FM translator question

[passtheword]

I've been chatting with a FB friend who works at an AM out in CA about whether they had any plans to purchase an FM translator to rebroadcast their station. I was under the impression that, given how the FCC is allowing AM and HD stations to feed FM translators, any group which has an existing AM or HD station could purchase an FM translator and use it to feed the FM translator. He told me tonight he spoke with their CE and he was told it was not permitted, per FCC rules. I don't understand how that could be, given how many groups are now buying up existing translators with the express intent of using them to rebroadcast one of their AM or HD stations. This is the reply he sent me back regarding what he learned:


About a year ago, the FCC changed one of their rules governing how translators will be used. As it was explained to me by our engineer, in order for a station to put its signal onto a translator, it now has to be an existing translator which the station owns. We own no translators and I don't know that there are any available.

If we found one, we would not be allowed to put [our station] on it, because it would not have been ours at the time we were granted the license for our [AM station].


I know of an AM in my area which purchased an existing FM translator (this translator had been on the air for about 25 yrs). It is now rebroadcasting the AM. Can anybody shed some light on this? Thanks.

 

[Kmagrill]

The AM station does not have to own the translator. They can lease time or work out any other deal that's mutually acceptable. The major caveat is that whatever translator they use, the translator's 60dBu contour cannot exceed the daytime 2mV contour of the AM station.

There are 2 types of translators, Fill-In and Non-fill-in. A fill in translator is one where the translator's 60dBu service contour does not exist outside of the service contour for the AM or FM station that is being rebroadcast. A non-fill-in translator is one where the translator's coverage is all or partly outside of the host station's service contour. AM stations can only be broadcast on Fill-in translators. The rules permit fill-in translators to be:

A. Operated with larger coverage areas (greater antenna height and up to 250W) than non-fill-ins. I have seen applications for translators with 250W at 300 meters giving them coverages that rival class A FM stations.

B. Reimbursed/leased by AM or FM stations.

C. Owned by the host station

D. Be fed by other methods besides just off-air signals. In other words, you can use an STL or two Dixie cups and a string to get programming to a fill-in translator.

The current FCC rules specify that AM stations can only be rebroadcast on translators authorized prior to May of 2009. Translators authorized prior to May of 2009 can be bought, sold, leased, bartered, etc. by AM stations and these translators can rebroadcast AM or FM signals. Translators authorized after May of 2009 can currently only rebroadcast FM (including HD) signals, but that will probably change after the next LPFM window opens.

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

So the question of the week is: If the commercial AM station owns a FM translator translating it's AM station on a fill-in translator within their countour, could another translator owner OUTSIDE of the countour (non-fill-in translator) EXTEND the coverage past the primary contour?

I see all different kinds of interesting options if that's the case ;D

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

OKCRadioGuy: I think you skipped right over this part of the message by Kmagrill- - -

AM stations can only be broadcast on Fill-in translators.

 

[Kmagrill]

So the question of the week is: If the commercial AM station owns a FM translator translating it's AM station on a fill-in translator within their countour, could another translator owner OUTSIDE of the countour (non-fill-in translator) EXTEND the coverage past the primary contour?

I see all different kinds of interesting options if that's the case ;D

The rules do not contain any specific prohibition that prevent one translator from feeding another. In fact, that's done all the time in FM rebroadcasting but, that exact question was posed to the FCC last year and the answer was "absulutely NOT!". They were very clear that, as a matter of policy, they consider such a setup abusive if the first translator is an AM fill-in. I do not know why, except that the FCC has no provision for extending the coverage area of AM stations like they do for FM. Because there is no such thing in the AM universe, doing it now would be effectively creating a service where they had not intended to do so. Perhaps such a discussion could be re-opened at some more politically opportune time, but right now, there is a lot of pressure from LPFM advocates to give spectrum to LPFMs instead of translators, so the FCC is pretty dead set against doing anything more right now.

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

Thanks for the fill-in on this . It's something I've wondered about ever since they came up with the AM on FM translator thing. At least we now know the help around the FCC isn't in favor of it and it probably would be a very bad idea even if the rules don't currently specify. If they don't want it, they could find a myriad of reasons to make it stop including proposing new rules to stop the situation. Thanks for the help!

 

[TomT]

Wouldn't write off an FM translator for an AM so quickly.

First--the 2mv contour is daytime, and for many AM's that's a generous area, considering their actual real coverage area is probably noise limited to a much smaller area.

Second--translators can be moved as a minor change, so long as some part of the new coverage area covers a portion of the existing 60 dbu.

Third--getting the AM station on FM will open up a new audience --those folks who just don't listen to FM because "it doesn't sound right." However, don't skimp on your feed to the translator & process it well--in other words, treat it like an FM station.