§ 73.1350   Transmission system operation.

   (a) Each licensee is responsible for maintaining and operating its broadcast
   station  in a manner which complies with the technical rules set forth
   elsewhere in this part and in accordance with the terms of the station
   authorization.

   (b)  The  licensee  must designate a chief operator in accordance with
   § 73.1870. The licensee may designate one or more technically competent
   persons to adjust the transmitter operating parameters for compliance with
   the technical rules and the station authorization.

   (1) Persons so authorized by the licensee may make such adjustments directly
   at  the  transmitter site or by using control equipment at an off-site
   location.

   (2) The transmitter control personnel must have the capability to turn the
   transmitter off at all times. If the personnel are at a remote location, the
   control system must provide this capability continuously or must include an
   alternate method of acquiring control that can satisfy the requirement of
   paragraph (e) of this section that operation be terminated within three
   minutes.

   (c) The licensee must establish monitoring procedures and schedules for the
   station and the indicating instruments employed must comply with § 73.1215.

   (1)  Monitoring  procedures  and schedules must enable the licensee to
   determine compliance with § 73.1560 regarding operating power and AM station
   mode  of  operation,  § 73.1570 regarding modulation levels, and, where
   applicable, § 73.1213 regarding antenna tower lighting, and § 73.69 regarding
   the parameters of an AM directional antenna system.

   (2) Monitoring equipment must be periodically calibrated so as to provide
   reliable indications of transmitter operating parameters with a known degree
   of accuracy. Errors inherent in monitoring equipment and the calibration
   procedure must be taken into account when adjusting operating parameters to
   ensure  that the limits imposed by the technical rules and the station
   authorization are not exceeded.

   (d) In the event that a broadcast station is operating in a manner that is
   not in compliance with the applicable technical rules set forth elsewhere in
   this part or the terms of the station authorization, and the condition is
   not listed in paragraph (e) or (f) of this section, broadcast operation must
   be terminated within three hours unless antenna input power is reduced
   sufficiently to eliminate any excess radiation. Examples of conditions that
   require termination of operation within three hours include excessive power,
   excessive modulation or the emission of spurious signals that do not result
   in harmful interference.

   (e) If a broadcast station is operating in a manner that poses a threat to
   life or property or that is likely to significantly disrupt the operation of
   other stations, immediate corrective action is required. In such cases,
   operation must be terminated within three minutes unless antenna input power
   is reduced sufficiently to eliminate any excess radiation. Examples of
   conditions that require immediate corrective action include the emission of
   spurious signals that cause harmful interference, any mode of operation not
   specified by the station license for the pertinent time of day, or operation
   substantially at variance from the authorized radiation pattern.

   (f)  If  a  broadcast  station is operating in a manner that is not in
   compliance with one of the following technical rules, operation may continue
   if  the  station  complies with relevant alternative provisions in the
   specified rule section.

   (1) AM directional antenna system tolerances, see § 73.62;

   (2) AM directional antenna monitoring points, see § 73.158;

   (3) TV visual waveform, see § 73.691(b);

   (4) Reduced power operation, see § 73.1560(d);

   (5) Reduced modulation level, see § 73.1570(a);

   (6) Emergency antennas, see § 73.1680.

   (g) The transmission system must be maintained and inspected in accordance
   with § 73.1580.

   (h)  Whenever  a transmission system control point is established at a
   location other than the main studio or transmitter, a letter of notification
   of that location must be sent to the FCC in Washington, DC, Attention: Audio
   Division (radio) or Video Division (television), Media Bureau, within 3 days
   of the initial use of that point. The letter should include a list of all
   control points in use, for clarity. This notification is not required if
   responsible station personnel can be contacted at the transmitter or studio
   site during hours of operation.

   (i) The licensee must ensure that the station is operated in compliance with
   Part 11 of this chapter, the rules governing the Emergency Alert System
   (EAS).

   [ 60 FR 55481 , Nov. 1, 1995, as amended at  63 FR 33877 , June 22, 1998;  67 FR 13232 , Mar. 21, 2002;  72 FR 44423 , Aug. 8, 2007]

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