§  73.1635   Special temporary authorizations (STA).

   (a) A special temporary authorization (STA) is the authority granted to
   a permittee or licensee to permit the operation of a broadcast facility
   for a limited period at a specified variance from the terms of the
   station authorization or requirements of the FCC rules applicable to
   the particular class of station.

   (1) A request for a STA should be filed with FCC in Washington, DC at
   least 10 days prior to the date of the proposed operation.

   (2) The request is to be made by letter and shall fully describe the
   proposed operation and the necessity for the requested STA. Such letter
   requests shall be signed by the licensee or the licensee's
   representative.

   (3) A request for a STA necessitated by unforeseen equipment damage or
   failure may be made without regard to the procedural requirements of
   this section (e.g. via telegram or telephone). Any request made
   pursuant to this paragraph shall be followed by a written confirmation
   request conforming to the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) of this
   section. Confirmation requests shall be submitted within 24 hours. (See
   also § 73.1680 Emergency Antennas).

   (4) An STA may be granted for an initial period not to exceed 180 days.
   A limited number of extensions of such authorizations may be granted
   for additional periods not exceeding 180 days per extension. An STA
   necessitated by technical or equipment problems, however, may, in
   practice, be granted for an initial period not to exceed 90 days with a
   limited number of extensions not to exceed 90 days per extension. The
   permittee or licensee must demonstrate that any further extensions
   requested are necessary and that all steps to resume normal operation
   are being undertaken in an expeditions and timely fashion. The license
   of a broadcasting station that fails to transmit broadcast signals for
   any consecutive 12-month period expires as a matter of law at the end
   of that period, notwithstanding any STA or provision, term, or
   condition of the license to the contrary.

   (5) Certain rules specify special considerations and procedures in
   situations requiring an STA or permit temporary operation at variance
   without prior authorization from the FCC when notification is filed as
   prescribed in the particular rules. See § 73.62, Directional antenna
   system tolerances; § 73.157, Antenna testing during daytime; § 73.158,
   Directional antenna monitoring points; § 73.691, Visual modulation
   monitoring; § 73.1250, Broadcasting emergency information; § 73.1350,
   Transmission system operation; § 73.1560, Operating power and mode
   tolerances; § 73.1570, Modulation levels: AM, FM, TV and Class A TV
   aural; § 73.1615, Operation during modification of facilities; § 73.1680,
   Emergency antennas; and § 73.1740, Minimum operating schedule.

   (b) An STA may be modified or cancelled by the FCC without prior notice
   or right to hearing.

   (c) No request by an AM station for temporary authority to extend its
   hours of operation beyond those authorized by its regular authorization
   will be accepted or granted by the FCC except in emergency situations
   conforming with the requirements of § 73.3542, Application for Emergency
   Authorization. See also § 73.1250, Broadcasting Emergency Information.

   [ 50 FR 30948 , July 31, 1985, as amended at  58 FR 51250 , Oct. 1, 1993;
    60 FR 55482 , Nov. 1, 1995;  61 FR 28767 , June 6, 1996;  65 FR 30004 , May
   10, 2000]