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NAB Files Reply Comments on Translators, LPFM
RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, September 27, 2011 |
NAB has submitted replies to the comments filed on the FCC's Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Low Power FM outlets. NAB supports what it calls "the Commission's balanced approach" of preserving LPFM opportunities while fast-tracking processing of "long-pending" translator applications for use by AM & FM broadcast outlets.
The trade association says that the Local Community Radio Act (LCRA) should more accurately reflect actual market-level opportunities for both LPFM and FM translator stations while preserving opportunities for new LPFM stations. Other commenters have also suggested changes in the proposal, but NAB says some of those changes seem "designed less to increase the precision of the Commission's analysis than to create a regulatory environment favoring LPFM stations."
NAB is also calling for the elimination of the May 9, 2009 date restriction on FM translators authorized to rebroadcast signals from AM stations. As well as access to FM translators for AM stations that have been unable to locate pre-2009 authorized translators in their markets.
NAB agrees with the view of the Catholic Radio Association (CRA), which consists of members that operate FM translators and others that own LPFM facilities: "Any proposal to limit the use of FM translators to rebroadcast AM signals would undermine a tremendous tool for re-invigorating AM stations and facilitating the long-term economic viability of the AM radio service. This tool should not be curtailed as a cost of invigorating the LPFM service."
Prometheus is suggesting a list of screening qualifications for AM stations that seek to use FM translators related to the ownership and coverage of a translator, what content will be aired over a translator, and even how many journalists an AM station will hire because of a translator. The trade group commented that all of the propositions are "far beyond the scope of the Notice, and nothing more than artificial obstacles to AM stations' use of translators."
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