Sec.  73.1510   Experimental authorizations.

   (a) Licensees of broadcast stations may obtain experimental authorizations
   to conduct technical experimentation directed toward improvement of the
   technical phases of operation and service, and for such purposes may use a
   signal other than the normal broadcast program signal.

   (b) Experimental authorizations may be requested by filing an informal
   application with the FCC in Washington, DC, describing the nature and
   purpose of the experimentation to be conducted, the nature of the
   experimental signal to be transmitted, and the proposed schedule of hours
   and duration of the experimentation. Experimental authorizations shall be
   posted with the station license.

   (c) Experimental operations are subject to the following conditions:

   (1) The authorized power of the station may not be exceeded, except as
   specifically authorized for the experimental operations.

   (2) Emissions outside the authorized bandwidth must be attenuated to the
   degree required for the particular type of station.

   (3) The experimental operations may be conducted at any time the station is
   authorized to operate, but the minimum required schedule of programming for
   the class and type of station must be met. AM stations also may conduct
   experimental operations during the experimental period (12 midnight local
   time to local sunrise) and at additional hours if permitted by the
   experimental authorization provided no interference is caused to other
   stations maintaining a regular operating schedule within such period(s).

   (4) If an experimental authorization permits the use of additional
   facilities or hours of operation for experimental purposes, no sponsored
   programs or commercial announcements may be transmitted during such
   experimentation.

   (5) The licensee may transmit regularly scheduled programming concurrently
   with the experimental transmission if there is no significant impairment of
   service.

   (6) No charges may be made, either directly or indirectly, for the
   experimentation; however, normal charges may be made for regularly scheduled
   programming transmitted concurrently with the experimental transmissions.

   (d) The FCC may request a report of the research, experimentation and
   results at the conclusion of the experimental operation.

   [ 43 FR 32783 , July 28, 1978]