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 PUBLIC  NOTICE  FEDERAL  COMMUNICATIONS  COMMISSION  445  TWELFTH  STREET,  S.  W.;  TW-  A325  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.  20554  News  Media  Information:  (202)  418-  0500  Fax-  On-  Demand:  (202)  418-  2830  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov 
 ftp.  fcc.  gov 
 DA  02-  239 
 Released:  February  1,  2002 


 Freeze  Announced  on  the  Filing  of 
 AM  Expanded  Band  Major  Change  Applications 


 The  Mass  Media  Bureau  (the  “Bureau”)  announces  a  freeze  on  the  acceptance  of  applications  for  major 
 changes  in  authorized  AM  expanded  band  stations.  This  action  is  effective  on  the  date  of  this  Public 
 Notice.  Major  change  applications  currently  on  file  will  be  processed  in  accordance  with  current  technical 
 and  legal  rules  and  policies.  The  Bureau  anticipates  issuing  in  the  near  future  a  public  notice  accepting  for 
 filing  all  pending  AM  expanded  band  major  change  applications  determined  to  be  in  compliance  with  our 
 technical  rules.  Minor  change  applications  will  continue  to  be  accepted  under  established  first-  come,  first-served 
 filing  procedures. 


 As  part  of  a  wide  ranging  rulemaking  to  revitalize  the  AM  service,  the  Commission  developed  a  national 
 allotment  plan  to  encourage  the  migration  of  certain  AM  stations  to  the  AM  expanded  band,  1605  kHz  – 
 1705  kHz.  See  Review  of  the  Technical  Assignment  Criteria  for  the  AM  Service,  6  FCC  Rcd  6273  (1991) 
 (“  Expanded  Band  R&  O”)  (subsequent  history  omitted).  The  allotment  plan  was  designed  to  favor  stations 
 receiving  or  causing  extensive  interference.  The  final  version  of  the  allotment  plan  identified  eighty-  eight 
 stations  eligible  to  apply  for  specified  allotments.  See  Implementation  of  the  AM  Band  Allotment  Plan,  12 
 FCC  Rcd  3361  (1997),  recon.  denied  13  FCC  Rcd  21872  (1998).  The  Commission  issued  sixty-  five 
 permits  for  AM  expanded  band  stations  in  1997  and  1998. 


 In  the  Expanded  Band  R&  O  the  Commission  expressed  its  intention  to  manage  the  migration  process  to 
 maximize  the  benefits  to  the  AM  service  as  a  whole.  Expanded  Band  R&  O,  6  FCC  Rcd  at  6277.  It  also 
 stated  that  one  year  after  the  initial  allotment  plan  became  final  it  would  open  a  second  filing  window  for 
 additional  applications  for  expanded  band  stations.  Id.  at  6318.  The  allotment  plan  became  final  on 
 December  5,  2000.  A  freeze  on  the  filing  of  major  change  applications  will  provide  an  opportunity  to  study 
 novel  and  complex  AM  expanded  band  licensing  issues,  including  protection  standards,  facility  classes,  and 
 eligibility  requirements.  The  Bureau  is  also  concerned  that  the  continued  acceptance  of  AM  expanded  band 
 applications  that  specify  new  communities  of  license  and  propose  relocating  facilities  substantial  distances 
 may  be  limiting  opportunities  for  additional  expanded  band  stations.  A  freeze  will  preserve  the  rights  of 
 potential  applicants  for  new  AM  expanded  band  stations  and  the  opportunity  to  use  competitive  bidding 
 procedures  to  award  these  authorizations. 


 For  further  information  contact  Peter  Doyle  or  Edward  De  La  Hunt,  Audio  Services  Division,  Mass 
 Media  Bureau  at  418-  2700. 


 Adopted  by  Chief,  Mass  Media  Bureau 
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