FCC: Gulf Coast AM's can use daytime power at night (non-comm use, temporary)

[tanim_95]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned elsewhere...

Hopefully this link won't change to a different story at some point:

http://www.radioandrecords.com/Newsroom/2005_08_31/topstory.asp

 

[TXengineer]

Here is the text from the FCC's daily digest

Washington, DC – In response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the Federal Communications Commission’s Media Bureau today released two Public Notices that provide relief to multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs), television and radio broadcasters by allowing systems and stations to operate and restore communications as needed in areas impacted by the hurricane.

In light of the extensive damage to businesses and homes in the Gulf Coast region, and the essential need for broadcast services to the residents of the region, the FCC will provide additional assistance on an expedited basis to MVPDs and broadcast stations in order to get the systems and stations back on the air as quickly as possible.

The Notices give all requests for temporary facilities or modification to existing facilities expedited processing. The provisions for broadcasting emergency information are presumed to be in effect.

For television and radio stations, the Notice provides the following:

• Special Temporary Authority (STA) – Requests for STAs will be handled as expeditiously as possible.
• Emergency Antennas – The Commission rules permits FM and TV stations to erect temporary antennas without prior authority from the FCC. Also allows AM stations to use a horizontal or vertical wire or a non-directional vertical element of a directional antenna as an emergency antenna. The Commission waives the requirement that licensees notify the Commission within 24 hours of commencement of operations employing these antennas.
• AM Nighttime Operations – The Commission rules permits AM stations to use their full daytime facilities during nighttime hours to broadcast emergency information, provided all operation is conducted on a noncommercial basis.
• Limited and Discontinued Operations – The Commission waives current rule on notification time period and will accept notifications within 30 days and requests to remain silent within 60 days of the discontinuance of operations.
• Tolling of Broadcast Station Construction Permit Deadlines – Upon request, a permittee of a broadcast station located within a Federal Disaster Area will be provided an additional 90 days to complete construction.
For Cable Television Relay Service (CARS) stations, the Notice will begin expedited procedures for STAs for temporary facilities or modification to existing facilities for restoration of services. Operation under CARS STAs may commence immediately upon local coordination. Notification to the FCC shall be made within 48 hours and subject to ratification or modification by the FCC’s Media Bureau. All requests for emergency operation must be coordinated with local frequency coordinators and interference protection to state and local emergency and public safety services must be made.

Also, compliance by MVPDs with many of the technical requirements of Part 76, Subpart K of the Rules will be waived for 90 days. (See the accompanying Public Notice for details). Bureau staff will provide expeditious service and coordination with MVPDs for Part 76 waiver requests or other assistance.

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-260810A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-260810A1.pdf

 

[Kent]

The rule allowing daytimers to remain on-air at night and multi-pattern AM signals to use their daytime power in times of disaster around the clock provided they air noncommercial programming has actually been around for quite some time. One of my former co-workers worked at a station in southeast MO near Cape Girardeau in the early 80's when a flood hit. His station was a daytimer at 1170. They remained on-air at night to broadcast information and got a complaint call from KVOO in Tulsa. He explained to them in no uncertain terms that his station was the only one that was able to operate in the area due to a flood and was following FCC procedures as it was broadcasting non-commercial programming. He never told me if he had to notify the FCC in advance, though.

 

[TXengineer]

WSBS in Gt Barrington, MA on 860 stayed on day power the night the F4 tornado hit the town until 11pm-ish broadcasting emergency info back in May of 95..

 

[talkers]

> WSBS in Gt Barrington, MA on 860 stayed on day power the
> night the F4 tornado hit the town until 11pm-ish
> broadcasting emergency info back in May of 95..
>

I worked at a station in central Ohio, and one night a neighboring county was being hit for over 2 hours with tornado/severe thunderstorm warnings, with cells one right after another. We went to daytime non-directional signal till the storms were over because in night mode we did not cover the entire county, and then went back to directional/nighttime operations when the situation was over with. If there is an emergency, a AM station may operate on day mode at night till the emergency is over with. Obviously the FCC went ahead and make sure the AM stations down there know about that rule.