§  73.827   Interference to the input signals of FM translator or FM booster
stations.

   (a) Interference to the direct reception of the input signal of an FM
   translator station. This subsection applies when an LPFM application
   proposes to operate near an FM translator station, the FM translator
   station is receiving its primary station signal off-air and the LPFM
   application proposes to operate on a third-adjacent channel to the
   primary station. In these circumstances, the LPFM station will not be
   authorized unless it is located at least 2 km from the FM translator
   station. In addition, in cases where an LPFM station is located within
   +- 30 degrees of the azimuth between the FM translator station and its
   primary station, the LPFM station will not be authorized unless it is
   located at least 10 kilometers from the FM translator station. The
   provisions of this subsection will not apply if the LPFM applicant:

   (1) Demonstrates that no actual interference will occur due to an
   undesired (LPFM) to desired (primary station) ratio below 34 dB at all
   locations,

   (2) Complies with the minimum LPFM/FM translator distance separation
   calculated in accordance with the following formula: du = 133.5 antilog
   [(Peu + Gru - Grd - Ed )/20], where du = the minimum allowed separation
   in km, Peu = LPFM ERP in dBW, Gru = gain (dBd) of the FM translator
   receive antenna in the direction of the LPFM site, Grd = gain (dBd) of
   the FM translator receive antenna in the direction of the primary
   station site, Ed = predicted field strength (dBu) of the primary
   station at the translator site, or

   (3) Reaches an agreement with the licensee of the FM translator
   regarding an alternative technical solution.

   Note to paragraph ( a ): LPFM applicants may assume that an FM
   translator station's receive and transmit antennas are collocated.

   (b) An authorized LPFM station will not be permitted to continue to
   operate if an FM translator or FM booster station demonstrates that the
   LPFM station is causing actual interference to the FM booster station's
   input signal, provided that the same input signal was in use at the
   time the LPFM station was authorized.

   (c) Complaints of actual interference by an LPFM station subject to
   paragraph (b) of this section must be served on the LPFM licensee and
   the Federal Communications Commission, Attention: Audio Division, Media
   Bureau. The LPFM station must suspend operations upon the receipt of
   such complaint unless the interference has been resolved to the
   satisfaction of the complainant on the basis of suitable techniques.
   Short test transmissions may be made during the period of suspended
   operations to check the efficacy of remedial measures. An LPFM station
   may only resume full operation at the direction of the Federal
   Communications Commission. If the Commission determines that the
   complainant has refused to permit the LPFM station to apply remedial
   techniques that demonstrably will eliminate the interference without
   impairment of the original reception, the licensee of the LPFM station
   is absolved of further responsibility for the complaint.

   [ 78 FR 2106 , Jan. 9, 2013]

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