§ 73.611   Reference points and distance computations.

   (a) In considering petitions to amend the Table of Allotments (§ 73.606(b)),
   the  following  reference  points  shall  be used by the Commission in
   determining assignment separations between communities:

   (1) Where transmitter sites for the pertinent channels have been authorized
   in communities involved in a petition to amend the Table of Allotments,
   separations between such communities shall be determined by the distance
   between  the  coordinates  of  the authorized transmitter sites in the
   respective communities as set forth in the Commission's authorizations
   therefor.

   (2) Where an authorized transmitter site is available for use as a reference
   point in one community but not in the other for the pertinent channels,
   separations shall be determined by the distance between the coordinates of
   the transmitter site as set forth in the FCC's authorization therefor and
   the coordinates of the other community as set forth in the publication of
   the United States Department of the Interior entitled, Index to The National
   Atlas of the United States of America. If this publication does not contain
   the coordinates for said other community, the coordinates of the main post
   office thereof shall be used.

   (3) Where no authorized transmitter sites are available for use as reference
   points in both communities for the pertinent channels, the distance between
   the two communities listed in the above publication shall be used. If said
   publication does not contain such distance, the separation between the two
   communities shall be determined by the distance between the coordinates
   thereof as set forth in the publication. Where such coordinates are not
   contained in the publication, the coordinates of the main post offices of
   said communities shall be used.

   (4) Where the distance between the reference point in a community to which a
   channel  is proposed to be assigned and the reference point in another
   community or communities does not meet the minimum separation requirements
   of § 73.610, the channel may be assigned to such community upon a showing
   that a transmitter site is available that would meet the minimum separation
   requirements of § 73.610 and the minimum field strength requirements of
   § 73.685. In such cases, where a station is not authorized in the community
   or communities to which measurements from the proposed channel assignment
   must be made pursuant to § 73.610 a showing should also be made that the
   distance between suitable transmitter sites in such other community or
   communities and the proposed transmitter site for the new channel meet the
   Commission's minimum spacing and coverage requirements.

   (b) Station separations in licensing proceedings shall be determined by the
   distance between the coordinates of the proposed transmitter site in one
   community and

   (1) The coordinates of an authorized transmitter site for the pertinent
   channel in the other community; or, where such transmitter site is not
   available for use as a reference point,

   (2) The coordinates of the other community as set forth in the Index to The
   National Atlas of the United States of America; or if not contained therein,

   (3) The coordinates of the main post office of such other community.

   (4) In addition, where there are pending applications in other communities
   which,  if granted, would have to be considered in determining station
   separations, the coordinates of the transmitter sites proposed in such
   applications must be used to determine whether the requirements with respect
   to minimum separations between the proposed stations in the respective
   cities have been met.

   (c) In measuring assignment and station separations involving cities listed
   in the Table in combination, where there is no authorized transmitter site
   in  any  of the combination cities on the channel involved, separation
   measurements shall be made from the reference point which will result in the
   lowest separation.

   (d) To calculate the distance between two reference points see paragraph
   (c), § 73.208. However, distances shall be rounded to the nearest tenth of a
   kilometer.

   [ 52 FR 11655 , Apr. 10, 1987]

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