On August 15, 2007 the FCC issued an NRPM to explore the use of FM translators by AM stations. Among the issues to be examined is program origination at night over FM translators by daytime-only AM stations. The proposed rulemaking comes about as a result of a petition by the National Association of Broadcasters.
In May, the FCC officially adopted rules for HD Radio allowing broadcasters to add HD mulitcast channels without the agency’s prior approval. The final rules authorizing IBOC/HD Radio have no been published in the Federal Register. The big news: AMs will be able to keep their HD signals on full-time beginning 9/14. FM broadcasters that want to add multicast HD channels can officially do so without experimental authorization as well on 9/14.
*Information from radio-online.com
FCC Docket MM93-177 sets out to adjust FCC rules regarding the adjustment and measurement of AM directional antenna arrays. It also seeks to modify the manner in which the reradiation impact of nearby structures is considered. Today, all towers within a fixed distance of AM antenna systems must be evaluated. Under the new proposals, only those structures exceeding a three-dimensional test must be considered. The test consists of a frequency dependent height, along with a frequency dependent spacing distance. These limits are different for directional and non-directional antenna systems.
LBA Technician Tunes New ATU
LBA has designed, furnished, and commissioned a new medium wave antenna tuning unit and RF filter for the Ministry of Communications of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its construction contractor.
The 549kHz ATU is rated for 100,000 watts, 125% modulated and is compatible with DRM standards.
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