§  90.205   Power and antenna height limits.

   Applicants for licenses must request and use no more power than the
   actual power necessary for satisfactory operation. Except where
   otherwise specifically provided for, the maximum power that will be
   authorized to applicants whose license applications for new stations
   are filed after August 18, 1995 is as follows:

   (a) Below 25 MHz. For single sideband operations (J3E emission), the
   maximum transmitter peak envelope power is 1000 watts.

   (b) 25-50 MHz. The maximum transmitter output power is 300 watts.

   (c) 72-76 MHz. The maximum effective radiated power (ERP) for stations
   operating on fixed frequencies is 300 watts. Stations operating on
   mobile-only frequencies are limited to one watt transmitter output
   power.

   (d) 150-174 MHz. (1) The maximum allowable station ERP is dependent
   upon the station's antenna HAAT and required service area and will be
   authorized in accordance with table 1. Applicants requesting an ERP in
   excess of that listed in table 1 must submit an engineering analysis
   based upon generally accepted engineering practices and standards that
   includes coverage contours to demonstrate that the requested station
   parameters will not produce coverage in excess of that which the
   applicant requires.

   (2) Applications for stations where special circumstances exist that
   make it necessary to deviate from the ERP and antenna heights in Table
   1 will be submitted to the frequency coordinator accompanied by a
   technical analysis, based upon generally accepted engineering practices
   and standards, that demonstrates that the requested station parameters
   will not produce a signal strength in excess of 37 dBu at any point
   along the edge of the requested service area. The coordinator may then
   recommend any ERP appropriate to meet this condition.

   (3) An applicant for a station with a service area radius greater than
   40 km (25 mi) must justify the requested service area radius, which
   will be authorized only in accordance with table 1, note 4. For base
   stations with service areas greater than 80 km, all operations 80 km or
   less from the base station will be on a primary basis and all
   operations outside of 80 km from the base station will be on a
   secondary basis and will be entitled to no protection from primary
   operations.

   Table 1--150-174MHz--Maximum ERP/Reference HAAT for a Specific Service
   Area Radius
       Service area radius (km)
   3 8 13 16 24 32 40 48^4 64^4 80^4
   Maximum ERP (w)^1 1 28 178 ^2500 ^2500 ^2500 500 ^2500 ^2500 ^2500
   Up to reference HAAT (m)^3 15 15 15 15 33 65 110 160 380 670

   ^1Maximum ERP indicated provides for a 37 dBu signal strength at the
   edge of the service area per FCC Report R-6602, Fig. 19 (See § 73.699,
   Fig. 10).

   ^2Maximum ERP of 500 watts allowed. Signal strength at the service area
   contour may be less than 37 dBu.

   ^3When the actual antenna HAAT is greater than the reference HAAT, the
   allowable ERP will be reduced in accordance with the following
   equation: ERPallow = ERPmax × (HAATref / HAATactual)^2.

   ^4Applications for this service area radius may be granted upon
   specific request with justification and must include a technical
   demonstration that the signal strength at the edge of the service area
   does not exceed 37 dBu.

   (e) 217-220 MHz. Limitations on power and antenna heights are specified
   in § 90.259.

   (f) 220-222 MHz. Limitations on power and antenna heights are specified
   in § 90.729.

   (g) 421-430 MHz. Limitations on power and antenna heights are specified
   in § 90.279.

   (h) 450-470 MHz. (1) The maximum allowable station effective radiated
   power (ERP) is dependent upon the station's antenna HAAT and required
   service area and will be authorized in accordance with table 2.
   Applicants requesting an ERP in excess of that listed in table 2 must
   submit an engineering analysis based upon generally accepted
   engineering practices and standards that includes coverage contours to
   demonstrate that the requested station parameters will not produce
   coverage in excess of that which the applicant requires.

   (2) Applications for stations where special circumstances exist that
   make it necessary to deviate from the ERP and antenna heights in Table
   2 will be submitted to the frequency coordinator accompanied by a
   technical analysis, based upon generally accepted engineering practices
   and standards, that demonstrates that the requested station parameters
   will not produce a signal strength in excess of 39 dBu at any point
   along the edge of the requested service area. The coordinator may then
   recommend any ERP appropriate to meet this condition.

   (3) An applicant for a station with a service area radius greater than
   32 km (20 mi) must justify the requested service area radius, which may
   be authorized only in accordance with table 2, note 4. For base
   stations with service areas greater than 80 km, all operations 80 km or
   less from the base station will be on a primary basis and all
   operations outside of 80 km from the base station will be on a
   secondary basis and will be entitled to no protection from primary
   operations.

   Table 2--450-470 MHz--Maximum ERP/Reference HAAT for a Specific Service
   Area Radius
       Service area radius (km)
   3 8 13 16 24 32 40^4 48^4 64^4 80^4
   Maximum ERP (w)^1 2 100 ^2500 ^2500 ^2500 ^2500 ^2500 ^2500 ^2500 ^2500
   Up to reference HAAT (m)^3 15 15 15 27 63 125 250 410 950 2700

   ^1Maximum ERP indicated provides for a 39 dBu signal strength at the
   edge of the service area per FCC Report R-6602, Fig. 29 (See § 73.699,
   Fig. 10 b).

   ^2Maximum ERP of 500 watts allowed. Signal strength at the service area
   contour may be less than 39 dBu.

   ^3When the actual antenna HAAT is greater than the reference HAAT, the
   allowable ERP will be reduced in accordance with the following
   equation: ERPallow = ERPmax × (HAATref / HAATactual)^2.

   ^4Applications for this service area radius may be granted upon
   specific request with justification and must include a technical
   demonstration that the signal strength at the edge of the service area
   does not exceed 39 dBu.

   (i) 470-512 MHz. Power and height limitations are specified in § § 90.307
   and 90.309.

   (j) 758-775 MHz and 788-805 MHz. Power and height limitations are
   specified in § § 90.541 and 90.542.

   (k) 806-824 MHz, 851-869 MHz, 896-901 MHz and 935-940 MHz. Power and
   height limitations for frequencies in the 806-824 MHz and 851-869 MHz
   bands and for narrowband operations in the 896-901/935-940 MHz band are
   specified in § 90.635.

   (l) 902-928 MHz. LMS systems operating pursuant to subpart M of this
   part in the 902-927.25 MHz band will be authorized a maximum of 30
   watts ERP. LMS equipment operating in the 927.25-928 MHz band will be
   authorized a maximum of 300 watts ERP. ERP must be measured as peak
   envelope power. Antenna heights will be as specified in § 90.353(h).

   (m) 929-930 MHz. Limitations on power and antenna heights are specified
   in § 90.494.

   (n) 1427-1429.5 MHz and 1429.5-1432 MHz. Limitations on power are
   specified in § 90.259.

   (o) 2450-2483.5 MHz. The maximum transmitter power is 5 watts.

   (p) 4940-4990 MHz. Limitations on power are specified in § 90.1215.

   (q) 5850-5925 MHz. Power and height limitations are specified in
   subpart M of this part.

   (r) All other frequency bands. Requested transmitter power will be
   considered and authorized on a case by case basis.

   (s) The output power shall not exceed by more than 20 percent either
   the output power shown in the Radio Equipment List [available in
   accordance with § 90.203(a)(1)] for transmitters included in this list
   or when not so listed, the manufacturer's rated output power for the
   particular transmitter specifically listed on the authorization.

   [ 60 FR 37262 , July 19, 1995, as amended at  62 FR 2039 , Jan. 15, 1997;
    63 FR 58651 , Nov. 2, 1998;  64 FR 66409 , Nov. 26, 1999;  67 FR 41860 ,
   June 20, 2002;  68 FR 38639 , June 30, 2003;  69 FR 46443 , Aug. 3, 2004;
    72 FR 48860 , Aug. 24, 2007;  79 FR 600 , Jan. 6, 2014;  85 FR 43138 , July
   15, 2020]