§  74.1231   Purpose and permissible service.

   (a) FM translators provide a means whereby the signals of AM or FM
   broadcast stations may be retransmitted to areas in which direct
   reception of such AM or FM broadcast stations is unsatisfactory due to
   distance or intervening terrain barriers, and a means for AM Class D
   stations to continue operating at night.

   (b) An FM translator may be used for the purpose of retransmitting the
   signals of a primary AM or FM radio broadcast station or another
   translator station the signal of which is received directly through
   space, converted, and suitably amplified, and originating programming
   to the extent authorized in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this
   section. However, an FM translator providing fill-in service may use
   any terrestrial facilities to receive the signal that is being
   rebroadcast. An FM booster station or a noncommercial educational FM
   translator station that is operating on a reserved channel (Channels
   201-220) and is owned and operated by the licensee of the primary
   noncommercial educational station it rebroadcasts may use alternative
   signal delivery means, including, but not limited to, satellite and
   terrestrial microwave facilities. Provided, however, that an applicant
   for a noncommercial educational translator operating on a reserved
   channel (Channel 201-220) and owned and operated by the licensee of the
   primary noncommercial educational AM or FM station it rebroadcasts
   complies with either paragraph (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section:

   (1) The applicant demonstrates that:

   (i) The transmitter site of the proposed FM translator station is
   within 80 kilometers of the predicted 1 mV/m contour of the primary
   station to be rebroadcast; or,

   (ii) The transmitter site of the proposed FM translator station is more
   than 160 kilometers from the transmitter site of any authorized full
   service noncommercial educational FM station; or,

   (iii) The application is mutually exclusive with an application
   containing the showing as required by paragraph 74.1231(b)(2) (i) or
   (ii) of this section; or,

   (iv) The application is filed after October 1, 1992.

   (2) If the transmitter site of the proposed FM translator station is
   more than 80 kilometers from the predicted 1 mV/m contour of the
   primary station to be rebroadcast or is within 160 kilometers of the
   transmitter site of any authorized full service noncommercial
   educational FM station, the applicant must show that:

   (i) An alternative frequency can be used at the same site as the
   proposed FM translator's transmitter location and can provide signal
   coverage to the same area encompassed by the applicant's proposed 1
   mV/m contour; or,

   (ii) An alternative frequency can be used at a different site and can
   provide signal coverage to the same area encompassed by the applicant's
   proposed 1 mV/m contour.

   Note: For paragraphs 74.1231(b) and 74.1231(i) of this section,
   auxiliary intercity relay station frequencies may be used to deliver
   signals to FM translator and booster stations on a secondary basis
   only. Such use shall not interfere with or otherwise preclude use of
   these frequencies for transmitting aural programming between the studio
   and transmitter location of a broadcast station, or between broadcast
   stations, as provided in paragraphs 74.531 (a) and (b) of this part.
   Prior to filing an application for an auxiliary intercity relay
   microwave frequency, the applicant shall notify the local frequency
   coordination committee, or, in the absence of a local frequency
   coordination committee, any licensees assigned the use of the proposed
   operating frequency in the intended location or area of operation.

   (c) The transmissions of each FM translator or booster station shall be
   intended only for direct reception by the general public. An FM
   translator or booster shall not be operated solely for the purpose of
   relaying signals to one or more fixed received points for
   retransmission, distribution, or further relaying in order to establish
   a point-to-point FM radio relay system.

   (d) The technical characteristics of the retransmitted signals shall
   not be deliberately altered so as to hinder reception on conventional
   FM broadcast receivers.

   (e) An FM translator shall not deliberately retransmit the signals of
   any station other than the station it is authorized to retransmit.
   Precautions shall be taken to avoid unintentional retransmission of
   such other signals.

   (f) A locally generated radio frequency signal similar to that of an FM
   broadcast station and modulated with aural information may be connected
   to the input terminals of an FM translator for the purpose of
   transmitting voice announcements. The radio frequency signals shall be
   on the same channel as the normally used off-the-air signal being
   rebroadcast. Connection of the locally generated signals shall be made
   by any automatic means when transmitting originations concerning
   financial support. The connections for emergency transmissions may be
   made manually. The apparatus used to generate the local signal that is
   used to modulate the FM translator must be capable of producing an
   aural signal which will provide acceptable reception on FM receivers
   designed for the transmission standards employed by FM broadcast
   stations.

   (g) The aural material transmitted as permitted in paragraph (f) of
   this section shall be limited to emergency warnings of imminent danger
   and to seeking or acknowledging financial support deemed necessary to
   the continued operation of the translator. Originations concerning
   financial support are limited to a total of 30 seconds an hour. Within
   this limitation the length of any particular announcement will be left
   to the discretion of the translator station licensee. Solicitations of
   contributions shall be limited to the defrayal of the costs of
   installation, operation and maintenance of the translator or
   acknowledgements of financial support for those purposes. Such
   acknowledgements may include identification of the contributors, the
   size or nature of the contributions and advertising messages of
   contributors. Emergency transmissions shall be no longer or more
   frequent than necessary to protect life and property.

   (h) An FM translator station that rebroadcasts a Class D AM radio
   broadcast station as its primary station may originate programming
   during the hours the primary station is not operating, subject to the
   provisions of § 74.1263(b) of this part.

   (i) FM broadcast booster stations provide a means whereby the licensee
   of an FM broadcast station may provide service to areas in any region
   within the primary station's predicted, authorized service contours. An
   FM broadcast booster station is authorized to retransmit only the
   signals of its primary station which have been received directly
   through space and suitably amplified, or received by alternative signal
   delivery means including, but not limited to, satellite and terrestrial
   microwave facilities. The FM booster station shall not retransmit the
   signals of any other station nor make independent transmissions, except
   that locally generated signals may be used to excite the booster
   apparatus for the purpose of conducting tests and measurements
   essential to the proper installation and maintenance of the apparatus.

   Note: In the case of an FM broadcast station authorized with facilities
   in excess of those specified by § 73.211 of this chapter, an FM booster
   station will only be authorized within the protected contour of the
   class of station being rebroadcast as predicted on the basis of the
   maximum powers and heights set forth in that section for the applicable
   class of FM broadcast station concerned.

   [ 35 FR 15388 , Oct. 2, 1970, as amended at  45 FR 37842 , June 5, 1980;  52 FR 31406 , Aug. 20, 1987;  53 FR 14803 , Apr. 26, 1988;  54 FR 35342 , Aug.
   25, 1989;  55 FR 50695 , Dec. 10, 1990;  57 FR 41111 , Sept. 9, 1992;  58 FR 42026 , Aug. 6, 1993;  63 FR 33879 , June 22, 1998;  74 FR 45130 , Sept. 1,
   2009]