§ 74.1231   Purpose and permissible service.

   (a) FM translators provide a means whereby the signals of AM or FM broadcast
   stations may be retransmitted to areas in which direct reception of such AM
   or FM broadcast stations is unsatisfactory due to distance or intervening
   terrain barriers, and a means for AM Class D stations to continue operating
   at night.

   (b) An FM translator may be used for the purpose of retransmitting the
   signals of a primary AM or FM radio broadcast station or another translator
   station the signal of which is received directly through space, converted,
   and suitably amplified, and originating programming to the extent authorized
   in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section. However, an FM translator
   providing fill-in service may use any terrestrial facilities to receive the
   signal that is being rebroadcast. An FM booster station or a noncommercial
   educational FM translator station that is operating on a reserved channel
   (Channels 201-220) and is owned and operated by the licensee of the primary
   noncommercial educational station it rebroadcasts may use alternative signal
   delivery means, including, but not limited to, satellite and terrestrial
   microwave  facilities.  Provided,  however,  that  an  applicant for a
   noncommercial  educational  translator operating on a reserved channel
   (Channel 201-220) and owned and operated by the licensee of the primary
   noncommercial educational AM or FM station it rebroadcasts complies with
   either paragraph (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section:

   (1) The applicant demonstrates that:

   (i) The transmitter site of the proposed FM translator station is within 80
   kilometers of the predicted 1 mV/m contour of the primary station to be
   rebroadcast; or,

   (ii) The transmitter site of the proposed FM translator station is more than
   160 kilometers from the transmitter site of any authorized full service
   noncommercial educational FM station; or,

   (iii) The application is mutually exclusive with an application containing
   the showing as required by paragraph 74.1231(b)(2) (i) or (ii) of this
   section; or,

   (iv) The application is filed after October 1, 1992.

   (2) If the transmitter site of the proposed FM translator station is more
   than 80 kilometers from the predicted 1 mV/m contour of the primary station
   to be rebroadcast or is within 160 kilometers of the transmitter site of any
   authorized full service noncommercial educational FM station, the applicant
   must show that:

   (i) An alternative frequency can be used at the same site as the proposed FM
   translator's transmitter location and can provide signal coverage to the
   same area encompassed by the applicant's proposed 1 mV/m contour; or,

   (ii)  An alternative frequency can be used at a different site and can
   provide signal coverage to the same area encompassed by the applicant's
   proposed 1 mV/m contour.

   Note: For paragraphs 74.1231(b) and 74.1231(i) of this section, auxiliary
   intercity relay station frequencies may be used to deliver signals to FM
   translator and booster stations on a secondary basis only. Such use shall
   not  interfere with or otherwise preclude use of these frequencies for
   transmitting aural programming between the studio and transmitter location
   of  a broadcast station, or between broadcast stations, as provided in
   paragraphs 74.531 (a) and (b) of this part. Prior to filing an application
   for an auxiliary intercity relay microwave frequency, the applicant shall
   notify the local frequency coordination committee, or, in the absence of a
   local frequency coordination committee, any licensees assigned the use of
   the  proposed  operating frequency in the intended location or area of
   operation.

   (c) The transmissions of each FM translator or booster station shall be
   intended only for direct reception by the general public. An FM translator
   or booster shall not be operated solely for the purpose of relaying signals
   to one or more fixed received points for retransmission, distribution, or
   further relaying in order to establish a point-to-point FM radio relay
   system.

   (d) The technical characteristics of the retransmitted signals shall not be
   deliberately altered so as to hinder reception on conventional FM broadcast
   receivers.

   (e) An FM translator shall not deliberately retransmit the signals of any
   station other than the station it is authorized to retransmit. Precautions
   shall be taken to avoid unintentional retransmission of such other signals.

   (f) A locally generated radio frequency signal similar to that of an FM
   broadcast station and modulated with aural information may be connected to
   the input terminals of an FM translator for the purpose of transmitting
   voice  announcements. The radio frequency signals shall be on the same
   channel  as  the  normally  used off-the-air signal being rebroadcast.
   Connection of the locally generated signals shall be made by any automatic
   means when transmitting originations concerning financial support. The
   connections for emergency transmissions may be made manually. The apparatus
   used to generate the local signal that is used to modulate the FM translator
   must be capable of producing an aural signal which will provide acceptable
   reception on FM receivers designed for the transmission standards employed
   by FM broadcast stations.

   (g) The aural material transmitted as permitted in paragraph (f) of this
   section shall be limited to emergency warnings of imminent danger and to
   seeking or acknowledging financial support deemed necessary to the continued
   operation of the translator. Originations concerning financial support are
   limited to a total of 30 seconds an hour. Within this limitation the length
   of  any  particular announcement will be left to the discretion of the
   translator station licensee. Solicitations of contributions shall be limited
   to the defrayal of the costs of installation, operation and maintenance of
   the translator or acknowledgements of financial support for those purposes.
   Such acknowledgements may include identification of the contributors, the
   size  or  nature  of  the  contributions  and  advertising messages of
   contributors. Emergency transmissions shall be no longer or more frequent
   than necessary to protect life and property.

   (h) An FM translator station that rebroadcasts a Class D AM radio broadcast
   station as its primary station may originate programming during the hours
   the  primary  station  is  not operating, subject to the provisions of
   § 74.1263(b) of this part.

   (i) FM broadcast booster stations provide a means whereby the licensee of an
   FM broadcast station may provide service to areas in any region within the
   primary station's predicted, authorized service contours. An FM broadcast
   booster station is authorized to retransmit only the signals of its primary
   station  which  have been received directly through space and suitably
   amplified, or received by alternative signal delivery means including, but
   not limited to, satellite and terrestrial microwave facilities. The FM
   booster station shall not retransmit the signals of any other station nor
   make independent transmissions, except that locally generated signals may be
   used to excite the booster apparatus for the purpose of conducting tests and
   measurements essential to the proper installation and maintenance of the
   apparatus.

   Note: In the case of an FM broadcast station authorized with facilities in
   excess of those specified by § 73.211 of this chapter, an FM booster station
   will only be authorized within the protected contour of the class of station
   being  rebroadcast as predicted on the basis of the maximum powers and
   heights set forth in that section for the applicable class of FM broadcast
   station concerned.

   [ 35 FR 15388 , Oct. 2, 1970, as amended at  45 FR 37842 , June 5, 1980;  52 FR 31406 , Aug. 20, 1987;  53 FR 14803 , Apr. 26, 1988;  54 FR 35342 , Aug. 25,
   1989;  55 FR 50695 , Dec. 10, 1990;  57 FR 41111 , Sept. 9, 1992;  58 FR 42026 ,
   Aug. 6, 1993;  63 FR 33879 , June 22, 1998;  74 FR 45130 , Sept. 1, 2009]

   return arrow Back to Top