PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET N.W.
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20554
News _ i11ormation 202/632·5050. Recorded isIing 01 releases end ""xts 202/632-Q002.
July 24, 1991
PEIlHITl'ED F01D6 OF LOll POWER BROADCAST OPERATIl»I
14089
The Commission often receives inquiries regarding low power broadcasting. There
are two basic types of low power broadcast operation permitted - licensed and
unlicensed. The following tables describe the basic criteria for both. It is
important to note that the forms of broadcast operation listed on these tables are the
only ones permitted. Operation of an AM or FM radio station at a power level greater
than that permitted for unlicensed operation and less than the minimum required for
licensed operation is NOT permitted.
The equipment used in a broadcast operation (licensed or unlicensed) is subject to
the eqUipment authorization requirements listed in Parts 15, 13, and 14.
Unlicensed Operation (See Part 15 of FCC rules for details.)
AM FM TV
---------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Effective
I 0.05 watts I 0.01 I
Radiated Power I
I
microwatts
I
I
(Rule
I I
I actually I (Rule I
I specifies I actually I
I
100 mW to
I specifies I
I the final RFI a limit of I
THE FCC RULES DO NOT
I
stage, and
I
250 uV/meterl PERMIT ANY UNLICENSED
I
permits
I
measured at
I
BROADCAST OPERATION IN
I
unlimited
I
3 meters.)
I
THE TELEVISION BROADCAST
I
power on a
I I
BANDS.
I
college or
I I
I
university
I I
I campus as I I
I
long as the I
I
I
field
I I
I
strength
I I
I
does not
I I
I
exceed
I I
I
24000/F(kHz) I
I
I
uV/meter at
I I
I 30 meters I I
I outside of I I
I
the campus
I I
I
perimeter. )
I I
----------------------------1
Approx. Maximum
I 200 feet I 200 feet I
Coverage Radius I I
I
----------------------------1
Restrictions on
I
There are no restrictions
I
Operation
I
on the content or hours ofl
I
operation for unlicensed
I
I
stations operating under
I
I Part 15. I
---------------------------------------------------------
Licensed.Operation (See Parts 73 and 74 of FCC rules for details.)
AM FM
FM BOOSTERS
&TRANSLATORS TV
TV TRANSLATORS
& LOW POWER TV
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Effective RadiatedI 250 watts
Power Limits I MINIMUM
I
I
I
I
100 watts I MAXIMUM of I 100 watts
MINIMUM I 250 watts I MINIMUM
I (translators) I
I or 20% I
I prim. power I
I (boosters) I
MAXIMUM of I
10 watts VHF I
output power I
MAXIMUM of I
1000 W UHF I
output power I
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Approximate
MINIMUM Coverage
Area (radius)
25 miles 4 miles n/a 4 miles n/a
Minimum Hours of
Operation for
Commercial
Stations
Minimum Hours of
Operation for
Noncommercial
Stations
Minimum Hours of
Operation for
Stations
Licensed to an
educational
Institution
2/3 of totalI 2/3 of totalI None, for I 2 hours eachI None, for I
hrs. they'rel hrs. they'rel commercial, I day of the' I commercial, I
authorized I authorized I non-comm. I week and notl non-comm. I
to operate I to operate I and stationsI less than.a I and stational
between 6A &1 between 6A &1 licensed to I total of 28 t licensed to I
6p and 2/3 I 6p and 2/3 I educational I hours per I educational I
of total hrsl of total hrsl institutionsI calendar I institutionsI
they are I they are I but licenseel week I but licenseel
authorized I authorized I is expected I I is expected I
to operate I to operate I to provide I I to provide I
between 6P &1 between 6p &1 dependable I I dependable I
midnight 1 midnight I service to I I service to ,
----------------------------- the extent --------------- the extent I
None, but I 36 hours perl possible. I None, but I possible. I
hours of I week I I hours of I I
actual I consisting I *IMPORTANT* I actual I *IMPORTAN'flI I
operation I of at least I It is not I operation I It is not I
are taken I 5 hours per I permissible I are taken I permissible I
into accountI day for at I to use I into accountI to use I
in renewal I least 6 days I translators I in renewal I translators I
I applications1 of the week I or boosters I applicationsI or boosters I
----------------------------- to transmit --------------- to transmit I
I None, but I 36 hours/wk I original I None, but I original I
I hours of I consisting I program I hours of I program I
I actual I of at least I material. I actual I material. I
I operation I 5 hours per I They may I operation I They may I
I are taken I day Mon-Fri,1 only be usedI are taken I onlybe.usecU
I into accountI except on I to enhance I into accountI to enhance I
I in renewal I official I the signals I in renewal I the signals I
I applicationsI school I of licensed I applicationsl of licensed I
I I holidays I stations. 1 I stations. I
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING:
AM Licensed Operation
FM Licensed Operation
FM Translator/Booster Operation
TV Licensed Operation
Low Power TV/TV Translator Operation
Unlicensed Broadcast Operation
PLEASE CONTACT THE:
AM Branch
FM Branch
Auxiliary Services Branch
TV Branch
LPTV Branch
Technical Standards Branch
AT:
(202) 254-9570
(202) 632-6908
(202) 634-6307
(202) 632-6357
(202) 632-3894
(202) 653-6288