FCC 74.1235 as of October 1, 2005

Goto Section: 74.1234 | 74.1236 | Table of Contents

FCC 74.1235
Revised as of October 1, 2005
Goto Year:2004 | 2006

Sec. 74.1235 Power limitations and antenna systems.

(a) An application for an FM translator station filed by the licensee or
permittee of the primary station to provide fill-in service within the
primary station's coverage area will not be accepted for filing if it
specifies an effective radiated power (ERP) which exceeds 250 watts.

(b) An application for an FM translator station, other than one for fill-in
service which is covered in paragraph (a) of this section, will not be
accepted for filing if it specifies an effective radiated power (ERP) which
exceeds the maximum ERP (MERP) value determined in accordance with this
paragraph. The antenna height above average terrain (HAAT) shall be
determined in accordance with Sec. 73.313(d) of this chapter for each of 12
distinct radials, with each radial spaced 30 degrees apart and with the
bearing of the first radial bearing true north. Each raidal HAAT value shall
be rounded to the nearest meter. For each of the 12 radial directions, the
MERP is the value corresponding to the calculated HAAT in the following
tables that is appropriate for the location of the translator. For an
application specifying a nondirectional transmitting antenna, the specified
ERP must not exceed the smallest of the 12 MERP's. For an application
specifying a directional transmitting antenna, the ERP in each azimuthal
direction must not exceed the MERP for the closest of the 12 radial
directions.

(1) For FM translators located east of the Mississippi River or in Zone I-A
as described in Sec. 73.205(b) of this chapter:

(2) For FM translators located in all other areas:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum ERP
Radial HAAT (meters) (MERP in
watts)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than or equal to 107.................................. 250
108 to 118................................................. 205
119 to 130................................................. 170
131 to 144................................................. 140
145 to 157................................................. 115
158 to 173................................................. 92
174 to 192................................................. 75
193 to 212................................................. 62
213 to 235................................................. 50
236 to 260................................................. 41
261 to 285................................................. 34
286 to 310................................................. 28
311 to 345................................................. 23
346 to 380................................................. 19
381 to 425................................................. 15.5
426 to 480................................................. 13
481 to 540................................................. 11
Greater than or equal to 541............................... 10
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(c) The effective radiated power of FM booster stations shall be limited
such that the predicted service contour of the booster station, computed in
accordance with Sec. 73.313 paragraphs (a) through (d) of this chapter, may not
extend beyond the corresponding service contour of the primary FM station
that the booster rebroadcasts. In no event shall the ERP of the booster
station exceed 20% of the maximum allowable ERP for the primary station's
class.

(d) Applications for FM translator stations located within 320 km of the
Canadian border will not be accepted if they specify more than 50 watts
effective radiated power in any direction or have a 34 dBu interference
contour, calculated in accordance with Sec. 74.1204 of this part, that exceeds
32 km. FM translator stations located within 320 kilometers of the Mexican
border must be separated from Mexican allotments and assignments in
accordance with Sec. 73.207(b)(3) of this chapter and are limited to a
transmitter power output of 10 watts or less. For purposes of compliance
with that section, FM translators will be considered as Class D FM stations.

(1) Translator stations located within 125 kilometers of the Mexican border
may operate with an ERP up to 50 watts (0.050 kW) ERP. A booster station may
not produce a 34 dBu interfering contour in excess of 32 km from the
transmitter site in the direction of the Mexican border, nor may the 60 dBu
service contour of the booster station exceed 8.7 km from the transmitter
site in the direction of the Mexican border.

(2) Translator stations located between 125 kilometers and 320 kilometers
from the Mexican border may operate with an ERP in excess of 50 watts, up to
the maximum permitted ERP of 250 watts per Sec. 74.1235(b)(2). However, in no
event shall the location of the 60 dBu contour lie within 116.3 km of the
Mexican border.

(3) Applications for translator or booster stations within 320 km of the
Canadian border may employ an ERP up to a maximum of 250 watts, as specified
in Sec. 74.1235(a) and (b). The distance to the 34 dBu interfering contour may
not exceed 60 km in any direction.

(e) In no event shall a station authorized under this subpart be operated
with a transmitter power output (TPO) in excess of the transmitter
certificated rating. A station authorized under this subpart for a TPO that
is less than its transmitter certificated rating shall determine its TPO in
accordance with Sec. 73.267 of this chapter and its TPO shall not be more than
105 percent of the authorized TPO.

(f) Composite antennas and antenna arrays may be used where the total ERP
does not exceed the maximum determined in accordance with paragraphs (a),
(b) or (c) of this section.

(g) Either horizontal, vertical, circular or elliptical polarization may be
used provided that the supplemental vertically polarized ERP required for
circular or elliptical polarization does not exceed the ERP otherwise
authorized. Either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation may be used.
Separate transmitting antennas are permitted if both horizontal and vertical
polarization is to be provided.

(h) All applications must comply with Sec. 73.316, paragraphs (d) and (e) of
this chapter.

(i) An application that specifies use of a directional antenna must comply
with Sec. 73.316, paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(3) of this chapter. Prior to
issuance of a license, the applicant must: (1) Certify that the antenna is
mounted in accordance with the specific instructions provided by the antenna
manufacturer; and (2) certify that the antenna is mounted in the proper
orientation. In instances where a directional antenna is proposed for the
purpose of providing protection to another facility, a condition may be
included in the construction permit requiring that before program tests are
authorized, a permittee: (1) Must submit the results of a complete
proof-of-performance to establish the horizontal plane radiation patterns
for both the horizontally and vertically polarized radiation components;
and, (2) must certify that the relative field strength of neither the
measured horizontally nor vertically polarized radiation component shall
exceed at any azimuth the value indicated on the composite radiation pattern
authorized by the construction permit.

Note: Existing licensees and permittees that do not furnish data sufficient
to calculate the contours in conformance with Sec. 74.1204 will be assigned
protected contours having the following radii:

Up to 10 watts—1 mile (1.6 km) from transmitter site.

Up to 100 watts—2 miles (3.2 km) from transmitter site.

Up to 250 watts—4 miles (6.5 km) from transmitter site.

(j) FM translator stations authorized prior to June 1, 1991, with facilities
that do not comply with the ERP limitation of paragraph (a) or (b) of this
section, as appropriate, may continue to operate, provided that operation is
in conformance with Sec. 74.1203 regarding interference. Applications for major
changes in FM translator stations must specify facilities that comply with
paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, as appropriate.

[ 55 FR 50697 , Dec. 10, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 56170 , Nov. 1, 1991; 58 FR 42026 , Aug. 6, 1993; 62 FR 51063 , Sept. 30, 1997; 63 FR 33879 , June 22,
1998; 63 FR 36605 , July 7, 1998]

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