[grc] FM translator displacing listeners

[Michelle Bradley]

The first question that I have here is whether the complaining listener 
is inside your translator's 60 dBu contour.

Under the rules and the FCC's interpretation of the policy, a translator 
can not cause any "actual interference" to the direct reception by the 
public of any [...] broadcast station. "Interference will be considered 
to occur whenever reception of a regularly used signal is impaired by 
the signals radiated by the FM translator [...] regardless of the 
quality of such reception, the strength of the signal so used, or the 
channel for which the protected signal is transmitted.  (§74.1203(a)(3)).

What I have seen is that the Commission will be more likely to take the 
complaint seriously if the complainer is within your translator's 60 dBu 
service contour.

If you want to private e-mail me the information about your LPFM, your 
translator and the EMF Air-1 station, I can look a little further.

=m



On 1/27/2017 5:30 PM, Danny via grc wrote:
> Our LPFM is not on the air yet, but our 55 watt FM translator is as of 2
> weeks ago and just got licensed last Wednesday.  For now, we're
> rebroadcasting the local NPR station with express written permission. Today,
> we got our first complaint and he made a point he's complained to the FCC
> and the station he can no longer receive, which is a 2100 watt signal of
> contemporary Christian station Air 1 in a neighboring market, well outside
> their 60dBu contour.
>
>   
>
> The FCC website says: "Interference caused.  A translator or booster may not
> cause predicted or actual interference.  If any actual interference is
> created, the Commission requires the permittee or licensee to resolve all
> interference complaints by appropriate means.  If the interference cannot be
> resolved, the Commission will require the FM translator or booster station
> to discontinue operations.  See 47 CFR Section 74.1203.  A translator
> construction permit application will not be granted if an objecting party
> provides convincing evidence that the proposed translator station would
> likely interfere with off the air reception of a full service FM station,
> even if there is no predicted prohibited contour overlap."
>
>   
>
> But what does this mean in real world experience? What are we obligated to
> do for listeners like this that no longer hear their favorite station
> outside its protected contour because of our new FM translator?
>
>   
>
> Thanks!
>
> Danny
>
> WSPJ-LP
>
> W228CS
>
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