Title 47: Telecommunication
PART 73—RADIO BROADCAST SERVICES
Subpart G—Low Power FM Broadcast Stations (LPFM)
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§ 73.807 Minimum distance separation between stations.
Minimum separation requirements for LP100 and LP10 stations, as defined in §§73.811 and 73.853, are listed in the following paragraphs. An LPFM station will not be authorized unless these separations are met. Minimum distances for co-channel and first-adjacent channel are separated into two columns. The left-hand column lists the required minimum separation to protect other stations and the right-hand column lists (for informational purposes only) the minimum distance necessary for the LPFM station to receive no interference from other stations assumed to operating at the maximum permitted facilities for the station class. For second- and third-adjacent channels and IF channels, the required minimum distance separation is sufficient to avoid interference received from other stations.
(a)(1) An LP100 station will not be authorized initially unless the minimum distance separations in the following table are met with respect to authorized FM stations, applications for new and existing FM stations filed prior to the release of the public notice announcing an LPFM window period for LP100 stations, authorized LP100 stations, LP100 station applications that were timely-filed within a previous window, and vacant FM allotments. LP100 stations are not required to protect LP10 stations. LPFM modification applications must either meet the distance separations in the following table or, if short-spaced, not lessen the spacing to subsequently authorized stations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Co-channel minimum First-adjacent channel Second- and I.F. separation (km) minimum separation (km) third- channel ------------------------------------------------------ adjacent minimum For no For no channel separationsStation class protected by LP100 interference interference minimum ------------ received received separation Required from max. Required from max. (km) 10.6 or class class ------------- 10.8 MHz facility facility Required----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LP100........................... 24 24 14 14 None NoneD............................... 24 24 13 13 6 3A............................... 67 92 56 56 29 6B1.............................. 87 119 74 74 46 9B............................... 112 143 97 97 67 12C3.............................. 78 119 67 67 40 9C2.............................. 91 143 80 84 53 12C1.............................. 111 178 100 111 73 20C0.............................. 122 193 111 130 84 22C............................... 130 203 120 142 93 28----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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(2) LP100 stations must satisfy the second-adjacent channel minimum distance separation requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this section with respect to any third-adjacent channel FM station that, as of September 20, 2000 (the adoption date of this MO&O) broadcasts a radio reading service via a subcarrier frequency.
(b)(1) An LP10 station will not be authorized unless the minimum distance separations in the following table are met with respect to authorized FM stations, applications for new and existing FM stations filed prior to the release of the public notice announcing an LPFM window period for LP10 stations, vacant FM allotments, or LPFM stations.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Co-channel minimum First-adjacent channel Second- and I.F. separation (km) minimum separation (km) third- Channel ------------------------------------------------------ adjacent minimum For no For no channel separations Station class protected by LP10 interference interference minimum ------------ received received separation Required from max. Required from max. (km) 10.6 or class class ------------- 10.8 MHz facility facility Required----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LP100........................... 16 22 10 11 None NoneLP10............................ 13 13 8 8 None NoneD............................... 16 21 10 11 6 2A............................... 59 90 53 53 29 5B1.............................. 77 117 70 70 45 8B............................... 99 141 91 91 66 11C3.............................. 69 117 64 64 39 8C2.............................. 82 141 77 81 52 11C1.............................. 103 175 97 108 73 18C0.............................. 114 190 99 127 84 21C............................... 122 201 116 140 92 26----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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(2) LP10 stations must satisfy the second-adjacent channel minimum distance separation requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section with respect to any third-adjacent channel FM station that, as of September 20, 2000 (the adoption date of this MO&O) broadcasts a radio reading service via a subcarrier frequency.
(c) In addition to meeting or exceeding the minimum separations for Class LP100 and Class LP10 stations in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, new LP100 and LP10 stations will not be authorized in Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands unless the minimum distance separations in the following tables are met with respect to authorized or proposed FM stations:
(1) LP100 stations in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands:
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Co-channel minimum First-adjacent channel separation (km) minimum separation (km) Second- and ------------------------------------------------------ third- For no For no adjacent I.F. channel Station class protected by LP100 interference interference channel minimum received received minimum separations_10.6 Required from max. Required from max. separation or 10.8 MHz class class (km)_required facility facility--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A................................................................ 80 111 70 70 42 9B1............................................................... 95 128 82 82 53 11B................................................................ 138 179 123 123 92 19--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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(2) LP10 stations in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands:
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Co-channel minimum First-adjacent channel separation (km) minimum separation (km) Second- and ------------------------------------------------------ third- For no For no adjacent I.F. channel Station class protected by LP100 interference interference channel minimum received received minimum separations_10.6 Required from max. Required from max. separation or 10.8 MHz class class (km)_required facility facility--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A................................................................ 72 108 66 66 42 8B1............................................................... 84 125 78 78 53 9B................................................................ 126 177 118 118 92 18--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Note to paragraphs (a), (b), and (c): Minimum distance separations towards “grandfathered” superpowered Reserved Band stations are as specified.
Full service FM stations operating within the reserved band (Channels 201–220) with facilities in excess of those permitted in §73.211(b)(1) or §73.211(b)(3) shall be protected by LPFM stations in accordance with the minimum distance separations for the nearest class as determined under §73.211. For example, a Class B1 station operating with facilities that result in a 60 dBu contour that exceeds 39 kilometers but is less than 52 kilometers would be protected by the Class B minimum distance separations. Class D stations with 60 dBu contours that exceed 5 kilometers will be protected by the Class A minimum distance separations. Class B stations with 60 dBu contours that exceed 52 kilometers will be protected as Class C1 or Class C stations depending upon the distance to the 60 dBu contour. No stations will be protected beyond Class C separations.
(d) In addition to meeting the separations (a) through (c), LPFM applications must meet the minimum separation requirements with respect to authorized FM translator stations, cutoff FM translator applications, and FM translator applications filed prior to the release of the Public Notice announcing the LPFM window period:
(1) LP100 stations:
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Co-channel minimum First-adjacent channel Second- and separation (km) minimum separation (km) third-adjacent I.F . Channel ---------------------------------------------------------- channel minimum Distance to FM translator 60 dBu contour For no For no minimum separation Required interference Required interference separation (km) 10.6 or received received (km) required 10.8 MHz--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13.3 km or greater............................................ 39 67 28 35 21 5Greater than 7.3 km, but less than 13.3 km.................... 32 51 21 26 14 57.3 km or less................................................ 26 30 15 16 8 5--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Co-channel minimum First-adjacent channel Second- and separation (km) minimum separation (km) third-adjacent I.F . Channel ---------------------------------------------------------- channel minimum Distance to FM translator 60 dBu contour For no For no minimum separation Required interference Required interference separation (km) 10.6 or received received (km) required 10.8 MHz--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13.3 km or greater............................................ 30 65 25 33 20 3Greater than 7.3 km, but less than 13.3 km.................... 24 49 18 23 14 37.3 km or less................................................ 18 28 12 14 8 3--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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(e) Existing Class LP100 and LP10 stations which do not meet the separations in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section may be relocated provided that the separation to any short-spaced station is not reduced.
(f) Commercial and noncommercial educational stations authorized under subparts B and C of this part, as well as new or modified commercial FM allotments, are not required to adhere to the separations specified in this rule section, even where new or increased interference would be created.
(g) International considerations within the border zones. (1) Within 320 km of the Canadian border, LP100 stations must meet the following minimum separations with respect to any Canadian stations:
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First- Second- Third- Intermediate Co-channel adjacent adjacent adjacent frequency Canadian station class (km) channel channel channel (IF) channel (km) (km) (km) (km)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A1 & Low Power............................ 45 30 21 20 4A............................................. 66 50 41 40 7B1............................................ 78 62 53 52 9B............................................. 92 76 68 66 12C1............................................ 113 98 89 88 19C............................................. 124 108 99 98 28----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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(2) Within 320 km of the Mexican border, LP100 stations must meet the following separations with respect to any Mexican stations:
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Second- First- third Intermediate Mexican station class Co-channel adjacent adjacent frequency (km) channel channel (IF) channel (km) (km) (km)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Low Power.................................................. 27 17 9 3A.......................................................... 43 32 25 5AA......................................................... 47 36 29 6B1......................................................... 67 54 45 8B.......................................................... 91 76 66 11C1......................................................... 91 80 73 19C.......................................................... 110 100 92 27----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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(3) Within 320 km of the Canadian border, LP10 stations must meet the following minimum separations with respect to any Canadian stations:
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First- Second- Third- Intermediate Co-channel adjacent adjacent adjacent frequency Canadian station class (km) channel channel channel (IF) channel (km) (km) (km) (km)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A1 & Low Power............................ 33 25 20 19 3A............................................. 53 45 40 39 5B1............................................ 65 57 52 51 8B............................................. 79 71 67 66 11C1............................................ 101 93 88 87 18C............................................. 111 103 98 97 26----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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(4) Within 320 km of the Mexican border, LP10 stations must meet the following separations with respect to any Mexican stations:
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Second- First- third Intermediate Mexican station class Co-channel adjacent adjacent frequency (km) channel channel (IF) channel (km) (km) (km)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Low Power.................................................. 19 13 9 2A.......................................................... 34 29 24 5AA......................................................... 39 33 29 5B1......................................................... 57 50 45 8B.......................................................... 79 71 66 11C1......................................................... 83 77 73 18C.......................................................... 102 96 92 26----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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(5) The Commission will notify the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) of any LPFM authorizations in the US Virgin Islands. Any authorization issued for a US Virgin Islands LPFM station will include a condition that permits the Commission to modify, suspend or terminate without right to a hearing if found by the Commission to be necessary to conform to any international regulations or agreements.
(6) The Commission will initiate international coordination of a LPFM proposal even where the above Canadian and Mexican spacing tables are met, if it appears that such coordination is necessary to maintain compliance with international agreements.
[65 FR 7640, Feb. 15, 2000, as amended at 65 FR 67299, Nov. 9, 2000; 65 FR 79779, Dec. 20, 2000; 66 FR 23863, May 10, 2001]
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