The FCC announced today via Public Notice that it has revised the filing window period to apply for new LPFM stations, on which we reported in a previous blog post. The filing window was slated to open on November 1, 2023, and close November 8, 2023, but it will now open on December 6, 2023 … Continue Reading
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or the “Commission”) ordered an FM translator owner to pay a fine of $2,000 for rebroadcasting a primary station without notifying the FCC. According to the forfeiture order released March 2, 2020, Carolina Radio Group Inc. – licensee of FM Translator station W225DF in Raleigh, North Carolina – rebroadcast station … Continue Reading
[Editor’s Note: This is part 2 of a 2-part series. Part 1, addressing repack funds for LPTV and TV Translator stations, is available here] As we reported in August 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) at that time released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking laying out how it would parcel out reimbursement funds … Continue Reading
As we reported last week, the FCC has proposed new rules to distribute the funds allocated under the Reimbursement Expansion Act (REA). These funds are to be used to reimburse broadcasters that were involuntarily affected by the post-incentive auction repacking of television stations. Under the REA and the proposed rules, FM radio stations and LPTV … Continue Reading
(Editor’s Note: If you’re looking for information on LPTV and TV Translators review Part One here.) Back in March 2018, Congress passed the Reimbursement Expansion Act (REA), which allocated additional funds to be used to reimburse broadcasters involuntarily affected by the post-incentive auction repacking of television stations. In addition to providing additional money for full-power … Continue Reading
Back in March 2018, Congress passed the Reimbursement Expansion Act (REA), which allocated additional funds to be used to reimburse broadcasters involuntarily affected by the post-incentive auction repacking of television stations. In addition to providing additional money for full-power and Class A stations, the REA for the first time expanded the universe of stations eligible … Continue Reading
The FCC announced yesterday that it is extending the deadline for comments and reply comments on proposed rule changes to the FCC’s procedures for resolving complaints of interference caused by FM translators. The new deadline is set for Aug. 6 with reply comments due Sept. 5. Several parties requested an extension because of the complexity of the issues … Continue Reading
A summary of the FCC’s proposed rule changes regarding procedures to resolve complaints of interference caused by FM Translators to primary stations was published in the Federal Register today. That event established July 6 as the deadline for initial comments and August 6 as the deadline for replies. The FCC proposals are designed to streamline … Continue Reading
The FCC at its May Open Meeting adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing reforms to the Commission’s current procedures used to resolve complaints of interference caused by FM translator stations. As the NPRM recites, the FM translator service was instituted in 1970 as a way to improve reception of FM radio stations in … Continue Reading
On May 1, the FCC’s Media and Wireless Bureaus granted a request filed by Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth attorneys Frank Montero and Keenan Adamchak on behalf of the Puerto Rico Broadcasters Association (PRBA) to waive the FCC’s rules limiting the scope of settlements involving mutually exclusive (MX) FM translator applications filed in the Auction 100 … Continue Reading
The window for Class A and B AM stations (and certain Class C and D AM stations) to apply for new cross-service FM translators will open at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, and close at 5:59 p.m. Eastern Time (not at 11:59 p.m.) on Jan. 31, 2018. This will be the … Continue Reading
In case you missed this detail in Matt McCormick’s recent article about the upcoming FM translator application filing window for AM Class C and D station owners, Wednesday (July 19) is the start of a temporary freeze on acceptance of applications for minor modifications of existing FM translators and LPFMs, and for FM booster construction … Continue Reading
The long-awaited filing window for certain Class C and D AM stations to apply for new FM translators will open at 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 26, 2017, and will close at 5:59 p.m. EDT (not at 11:59 p.m.) on August 2, 2017. A second window for eligible Class A and B AM stations (and … Continue Reading
The FCC's Audio Division has dismissed an AM licensee's request for waiver that would have allowed the move-in of a distant FM translator.… Continue Reading
If you've got a singleton FM translator application still pending but you weren't among the 1,200+ applicants who got invited to file long form Form 349 applications last July, take heart! The Media Bureau has issued another invitation.… Continue Reading
We now know for sure that some FM translator authorizations currently being granted are definitely at risk from LPFM applications that may be filed in the upcoming window.… Continue Reading
The Media Bureau has opened the "long-form" filing window for the 1,239 FM vintage 2003 translator applicants previously identified as "singletons".… Continue Reading
Apparently NOT, according to informal word from Audio Division staffers - even though that approach could undo much of the progress that has already been achieved on the FM translator/LPFM front.… Continue Reading
If you've still got one or more FM translator applications pending from the 2003 window, you now have an opportunity -- possibly your last -- to try to avoid the auction process.… Continue Reading
We've got good news for you if (1) you've got an FM translator application still pending from the 2003/Auction 83 filing window and (2) you identified yourself as a noncommercial educational (NCE) applicant when you first filed the application.… Continue Reading
The Media Bureau has issued yet another public notice providing further "guidance" or "clarification" of the filing requirements FM translator applicants are facing in the very near term.… Continue Reading
In the long-running reality show "Survivor - 2003 FM Translators", if you happen to be a player whose FM translator applications haven't yet been kicked off the island, heads up: the Media Bureau has just announced the next challenge.… Continue Reading
