Thank you, SamBuca. That would appear to answer my question. In other words, if a station is operated, however briefly, any time during a 12 month period, it is considered to be "operating" and the license remains valid, correct? If not, the license is forfeited. As I recall, that's part of what happened with the former WGSA 1310 in Ephrata, many years ago.
In regard to your question further up, I remember hearing a long time ago that in an effort to de-clutter the AM band, the FCC ruled not to allow dark AM licenses to come back once they had expired. FMs are a different story.
The finer points of FCC rules are not my strong suit. Thanks for the answer!
> > A
> > question for the engineering types who frequent this
> board:
> > what are the minimum hours a station must broadcast in
> order
> > to maintain that it is "operating?" Must it operate
> daily,
> > weekly, monthly?
>
> FCC 73.1635:
>
> (4) An STA may be granted for an initial
> period not to exceed 180 days. A
> limited number of extensions of such
> authorizations may be granted for additional
> periods not exceeding 180 days
> per extension. An STA necessitated by
> technical or equipment problems, however,
> may, in practice, be granted for
> an initial period not to exceed 90 days
> with a limited number of extensions
> not to exceed 90 days per extension.
> The permittee or licensee must demonstrate
> that any further extensions
> requested are necessary and that all
> steps to resume normal operation are
> being undertaken in an expeditions and
> timely fashion. The license of a broadcasting
> station that fails to transmit
> broadcast signals for any consecutive
> 12-month period expires as a matter of
> law at the end of that period, notwithstanding
> any STA or provision, term,
> or condition of the license to the contrary.
>
> (emphasis added)
>