|
AM
Directional Antenna Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Last
September the FCC issued a 2nd Report & Order (R&O)
and 2nd Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) which
for the first time will allow AM broadcasters to use computer modeling
(in conjunction with sampling system verification) for  performance
verification of AM directional antennas (DAs). As a consequence
of the 2nd FNPRM being published in the Federal Register on December
11, 2008, the comment and reply comment deadlines have now been
established as January 12, 2009 and February 9, 2009, respectively.
Issuance
of the 2nd R&O and 2nd FNPRM was undertaken as part of the FCC's
proceeding in MM Docket No. 93-177, An Inquiry Into the Commission's
Policies and Rules Regarding AM Radio Service Directional Antenna
Performance Verification. The rules proposed in the 2nd FNPRM
focus on the impact of nearby towers on AM antenna patterns, and
are essentially those proposed in May 2007 by the AM Directional
Antenna Verification Coalition, a self-described group of "...broadcasters,
broadcast engineering consultants and broadcast equipment manufacturers,
all of whom are experts in the science of AM DA design and have
extensive experience in the adjustment and maintenance of AM DAs."
Specifically,
in the 2nd FNPRM the Commission is requesting comment on rules proposed
by the Coalition which are attached to the 2nd FNPRM as Appendix
E, pertaining to the use of computer modeling (using moment method
programs) to assess the effects of nearby towers on AM antenna patterns.
Some of the specific questions being asked include the following:
- Should the proposed rules apply to construction of all communications
towers above a specified height, not just towers requiring notice
to the Federal Aviation Administration and tower registration
under Part 17?
- Should the Commission apply the proposed rules to the owners
of structures that are not otherwise subject to Commission licensing
processes, i.e., with regard to structures such as towers that
do no require registration and which no Commission licensee or
applicant uses or proposes to use?
- Should the Commission prohibit applicants from proposing and
licensees from using a tower when the owner has not complied with
notice and detuning requirements?
- Regarding the proposed rule's exclusion of short towers from
consideration, should the Commission reduce the proposed threshold
height of 45 electrical degrees to 36 degrees (this based on a
technical filing provided by the Association of Federal Communications
Consulting Engineers)?
- Comments are sought on the types of structures, such as buildings,
that should be categorically excluded from the proposed rules;
- Should any final rule on this issue, if adopted, include a provision
requiring tower proponents to protect the AM station upon submission
of a credible demonstration that the tower affects the AM pattern?
Two
contacts within the FCC have been identified for questions regarding
this matter: Ann Gallagher, Ann.Gallagher@fcc.gov,
and Susan Crawford, Susan.Crawford@fcc.gov,
both of the Media Bureau, Audio Division, (202) 418-2700. Broadcasters
interested in filing comments in this proceeding may do so electronically
by accessing the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) at www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/.
Filers should follow the instructions provided on the website for
submitting comments, and should include their full name, U.S. Postal
service mailing address, and the applicable docket number: MM Docket
No. 93-177. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by email-to
get filing instructions, send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov,
and include the words "get form" in the body of the message.
A sample form and instructions will be sent in response.
The December
22, 2008 Radio TechCheck is also available in an
Adobe Acrobat file.
Please
click
here to read the Adobe Acrobat version of Radio TechCheck.
|
