PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 14-228
Released:  February 21, 2014
Notice of Effective Date of AM Tower Rules Requiring OMB Approval  
MM Docket No. 93-177
FCC 13-115
On August 14, 2013, the Commission adopted the Third Report and Order in MM Docket No.
93-177, which adopted rules to provide a single protection scheme for tower construction and 
modification near AM tower arrays and designate “moment method” computer modeling as the principal 
means of determining whether a nearby tower affects an AM radiation pattern.
1
  Those rules became 
effective on December 5, 2013, except for the rules that require approval by the Office of Management 
and Budget (“OMB”).
2
The information collection was submitted to OMB for review under 44 U.S.C. § 
3507(d) and was approved by OMB on February 10, 2014.
3
The Commission in the Third Report and 
Order stated that these rules will become effective after the Commission publishes a notice in the Federal 
Register announcing OMB approval.
4
The Commission has published this notice in the Federal Register, 
announcing an effective date of February 20, 2014.
5
Accordingly, the rules that required OMB approval 
took effect on February 20, 2014.
The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, in coordination with the Media Bureau, has 
developed AM Tower Tool, a tool that allows parties proposing construction or modification of towers to 
input their proposed location, and the tool will determine if there are operating AM stations within the 
coordination distances specified in Section 1.30002 of the Commission's Rules that may potentially be 
affected by the proposed construction or modification.  In addition, AM Tower Tool will alert tower 
                                                     
1
Inquiry into the Commission’s Policies and Rules Regarding AM Radio Service Directional Antenna Performance 
Verification, Third Report and Order and Second Order on Reconsideration, 28 FCC Rcd 12555 (2013) (“Third 
Report and Order”).
2
See Federal Communications Commission, 47 CFR Parts 1, 22, 27, 73, and 74, An Inquiry into the Commission’s 
Policies and Rules Regarding AM Radio Service Directional Antenna Performance Verification, 78 FR 66288 (Nov. 
5, 2013); see also 78 FR 70499 (final rule correction).  However, the applicability date of the amendments to 
Sections 1.30000, 1.30001, 22.371, 27.63, 73.45, 73.316, 73.685, 73.1692, 73.6025, and 74.1237 was delayed to 
coincide with the effective date of the rules requiring OMB approval.  The rules that require OMB approval are 
Sections 1.30002, 1.30003, 1.30004, 73.875, 73.1675, and 73.1690.  
3
See Notice of Office of Management and Budget Action for OMB Control No. 3060-1121 (approved February 10, 
2014); http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
4
See Third Report and Order, 27 FCC Rcd at 12569, ¶34.
5
See Federal Communications Commission, 47 CFR Parts 1, 22, 27, 73, and 74, An Inquiry into the Commission’s 
Policies and Rules Regarding AM Radio Service Directional Antenna Performance Verification, 79 FR 9622 (Feb. 
20, 2014).
construction and modification proponents of the locations of AM facilities within the coordination 
distances that are authorized, but not yet operating.  The AM Tower Tool can be found at 
http://fcc.gov/am-tower-tool.
For additional information on this proceeding, contact Susan Crawford, Susan.Crawford@fcc.gov, of the 
Media Bureau, Audio Division, (202) 418-2754.  For additional information on the AM Tower Tool,
please contact the FCC Licensing Support Hotline at (877) 480-3201, or submit an online help request at 
https://esupport.fcc.gov/onlinerequest.htm.  Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 6:00 pm.  Press inquiries 
should be directed to Janice Wise, (202) 418-8165. TTY: (202) 418-7172 or (888) 835-5322.  
By the Chief, Media Bureau 
--FCC--