FM translator in Boston

[SteveThomas]

Question that I'm hoping someone has an answer for. Is a licensed FM translator still required to be "attached" to an existing licensed FM or AM station?

The reason I ask is that it's my understanding there's an FM translator in the Boston market that may still be (or possibly not) licensed to serve an existing station. Now I've been told there's been a good number of rule changes/modifications regarding FM translators to where they're able to essentially be a "stand-a-lone" FM signal. An example that comes to mind is the "Valley 98.9 FM" signal radiating from the top of a hill in Windham NH that at one time I believe was assigned to an AM station licensed to Salem NH...but apparently isn't anymore and competes as another commercial FM signal.

Your assistance in bringing me up to speed...would be greatly appreciated...thank you.

 

[powers]

I was under the understanding that a translator may only originate its own programming in the instance where if the AM station it rebroadcasts has a limited broadcast day (like daytime only stations) that the translator is allowed to continue the programs 24/7.

 

[Least]

This question has been asked time and time again about Valley 98.9, but there hasn't been a clear answer as of yet. It's currently being fed through an HD-2 or HD-3 of another translator. It began as an AM station that had the translator on 98.9. But the format of the AM station flipped to Spanish language talk.

 

[nowradioguy]

Sounds like we need a translation of the rules from the original English into how translators are intended to function.

 

[ajaynejr]

The translator must rebroadcast the program of the primary station. It must be turned off when the primary station is turned off. Except the translater does not have to be turned off if the primary station went off the air and is being serviced to go back on, and provided that when the primary station broadcast on a given day and then, as a daytimer, shuts down at sunset, the translator may continue during the upcoming nighttime.

 

[Least]

The translator must rebroadcast the program of the primary station. It must be turned off when the primary station is turned off. Except the translater does not have to be turned off if the primary station went off the air and is being serviced to go back on, and provided that when the primary station broadcast on a given day and then, as a daytimer, shuts down at sunset, the translator may continue during the upcoming nighttime.

And that is the $100,000 question. It doesn't have a primary analog AM or FM signal. When it went on the air, it rebroadcast WMVX (AM1110 from Salem, NH). Two years ago WMVX switched formats to Spanish Langauge Talk, yet the "Valley 98.9" Classic Hits format remained on the translator. It's now considered to be fed by an HD 2/3 from W275BH (102.9 from Lawrence, MA).

So what we have is a translator that is rebroadcasting an HD substation from other translator.

 

[ajaynejr]

That translator had (or should have had) a primary station when it went on the air. The other translator provideing the signal should have the same primary station and should have all along retransmitted that primary station.

Unless the rules have changed, someone is broadcasting illegally.

 

[CTListener]

That translator had (or should have had) a primary station when it went on the air. The other translator provideing the signal should have the same primary station and should have all along retransmitted that primary station.

Unless the rules have changed, someone is broadcasting illegally.

Or the FCC is winking at the transgression to allow all involved to buy more time to get their affairs in order rather than having licenses turned in and transmitters turned off. It's not in the regulators' interest to encourage stations to go dark.