We have more details about the FCC’s plan to invite applications for new FM translator construction permits for noncom educational stations in the reserved band, 88.1 to 91.9 MHz.
We reported yesterday that Chairman Carr had mentioned a planned vote in a blog post. The commission subsequently released the draft of the notice on which it will vote on Feb. 18.
You can read the full draft notice here in PDF format.
The notice will direct the Media Bureau to begin work to open the filing window, the first of its kind for stations in the reserved band. Specific dates would come later.
Under the plan, an applicant would have to be the licensee or permittee of an existing NCE FM or noncommercial AM radio broadcast station or LPFM that the proposed translator would rebroadcast. The FCC does not plan to accept major modifications to existing NCE reserved band translators.
The commission also is proposing a limit of 10 applications nationally for each applicant (but four for tribal LPFMs and two for other LPFMs). But it also is asking for public comment on its proposed eligibility restrictions and caps.
“The commission has employed application caps or eligibility restrictions in prior reserved band full-service NCE FM windows and non-reserved band FM translator windows to promote efficiency, curb speculative applications and expedite the processing of applications and expansion of new service while preserving spectrum and future licensing opportunities,” it wrote in a summary sheet.
“For example, in both 2007 and 2021, before the NCE FM station filing windows opened, the commission sought comment on an application cap and subsequently established a limit of 10 NCE FM new station applications filed by an applicant during each filing window.”
It said the application limit was an effective safeguard and helped restrict the number of MX applications, prevented mass filings and allowed the FCC to process and grant thousands of new NCE FM applications. It noted that it also has imposed such restrictions in prior translator filing windows.
And as noted above, the FCC said that it will not accept applications for major mods to existing NCE reserved band translators. “An applicant seeking a major modification to an existing NCE reserved band FM translator station authorization may apply for a new station and, subsequent to commencement of operations with its newly authorized facilities, surrender its old station license.”
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