§ 73.1125   Station main studio location.

   (a) Except for those stations described in paragraph (b) of this section,
   each AM, FM, and TV broadcast station shall maintain a main studio at one of
   the following locations:

   (1) Within the station's community of license;

   (2) At any location within the principal community contour of any AM, FM, or
   TV broadcast station licensed to the station's community of license; or

   (3) Within twenty-five miles from the reference coordinates of the center of
   its community of license as described in § 73.208(a)(1).

   Note to paragraph (a): The principal community contour of AM stations that
   simulcast on a frequency in the 535-1605 kHz band and on a frequency in the
   1605-1705 kHz band shall be the 5 mV/m contour of the lower band operation
   during the term of the simultaneous operating authority. Upon termination of
   the 535-1605 kHz band portion of the dual frequency operation, the principal
   community contour shall become the 5 mV/m of the remaining operation in the
   1605-1705 kHz band.

   (b) The following stations are not required to maintain their main studio at
   the locations described in paragraph (a) of this section.

   (1)  AM  stations  licensed as synchronous amplifier transmitters (“AM
   boosters”) or,

   (2) AM, FM, or TV stations, when good cause exists for locating the main
   studio at a location other than that described in paragraph (a) of this
   section, and when so doing would be consistent with the operation of the
   station in the public interest.

   (c)  Each Class A television station shall maintain a main studio at a
   location within the station's predicted Grade B contour, as defined in
   § 73.683 and calculated using the method specified in § 73.684. With respect
   to a group of commonly controlled stations, Class A stations whose predicted
   Grade B contours are physically contiguous to each other may locate their
   main studio within any of these contours. If a Class A station is one of a
   group of commonly controlled Class A stations, but its predicted Grade B
   contour is not physically contiguous to that of another Class A station in
   the commonly owned group, its main studio shall be located within its own
   predicted Grade B contour. Alternatively, a Class A television station shall
   maintain a main studio at the site used by the station as of November 29,
   1999.

   (d) Relocation of the main studio may be made:

   (1) From one point to another within the locations described in paragraph
   (a) or (c) of this section, or from a point outside the locations specified
   in paragraph (a) or (c) to one within those locations, without specific FCC
   authority, but notification to the FCC in Washington shall be made promptly.

   (2)  Written  authority  to locate a main studio outside the locations
   specified in paragraph (a) or (c) of this section for the first time must be
   obtained from the Audio Division, Media Bureau for AM and FM stations, or
   the Video Division for TV and Class A television stations before the studio
   may be moved to that location. Where the main studio is already authorized
   at  a location outside those specified in paragraph (a) or (c) of this
   section, and the licensee or permittee desires to specify a new location
   also  located  outside those locations, written authority must also be
   received from the Commission prior to the relocation of the main studio.
   Authority for these changes may be requested by filing a letter with an
   explanation of the proposed changes with the appropriate division. Licensees
   or permittees should also be aware that the filing of such a letter request
   does not imply approval of the relocation request, because each request is
   addressed on a case-by-case basis. A filing fee is required for commercial
   AM, FM, TV or Class A TV licensees or permittees filing a letter request
   under the section (see § 1.1104 of this chapter).

   (e) Each AM, FM, TV and Class A TV broadcast station shall maintain a local
   telephone number in its community of license or a toll-free number.

   [ 63 FR 49497 , Sept. 16, 1998, as amended at  65 FR 30003 , May 10, 2000;  66 FR 21690 , May 1, 2001;  67 FR 13232 , Mar. 21, 2002]

   return arrow Back to Top