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This document is saved at http://www.fcc.gov/mmb/asd/decdoc/letter/1997--10--02--tower.html
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET NW
WASHINGTON DC 20554
MASS MEDIA BUREAU PROCESSING ENGINEER: Dale Bickel
AUDIO SERVICES DIVISION TELEPHONE: (202) 418-2720
TECHNICAL PROCESSING GROUP FACSIMILE: (202) 418-1410
APPLICATION STATUS: (202) 418-2730 MAIL STOP: 1800B3
HOME PAGE: www.fcc.gov/mmb/asd/ INTERNET ADDRESS: dbickel@fcc.gov
October 2, 1997
Misty Jennings, Manager
Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems
17330 Preston Road
Suite 100A
Dallas, Texas 75252
In re: Section 22.371 Inquiry
Regarding Protection to AM Radio
Broadcast Stations
Dear Ms. Jennings:
This is in reference to your April 23, 1997 request on behalf of Southwestern Bell
Mobile Systems for clarification of conditions that must be met prior to construction of
any communications tower located near an AM broadcast facility.
For many years now, the Commission has required licensees in services outside the
radio broadcast service to protect the operations of prior-constructed AM broadcast
facilities. See 47 CFR Section 22.371, which codified a Public Notice entitled
Republication of Standard Broadcast Reradiation and Tower Construction Authorized
under Part 22 of the Rules, 66 RR 2d 1777, released November 14, 1989. This rule
section is based upon the standard AM broadcast conditions which have been imposed on
the construction permits for broadcast stations, as a matter of longstanding policy.
Because of a recent change adopted by the Commission in processing procedures for
AM, FM, and TV broadcast stations, the Commission has codified these conditions into a
new rule section, 47 CFR Section 73.1692 (copy attached). While technically this rule
section was established for the broadcast services only, adherence to these conditions by
licensees and permittees of other services will prevent disruptions of service to the public
and operation by the AM station outside of its licensed parameters. It will also help to
avoid costly litigation. Moreover, by taking the "before-construction" measurements
required in Section 73.1692, the party constructing the tower can establish whether the AM
station is currently operating within its licensed parameters, and thus protect itself against
claims by the station that the construction caused its radiation pattern to become out of
tolerance. Similarly, the "after-construction" measurements confirm that the AM station
either is operating in accordance with its license, or remains unchanged from the "before
construction" conditions, thereby proving that the construction of the new tower did not
adversely affect the AM station.
If the proposed tower's coordinates (in the NAD 27 coordinate system) are known,
you may utilize the distance search option on our AM Query, which is available through
the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/mmb/asd/amq.html, to determine whether the
construction could have an effect on any nearby AM stations.
Sincerely,
Dennis Williams
Assistant Chief
Audio Services Division
Mass Media Bureau
Enclosure
73.1692 Broadcast Station Construction Near or Installation On an AM
Broadcast Tower. Where a broadcast licensee or permittee proposes to mount a broadcast
antenna on an AM station tower, or where construction is proposed within 0.8 km of an AM
nondirectional tower or within 3.2 km of an AM directional station, the broadcast licensee or
permittee is responsible for ensuring that the construction does not adversely affect the AM station,
as follows:
(a) Installations on an AM Nondirectional Tower. During installation of the
broadcast antenna and related equipment, the AM station shall determine operating power by the
indirect method (see 73.51). Upon the completion of the installation, antenna impedance
measurements on the AM antenna shall be made, and, prior to or simultaneously with the filing of
the license application covering the broadcast station installation, an application on FCC Form 302-
AM (including a tower sketch of the installation) shall be filed with the Commission for the AM
station to return to direct power measurement.
(b) Installations on an AM Directional Array. Prior to commencing
construction, the broadcast permittee or licensee shall notify the AM station so that, if necessary,
the AM station may determine operating power by the indirect method (see 73.51) and request
special temporary authority pursuant to 73.1635 to operate with parameters at variance in order
to maintain monitoring point field strengths within authorized limits. Both prior to the
commencement of construction and upon completion of construction, a partial proof of
performance (as defined by 73.154) shall be conducted to establish that the AM array has not been
adversely affected. Prior to or simultaneously with filing of the license application to cover the
broadcast station construction, the results of the partial proof of performance shall be filed with the
Commission on Form 302-AM.
(c) Tower Erections or Modifications Within 0.8 km of an AM Nondirectional
Tower. Prior to commencing the construction of tower modifications, or the erection of a new
tower, within 0.8 km of an AM nondirectional tower, the broadcast permittee or licensee is
required to notify the AM station so that the AM station may commence determining operating
power by the indirect method (see 73.51). The broadcast licensee or permittee shall be responsible
for the installation and continued maintenance of detuning apparatus necessary to prevent adverse
effects on the radiation pattern of the AM station. Both prior to construction of the tower
modifications and upon completion of construction, antenna impedance measurements of the AM
station shall be made. In addition, sufficient field strength measurements taken at a minimum of 10
locations along each of 8 equally spaced radials, shall be made to establish that the AM radiation
pattern is essentially omnidirectional. Prior or simultaneously with the filing of the application for
license to cover this permit, the results of the impedance measurements and the field strength
measurements shall be filed with the Commission on FCC Form 302-AM for the AM station to
return to the direct method of power determination.
(d) Tower Erections or Modifications Within 3.2 km of an AM Directional Station.
Prior to commencing construction of tower modifications, or the erection of a new tower structure,
within 3.2 km of an AM directional array, the broadcast permittee or licensee shall notify the AM
station so that, if necessary, the AM station may determine operating power by the indirect method
(see 73.51) and request special temporary authority pursuant to 73.1635 to operate with
parameters at variance in order to maintain monitoring point field strengths within authorized
limits. The broadcast licensee or permittee shall be responsible for the installation and continued
maintenance of detuning apparatus necessary to prevent adverse effects upon the radiation pattern
of the AM station. Both prior to the commencement of construction and upon completion of
construction, a partial proof of performance (as defined by 73.154) shall be conducted to establish
that the AM array has not been adversely affected. Prior to or simultaneously with filing of the
license application to cover the broadcast station construction, the results of the partial proof of
performance shall be filed with the Commission on Form 302-AM.
Decision Documents: Engineering Subjects and Documents, Legal Subjects and Documents, Combined Engineering and Legal Subjects List.
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