Controversy Broadcast relay station

1 controversy

1.1 great translator invasion of 2003
1.2 satellite translator networks
1.3 out-of-band translators
1.4 sale of permits

controversy

under u.s. law, full-service local broadcasters primary occupants of fm radio broadcast band. lpfm operations, translators, considered secondary in importance. in theory, leaves low-power fm stations , broadcast translators co-equal status on fm band. in practice, fm broadcast band becomes more crowded, frequencies assigned translators become unavailable new lpfm stations or existing lpfm stations seeking upgrade facilities.

a few key distinctions place small, local lpfm operators @ disadvantage:

the maximum power lpfm station (either 10 or 100 watts, depending on class of station) less of largest fm broadcast translators (at 250 watts), limiting reach of lpfm signal.
the minimum spacing required (in distance , frequency) other stations less strict translators lpfm applicants. while translator spacing based on signal contour levels (and therefore takes terrain , obstacles account), lpfm stations have more restrictive legally defined minimum distance requirement.
an lpfm broadcaster required generate local content; if there multiple applicants same frequency, agree originate 8 or more hours day of local programming favoured. translators not required (and not licensed to) originate locally.
lpfm licenses issued non-commercial educational entities (such schools or municipalities) , subject strict requirements largely precluding multiple stations under common ownership. same not true of translators. non-commercial translator no local content , no educational content free occupy space in non-commercial segment (below 92 mhz) of u.s. fm broadcast band. during narrow fcc filing windows new applicants, multiple applications broadcast translators same or related entities can abused request every locally available frequency in multiple communities.
an lpfm license or construction permit cannot lawfully resold. same not true translators. few related entities can file applications thousands of individual translator construction permits via automated means, using non-commercial status gain exemption fcc filing fees, resell these construction permits en masse or individually thousands of dollars each – if corresponding transmitters have not yet been constructed.

broadcast translators commercial stations required receive signal parent full-service fm station over-the-air , retransmit solely within region should covered main station (this eliminates need translator except in cases terrain shielding problem). same restriction not apply non-commercial educational stations. non-commercial station, 1 no local or educational content offer, can apply unlimited number of translators anywhere fed means (including via satellite). end result network of hundreds of small local transmitters, none of broadcast (and none of can lawfully broadcast) programming of interest local community. take increasingly scarce available spectrum otherwise have been employed local lpfm stations or used rebroadcast of local full-service stations.

another related issue involves use of full-power stations carry automated or satellite-originated programming. new full-service station can displace existing low-power translator or independent lpfm station; regulations allow on presumption full-service broadcaster more provide local voice community of license. not full-service broadcasters live expectation. in cases (such displacement of existing national public radio repeaters newly created religious stations in lake charles, louisiana) result has been loss of local or educational content. while opposite outcome legislative intent had anticipated, small non-commercial educational translator carrying content of higher quality satellite-fed full-power station displaced.

great translator invasion of 2003

an fcc licensing window new translator applications in 2003 resulted in on 13,000 applications being filed, of them coming religious broadcasters. due extremely high volume of license applications, lpfm advocates describe great translator invasion.

a few broadcasters have taken advantage of fm translator regulations allow non-commercial stations feed distant translators satellite-delivered programming hundreds or thousands of miles outside parent station s coverage area. however, misconception translators can fed satellites. translators located on non-commercial portion of fm band (88.1 91.9 mhz) can so-called satellators . other translators must fed off air direct radio reception, except in case of so-called fill-in facilities exist within service contour of primary station. translators may used feed other translators, possible create small chains of translators fed 1 distant station, however, works until chain broken and, if 1 translator fails, entire network beyond failed translator goes down, too. application window of 2003 resulted in many applications, fcc overloaded , issued emergency hold order on new translator applications until present batch can sorted through; came after considerable criticism lpfm lobbyist groups such prometheus radio. these translator applications on commercial band , none of them can used satellators. unknown how 1 broadcast group applications planned deliver programming of translators, affiliated churches of parent organization own broadcasting outlets in many of cities.

some religious broadcasting outlets – such calvary chapel s kawz twin falls, idaho, educational media foundation or family radio s kebr -sacramento – relayed hundreds of fm translator stations across u.s. these parent stations owned non-profit organizations , exist on non-commercial part of spectrum, not required have translators receive signal on air, required commercial broadcaster. has been used number of religious broadcasters set large satellite-based networks composed entirely of distant translators – translators outside of market area (generally 50-mile radius surrounding transmitter).

some lpfm advocates erroneously state proliferation of translators has posed difficulties non-translator station operators, in particular lpfm license applicants claim cannot stations on air due translators eliminating available channels in area. while may true future lpfm applications, not true existing lpfm broadcasters or lpfm applicants. because last lpfm filing window in 2001. translator applications 2003 window required protect lpfm applications pending or authorized @ time. result, no lpfm station denied due translators.

since so-called sat-casting translators permitted on non-commercial part of spectrum, lpfm stations not exist, pose no threat ability of existing lpfm licensees expand current station facilities. non-sat-casting translators can present problem existing lpfm stations , existence of translator, theoretically, leave lpfm stations have been bumped existing channel assignments new full-power stations no available frequency move. fcc has, generally, not required lpfm stations displaced full power stations. in such cases, lpfm may subject increased interference full-powered move-in, fcc has adopted live , let live policy has been used keep existing lpfm stations operating.

there @ least 1 proposed rulemaking revise procedures nonprofit groups may apply translators (thus disallowing more number of translator applications owned 1 entity); in addition, fcc has modified channel requirements lpfm broadcasters open channel space. rec networks has filed petition fcc would, among other things, require fcc give higher priority lpfm stations.

satellite translator networks

areas no available fm spectrum lpfm stations due large distant translator networks include chicago (with several calvary chapel , educational media foundation stations), atlanta (with several way-fm – associated k-love , salem communications – , edgewater broadcasting stations) , dallas, texas (with calvary satellite network , american family radio). louisville, kentucky , knoxville, tennessee, both small market areas, have complete lack of lpfm channels due distant translator invasion broadcasters such calvary chapel , way-fm.

the largest satellite-fed translator networks endeavors linked calvary chapel (including radio assist ministry, horizon broadcasting, , (formerly) edgewater broadcasting , reach media) , american family radio owned american family association. multiple networks associated calvary chapel have been particular focus in regard translator-based networks. in many cases, multiple applications submitted different companies linked calvary chapel in particular same channel. @ least 4 separate radio stations operated calvary chapel churches , relaying calvary satellite network programming have been identified home stations distant translators , there many home churches in addition main national calvary chapel concerns applying licenses.

in case of american family radio in particular, there indications of deliberate strategy crowd out rebroadcasters of national public radio stations political purposes.

educational media foundation, owners of k-love contemporary christian music radio network, have been cited applying distant translators en masse.

out-of-band translators

as of 2009, fcc officially sanctioned use of fm translators cross-band carriage of signals. although feel poses threat lpfm stations, fcc did not authorize use of new fm translators purpose , limited cross-band translation existing translators had been authorized of may 2009. since no new translators authorized, there no increased threat lpfms cross-band translation services. fcc allows translation of hd radio digital-only channels inputs analog fm-only output.

sale of permits

some groups have sold translator construction permits large profit; obvious educational media foundation, has traded both translators , desired callsigns iheartmedia in exchange hd carriage on iheart stations of k-love , air1. other licensees have sold translator stations large amounts of money – tens of thousands of dollars or more, , many times costs build one.