Prometheus Responds to NAB Opposition to FM Translator Recon Petition
The FCC order relaxing siting rules for FM translators didn’t give proper notice of the change that eliminated the 40-mile limit and didn’t properly consider the consequences for low-power FM, Prometheus Radio Project responded Wednesday to NAB’s opposition (see 1705220064)…
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to its petition for reconsideration in docket 13-249. NAB didn’t offer any “convincing support” for its contention that removing the 40-mile limit was a natural outgrowth of the notice and comment proceeding that led to the rule change, Prometheus said. Though NAB noted only one translator application has been filed that takes advantage of the relaxed standards, that application has exactly the consequences for LPFM that Prometheus expressed concern about, the LPFM group said. “Several LPFM stations would have severely reduced relocation capacity as a result of this translator application,” Prometheus said. “NAB does not challenge this practical reality that LPFM stations, even more frequently than full-power stations, must relocate their transmitters, and that the vastly larger area afforded for AM stations to erect FM translators under the Order will greatly impinge on the ability of LPFM licensees to relocate.” The FCC should reconsider eliminating distance requirements on translators and issue a new Further NPRM to “address adequately protecting LPFM stations from being boxed in by FM translators,” Prometheus said.