§  74.1283   Station identification.

   (a) The call sign of an FM broadcast translator station will consist of
   the initial letter K or W followed by the channel number assigned to
   the translator and two letters. The use of the initial letter will
   generally conform to the pattern used in the broadcast service. The two
   letter combinations following the channel number will be assigned in
   order and requests for the assignment of particular combinations of
   letters will not be considered.

   (b) The call sign of an FM booster station will consist of the call
   sign of the primary station followed by the letters "FM" and the number
   of the booster station being authorized, e.g., WFCCFM-1.

   (c) A translator station authorized under this subpart shall be
   identified by one of the following methods.

   (1) By arranging for the primary station whose station is being
   rebroadcast to identify the translator station by call sign and
   location. Three such identifications shall be made during each day:
   once between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., once between 12:55 p.m. and 1:05 p.m.
   and once between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Stations which do not begin their
   broadcast before 9 a.m. shall make their first identification at the
   beginning of their broadcast days. The licensee of an FM translator
   whose station identification is made by the primary station must
   arrange for the primary station licensee to keep in its file, and to
   make available to FCC personnel, the translator's call letters and
   location, giving the name, address and telephone number of the licensee
   or his service representative to be contacted in the event of
   malfunction of the translator. It shall be the responsibility of the
   translator licensee to furnish current information to the primary
   station licensee for this purpose.

   (2) By transmitting the call sign in International Morse Code at least
   once each hour. Transmitters of FM broadcast translator stations of
   more than 1 watt transmitter output power must be equipped with an
   automatic keying device that will transmit the call sign at least once
   each hour, unless there is in effect a firm agreement with the
   translator's primary station as provided in §  74.1283(c)(1) of this
   section. Transmission of the call sign can be accomplished by:

   (i) Frequency shifting key; the carrier shift shall not be less than 5
   kHz nor greater than 25 kHz.

   (ii) Amplitude modulation of the FM carrier of at least 30 percent
   modulation. The audio frequency tone use shall not be within 200 hertz
   of the Emergency Broadcast System Attention signal alerting
   frequencies.

   (d) FM broadcast booster stations shall be identified by their primary
   stations, by the broadcasting of the primary station's call signs and
   location, in accordance with the provisions of §  73.1201 of this
   chapter.

   (e) The Commission may, in its discretion, specify other methods of
   identification.

   [ 55 FR 50699 , Dec. 10, 1990]

   return arrow Back to Top