Notes

• Broadcast AM/FM renewal filings are due coming up for:

         California - August 2, 2021

         Alaska American Samoa Guam Hawaii Marianas Islands Oregon Washington - October 1, 2021

On June 22, 2021 FCC the FCC released circulation draft for a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in MB Docket 21-263 that intends to merely harmonize and/or streamline codified regulation regarding broadcast AM/FM stations.  There are nominal changes -- if maybe just paperwork conveniences and slight ease of proposals for certain stations, such in the Case of Class D.  In all:

1. Eliminate the maximum rated transmitter power limit rule for AM stations set out in section 73.1665(b);

Representative's Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA) announced legislation to extend royalty payments from broadcasters in the American Music Fairness Act.  The bill itself “is a response to the Local Radio Freedom Act championed by the National Association of Broadcasters,” which represents thousands of commercial broadcasters.

FCC announced a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System on August 11, 2021 for all broadcasters.  The test is meant to provide FEMA and the FCC a barometer reading of the preparedness of broadcasters as a whole in coordinating a nationwide message.  This usually occurs on a yearly basis.  More information can be found here.  Broadcasters must fill out EAS Test Reporting Form One in the EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) prior to the test.  Afterwards, stations must also report the result of sending their t

Common Frequency licensed station starts broadcasting north of San Francisco. Read local coverage in the Point Reyes Light. 

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A tiny radio station has quietly begun broadcasting from a Marshall sheep ranch, playing commercial-free music 24 hours a day. The station, KXCF, is about as small as it gets: At 10 watts, the antenna is just powerful enough to reach the west shore of Tomales Bay. 

FCC opens space in 6 GHz band for unlicensed wifi.  Read release here.

PPP grants are available to certain nonprofit radio stations from the CARES Act.  Video below outlines the basics for qualification and application.  The application is located here.

Modesto resident John Johnson filed Informal Objection over KCAI Linden, California, licensed to Educational Media Foundation, over the manipulation of the non-commercial educational facility's move of coverage area.  The facility was originally licensed to East Sonora, a rural foothills community.  EMF bought the station and moved the community of license and coverage to San Andreas, abandoning NCE secondary service population coverage.  Once licensed to San Andreas, EMF f

For station licensees attempting to rid a FM translator that takes out some of its fringe listener area, Section 74.1204(f) of the FCC affords a broadcaster a way to petition against the facility to force it off the air.  In the case of WDNC-AM's new translator in Durham, NC, Radio One filed a Petition to Deny claiming multiple listeners would now receive interference to WFXK(FM).  However, Radio One's petition provided inexact listening locations per each of the aggrieved listeners, and even one with direct affiliation to the station.  The Commission surprising denied the complaint on thes

Licensee of WVOY-LP Jefferson, South Carolina claimed that is could not afford a fine of $1500 from a forfeiture issued by the Commission over failure to timely renew station license.  FCC issued an Order repealing the fine.