*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 52541.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 DA 05- 2779 Released: October 25, 2005 Media Bureau Announces Procedures to Promote the Resumption of Radio and Television Broadcast Service to Areas Impacted by Hurricane Wilma The Media Bureau announces procedures to help radio and television stations resume and maintain broadcast operations to the residents of the areas impacted by Hurricane Wilma. For additional information, broadcast stations should contact the Media Bureau staff specified below. Special Temporary Authority: Requests for special temporary authority (STA) pursuant to Section 73.1635 of the Commission’s rules may be submitted by informal letter or email. FM, television, and low power television stations also may file requests electronically through the Consolidated Database System (CDBS). These requests will be handled as expeditiously as possible. Requests should include the following certification. “Neither the applicant nor any party to this application is subject to a denial of federal benefits that includes FCC benefits pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti- Drug Abuse Act of 1988, 21 U. S. C. § 862.” AM and FM Stations: Norm Miller, 202 418- 2767 (Charles. Miller@ fcc. gov) Television Stations: Kevin Harding or Nai Tam, 202 418- 1600 (Kevin. Harding@ fcc. gov or Nai. Tam@ fcc. gov) Emergency Antennas: Section 73.1680 of the Commission’s rules permits FM and TV stations to erect temporary antennas without prior authority from the FCC. It also allows AM stations to use a horizontal or vertical wire or a non- directional vertical element of a directional antenna as an emergency antenna. The Media Bureau waives the requirement that licensees notify the Commission within 24 hours of the commencement of operations employing such antennas. If a licensee desires to continue to use an emergency antenna, it must submit a request for STA within 10 business days of commencement of operations. This waiver is applicable to any station which ceased operations as a result of Hurricane Wilma and is effective until January 23, 2006. AM and FM Stations: Norm Miller, 202 418- 2767 (Charles. Miller@ fcc. gov) Television Stations: Kevin Harding or Nai Tam, 202 418- 1600 (Kevin. Harding@ fcc. gov or Nai. Tam@ fcc. gov) Low Power Television Stations: Mohammad Habib, 202 418- 1600 (Mohammad. Habib@ fcc. gov) AM Nighttime Operations: Section 73.1250( f) of the Commission’s rules permits AM stations to use their full daytime facilities during nighttime hours to broadcast emergency information, provided all operation is conducted on a noncommercial basis. The Media Bureau waives Section 73.1250( f) of the Commission’s rules to permit an AM licensee to operate with such facilities during nighttime hours based on the licensee’s good faith determination that such operations are necessary to the safety of life or property or where dangerous conditions of a general nature exist. Licensees must notify the Commission 1 within 48 hours of the commencement of such operations. Authority to operate with daytime facilities during nighttime hours may be rescinded upon licensee’s failure to resolve all interference complaints. This waiver is effective until November 25, 2005. Contact: Norm Miller, 202 418- 2767 (Charles. Miller@ fcc. gov) Limited and Discontinued Operations: The Media Bureau encourages any station which has discontinued operations as a result of Hurricane Wilma to submit a notification and, if necessary, request authority to remain silent within the periods specified in Section 73. 1740( a)( 4) of the Commission’s rules. The Media Bureau waives this rule to accept notifications within 30 days and requests to remain silent within 60 days of the discontinuance of operations. Notifications and requests may be submitted by informal letter, email, or by filing electronically through CDBS. This waiver is effective until January 23, 2006. AM and FM Stations: Norm Miller, 202 418- 2767 (Charles. Miller@ fcc. gov) Televisions Stations: Kevin Harding, 202 418- 1600 (Kevin. Harding@ fcc. gov) Low Power Television Stations: Mohammad Habib, 202 418- 1600 (Mohammad. Habib@ fcc. gov) Tolling of Broadcast Station Construction Permit Deadlines: Upon request, a permittee of a broadcast station located within a Federal Disaster Area will be provided an additional 90 days to complete construction. Stations located outside such areas will be provided an additional 90 days upon submission of a particularized showing of construction delays caused by Hurricane Wilma. AM and FM Stations: Irene Bleiweiss, 202 418- 2785 (Irene. Bleiweiss@ fcc. gov) Television Stations: Molly Fitzgerald, 202 418- 1600 (Mary. Fitzgerald@ fcc. gov) Low Power Television Stations: Shaun Maher, 202 419- 1600 (Shaun. Maher@ fcc. gov) -- FCC-- 2