On
January 27, 2010 the FCC adopted an Order that permits FM radio
stations to voluntarily increase digital power levels up to ten
percent of analog power levels and establishes interference mitigation
and remediation procedures to promptly resolve complaints of interference
to analog stations. These rule changes will substantially boost
digital signal coverage while safeguarding analog reception against
interference from higher power digital transmissions.
The FCC Order will:
Permit most FM stations to immediately increase digital power
by 6 dB, a four-fold power increase;
Limit power increases for stations currently licensed in excess
of class maximums, i.e., "super-powered" stations, to protect
analog radio service from interference;
Establish application procedures for power increases up to 10
dB;
Establish interference remediation procedures that require the
Media Bureau to resolve each bona fide dispute or impose tiered
power reductions within 90 days;
Reserve the right to revisit the issue of digital power levels
if significant interference results to analog reception.
The Commission stated that since the commencement of -20 dBc
FM IBOC power operations in 2004, it has not received any well
documented complaints of interference to analog FM stations from
digital signals. Furthermore, since May 2006, the Media Bureau
issued a total of 15 experimental authorizations to permit operations
at up to -10 dBc FM IBOC power, including authorizations for ten
grandfathered short-spaced stations with as many as four first-adjacent
channel short spacings. Some short spacings are severe. Again,
the Bureau did not receive any complaints of interference to analog
FM stations from licensees of analog FM stations or the listening
public as a result of the experimental operations.
Based on five years of interference-free FM hybrid digital operations
by approximately 1500 stations, the Commission is convinced that
immediate 6 dB increase in FM Digital ERP is appropriate for all
FM stations except super-power FM stations. The maximum permissible
FM Digital ERP for all super-power stations will be limited initially
to the higher of either the currently permitted -20 dBc level
or 10 dB below the maximum analog power that would be authorized
for the class of the super-power FM station adjusted for the station's
antenna height above average terrain, predicted in accordance
with Section 73.211(b) of the Rules. In order for a licensee to
determine if its FM station is, by definition, a super-powered
FM station, the Bureau will provide an FM Super-Powered Maximum
Digital ERP Calculator on the Bureau's Audio Division Web page
(http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/digitalFMpower.html).
Beginning on the effective date of this Order (the later of (a)
30 days after publication of the text or a summary thereof in
the Federal Register; or (b) announcement in the Federal Register
of OMB approval of those rules and requirements involving PRA
burdens) eligible FM stations may commence operation with FM digital
power up to -14 dBc, and must electronically notify the Media
Bureau of increased power FM digital operation within 10 days
of commencement using the Digital Notification form available
in the Media Bureau's Consolidated Database System Electronic
Filing System. Eligible FM stations wishing to commence increased
power FM digital operation before the effective date of this Order
may file a request for Special Temporary Authorization (STA).
A licensee desiring FM Digital ERP in excess of -14 dBc is required
to calculate interfering field strength to first-adjacent channel
analog FM stations based on the procedure and charts contained
in the Order.
With regard to interference protection standards, the Commission
states that the record does not support the establishment of protection
standards. The Bureau anticipates that widespread implementation
of FM Digital ERP increases will provide valuable coverage and
interference data that will be useful in developing a prediction
methodology. Furthermore the Commission states that it is convinced
that it is imperative for it to implement a power increase promptly
and that the record establishes that the digital power limits
set forth in the Order will provide the necessary protection to
analog FM stations.
However, interference remediation is provided by the Order. If
a full-service FM station is receiving verifiable listener complaints
of interference within its protected contour from FM digital facilities
operating with FM Digital ERP in excess of -20 dBc, the licensee
of the affected FM station must contact the licensee of the station
operating the FM digital facilities. The Commission will require
the stations to work cooperatively to confirm the instances of
interference and to attempt to eliminate the interference using
voluntary tiered FM Digital ERP reductions. If the stations fail
to reach an agreement on appropriate interference remediation
measures, the licensee of the affected analog FM station may file
an interference complaint with the Media Bureau.
The Commission concludes this Order by stating that if implementation
of the adopted increases in FM Digital ERP results in a widespread
level of interference to existing analog FM stations that it deems
unacceptable, the Commission will promptly revisit the maximum
permissible FM Digital ERP values in the future.
The entire text of this Order is available at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-10-208A1.pdf.
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