§ 5.203   Experimental authorizations for licensed broadcast stations.

   (a) Licensees of broadcast stations (including TV Translator, LPTV, and TV
   Booster  stations)  may  obtain experimental authorizations to conduct
   technical experimentation directed toward improvement of the technical
   phases of operation and service, and for such purposes may use a signal
   other than the normal broadcast program signal.

   (b) Experimental authorizations for licensed broadcast stations may be
   requested by filing an informal application with the FCC in Washington, DC,
   describing the nature and purpose of the experimentation to be conducted,
   the nature of the experimental signal to be transmitted, and the proposed
   schedule  of  hours  and duration of the experimentation. Experimental
   authorizations shall be posted with the station license.

   (c) Experimental operations for licensed broadcast stations are subject to
   the following conditions:

   (1) The authorized power of the station may not be exceeded more than 5
   percent above the maximum power specified, except as specifically authorized
   for the experimental operations.

   (2) Emissions outside the authorized bandwidth must be attenuated to the
   degree required for the particular type of station.

   (3) The experimental operations may be conducted at any time the licensed
   station is authorized to operate, but the minimum required schedule of
   programming for the class and type of station must be met. AM stations also
   may conduct experimental operations during the experimental period (12
   midnight local time to local sunrise) and at additional hours if permitted
   by the experimental authorization provided no interference is caused to
   other  stations  maintaining  a regular operating schedule within such
   period(s).

   (4) If a licensed station's experimental authorization permits the use of
   additional facilities or hours of operation for experimental purposes, no
   sponsored programs or commercial announcements may be transmitted during
   such experimentation.

   (5) The licensee may transmit regularly scheduled programming concurrently
   with the experimental transmission if there is no significant impairment of
   service.

   (6)  No  charges  may  be made, either directly or indirectly, for the
   experimentation; however, normal charges may be made for regularly scheduled
   programming transmitted concurrently with the experimental transmissions.

   (d)  The FCC may request a report of the research, experimentation and
   results at the conclusion of the experimental operation.

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