ 50 FR 30948 , July 31, 1985, as amended at  58 FR 51250 , Oct. 1, 1993;  60 FR 55482 , Nov. 1, 1995;  61 FR 28767 , June 6, 1996;  65 FR 30004 , May 10, 2000]