§ 73.827   Interference to the input signals of FM translator or FM booster
stations.

   (a)  Interference to the direct reception of the input signal of an FM
   translator  station.  This subsection applies when an LPFM application
   proposes to operate near an FM translator station, the FM translator station
   is receiving its input signal off-air (either directly from the primary
   station or from a translator station) and the LPFM application proposes to
   operate on a third-adjacent channel to the station delivering an input
   signal to the translator station. In these circumstances, the LPFM station
   will  not be authorized unless it is located at least 2 km from the FM
   translator station. In addition, in cases where an LPFM station is located
   within ± 30 degrees of the azimuth between the FM translator station and its
   input signal, the LPFM station will not be authorized unless it is located
   at least 10 kilometers from the FM translator station. The provisions of
   this subsection will not apply if the LPFM applicant:

   (1) Demonstrates that no actual interference will occur due to an undesired
   (LPFM) to desired (station delivering signal to translator station) ratio
   below 34 dB at such translator station's receive antenna.

   (2)  Complies  with the minimum LPFM/FM translator distance separation
   calculated in accordance with the following formula: du = 133.5 antilog
   [(Peu + Gru − Grd − Ed)/20], where du = the minimum allowed separation in
   km, Peu = LPFM ERP in dBW, Gru = gain (dBd) of the FM translator receive
   antenna  in the direction of the LPFM site, Grd = gain (dBd) of the FM
   translator receive antenna in the direction of the primary station site, Ed
   = predicted field strength (dBu) of the primary station at the translator
   site, or

   (3) Reaches an agreement with the licensee of the FM translator regarding an
   alternative technical solution.

   Note to paragraph (a): LPFM applicants may assume that an FM translator
   station's receive and transmit antennas are collocated.

   (b) An authorized LPFM station will not be permitted to continue to operate
   if an FM translator or FM booster station demonstrates that the LPFM station
   is causing actual interference to the FM translator or FM booster station's
   input signal, provided that the same input signal was in use or proposed in
   an application filed with the Commission prior to the release of the public
   notice announcing the dates for an LPFM application filing window and has
   been continuously in use or proposed since that time.

   (c)  Complaints  of  actual interference by an LPFM station subject to
   paragraph (b) of this section must be served on the LPFM licensee and the
   Federal Communications Commission, Attention: Audio Division, Media Bureau.
   The LPFM station must suspend operations upon the receipt of such complaint
   unless  the  interference has been resolved to the satisfaction of the
   complainant on the basis of suitable techniques. Short test transmissions
   may be made during the period of suspended operations to check the efficacy
   of remedial measures. An LPFM station may only resume full operation at the
   direction  of the Federal Communications Commission. If the Commission
   determines that the complainant has refused to permit the LPFM station to
   apply remedial techniques that demonstrably will eliminate the interference
   without impairment of the original reception, the licensee of the LPFM
   station is absolved of further responsibility for the complaint.

   [ 78 FR 2106 , Jan. 9, 2013, as amended at  78 FR 67317 , Nov. 12, 2013]

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