Thoughts on proposed upgrade for Class A FMs

[Schroedingers Cat]

Dale Bickel assured me in an email that it is normal procedure for the FCC Engineers to rigorously technically analyze these types of Petitions before they go forward.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

Would allowing stations to go directional and upgrade without regard of spacing distances as long as existing stations' 45 DB is protected work? 100.5 in Atlanta could go on the Fish Stick with a directional antenna and not effect WSSL,'s 45. In fact the power directed East and North East could be reduced compared to what is happening now.

The protected F(50,50) contours are 54 dBu for Class B, 57 dBu for Class B1, and 60 dBu for all other classes. The 45 dBu F(50,50) applies to limits to complaints by stations about translator interference. It's quite complicated, and there's a high bar.

 

[Michi]

Michi, thanks for the update you posted. I want your opinion on my question. With the limited number of stations that will ultimately be eligible for the upgrade, as well as the costs, legal, engineering and otherwise, will it be worth the few miles of coverage each station gains? I looked at 2 stations near me, both serving a city of 85k, that could upgrade, and used your figures on a map radius tool, and the coverage only increased by a few miles. One station I know would not pay for the upgrade, and the other ownership group is iffy on investing even one more dollar in their stations, so I really don't see either one happening. Also, looking at other stations in a 50 mile radius from me, I see so many stations limited by first-adjacent and co-channel spacing, that I think there may be 1 or 2 stations this would benefit, but no more. Does REC have any idea how many stations realistically this would benefit, and knowing the FCC and their changing whims, when or if this proposal becomes a reality?

When some folks file these petitions for rulemaking, they are intended to benefit primarily their station. C4 was that way.. so was A10.
When we release the full numbers and data, I think we will find that many stations will not want to invest the tens of thousands to get invest in a new or different DA. Only a fraction of Class As are far enough away from other class As where they can upgrade with 73.207 at their current sites. A large majority will be 73.215. And still, almost half of the facilities can't upgrade 73.207 or 73.215 because of distance separation. This may not be appetizing, especially for a gain of less than 3 dB.

I am pretty sure the NAB will object to this if for any reason, interference to translators for their members. We will show that from a contour overlap perspective, translators will be slightly more impacted than LPFMs.

I am only supporting this if I can get LP250 in the same or parallel NPRMs. I think both should be given consideration, but honestly, I don't think there will be too many takers (for A10) when you look at the big picture. If A10 and LP250 are both enacted at the same time, I think LP250 will get more takers just because of the expenses involved (worst case scenario on LP250 will likely be those with single bay antennas changing to two bays, a much less expensive investment than a full-service composite DA/proofs of performance/etc.)

If there were more upgrade opportunities with 73.207, this may be more appetizing for stations, but there are just way too many 73.215s because of the spacing between Class As which will make owners seriously think before investing.

For now, if you want to look up the potential upgrade status of a Class A station or the potential for interference to a translator or LPFM station, go to
Class A10 Impact Check | REC Networks
and enter the station's call sign.

=m

 

[Michi]

Dale Bickel assured me in an email that it is normal procedure for the FCC Engineers to rigorously technically analyze these types of Petitions before they go forward.

Trust me.. they will. But we will be advancing our counter-proposed 73.207 numbers that reflect good engineering practice, 73.215 numbers that are just not arbitrary numbers pulled out of the sky and 73.807 numbers that were never put on the original petition.

 

[exdjted]

For now, if you want to look up the potential upgrade status of a Class A station or the potential for interference to a translator or LPFM station, go to
Class A10 Impact Check | REC Networks
and enter the station's call sign.

Thanks! This is exactly what I was hoping for.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

The Petitioner is a friend of a friend, who has a lot of respect for him, and has done work with him. AM stations are frequently downgrading and going silent, and the FM band is increasingly being eschewed by younger listeners. I respect this Petition as a starting point. As it stands, it needs modification. But beyond that, it doesn't go far enough, and there needs to be a much larger overhaul of the allotment system, like has been done in Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, and worldwide. This probably will require more Petitions, not just comments. The comment period is running out, and there is probably no way to address all these things in these proceedings.

Aren't the 73.207 Table and related sections getting way too unwieldy with all the new classes? Originally, Distance Separation Requirements were supposed to SIMPLIFY the Allotment process to develop the Band. But there was just A, B, C, and D in the early 1960s, A and B before that. Some years ago, an associate and I began to call it the "Vitamin Table". What's next, a Class CoQ10?

 

[Kelly A]

Aren't the 73.207 Table and related sections getting way too unwieldy with all the new classes? Originally, Distance Separation Requirements were supposed to SIMPLIFY the Allotment process to develop the Band. But there was just A, B, C, and D in the early 1960s, A and B before that. Some years ago, an associate and I began to call it the "Vitamin Table". What's next, a Class CoQ10?

By comparison, taking CoQ10 provides many more tangible benefits than ever letting LPFM stations have full-class status.

 

[Michi]

ever letting LPFM stations have full-class status.

That would require an act of Congress. It's not going to happen any time soon, if ever.