The FCC is now processing a flood of FM translator applications. The applications are the result of an "auction filing window" opened by the Commission on March 10th for non-reserved band (channels 221 to 300) FM broadcasters, allowing them to submit proposals for new FM translator stations and major modifications to authorized FM translator facilities. In order to determine if any of these translator applications have an impact on your station, it may be wise for you to do some investigation.

Many broadcasters have their engineers, technical consultants or other broadcast service companies perform channel spacing studies on a regular basis. A channel spacing study can provide a detailed description of neighboring existing facilities and applications on first, second and third adjacent channels. The study typically shows among other things your station's call sign, owner, transmitter site coordinates, power, antenna height, whether or not a directional antenna is used. This same information, along with the distance from your transmitter's site, is shown for adjacent channel stations. The information is taken from an FCC technical database and includes the Commission's most recent information on all licensed facilities and applications, including translators. Of course, the information in the FCC's database changes as new information is entered into the system, which is why channel spacing studies should be performed on a regular basis.

If you find in your spacing study that an FM translator application has been filed with the Commission on an adjacent channel to your station, you may want to plot its exact proposed location on a map. By doing this you can determine where the applicant is planning to locate the translator in relation to your coverage area and listenership. Most stations have listeners well outside their protected coverage contours and while a translator application may be technically perfect, some of your regular listeners could be affected.

FM translators are considered by the FCC to be secondary services. FCC rules do not allow translators to operate that may interfere with existing licensed broadcast stations. If you feel that such interference may be a problem, you can notify the Audio Division of the FCC's Media Bureau of this potential problem. Information on FM translators is available on the FCC's Website. Additionally, most reputable radio engineering consultants can assist you with channel spacing studies.

NAB recently spoke with Jim Bradshaw, Associate Division Chief, Audio Division, at the FCC's Media Bureau regarding this process and where it currently stands. According to Mr. Bradshaw over 13,000 engineering proposals were filed during the filing window (see Timeline sidebar). After receiving these proposals, the FCC first reviewed them to try and identify the non-mutually exclusive ones (referred to as "singletons") and in June released a list of applications deemed to be singletons.

Licensees whose proposals were included on the singleton list were given until August 29, 2003 to file the "long form" translator application (form 349). Mr. Bradshaw said that approximately 3,800 singleton applications were received by this date (out of 4,500 eligible). The FCC is now in the process of reviewing these applications. Mr. Bradshaw said the FCC's goal is to have them all taken care of by 9/1/04, an ambitious goal since normally the FCC processes 800 to 1,000 per year. He said that if approved, these singleton applications alone would more than double the number of currently authorized translators (from about 3,500 to over 7,000).

Broadcasters whose long form applications are dismissed due to an "acceptability defect" have a single opportunity to correct their application by submitting what is known as a petition for reconsideration. Mr. Bradshaw said that he expects a second public notice listing additional singleton applications to be released at some point because many applicants have either withdrawn their proposals or had them dismissed by the FCC since the original singleton list was released, reducing the number of mutually exclusive applications. Applicants who are interested in the status of their application can call the Audio division status line at 202-418-2730.