The Audio Division,
within the FCC's Media Bureau
(USA), regulates AM and
FM
broadcast radio services, as well as FM Translator and
Booster stations. The Division receives and
evaluates thousands of
applications per year from the nation's approximately 14,000 AM, FM
commercial, FM noncommercial educational, FM Low Power, and FM translator and
booster stations as well as applicants for new radio stations.
These applications include station modification applications,
applications for new stations, assignment or transfer
applications, license applications, and renewal applications.
The FCC's Search Tools
may also be used to help locate information on the FCC site.
Alphabetical links with information are underlined. Click on a
link in the alphabet to jump to that letter and related
information. Once you are finished with that the information under
that letter, scroll up or down to the nearest alphabetical
letter, click on it, and you will return to the set of alphabet
links.
Allotment rulemakings
for new or changed FM station channels are considered by the
Audio Division.
Each petition for rulemaking is assigned a rulemaking number. If the
staff finds a petition for rulemaking to add or change a channel acceptable,
a docket number is assigned and the proposal is put out for public comment.
Allotment Finder can provide preliminary results as to whether an
FM commercial allotment is feasible at a given location.
TOWAIR (NAD83 coordinates) can be used for towers under
61 meters (200 feet) tall to determine if FAA clearance and
antenna structure registration will be required.
Anti-Drug Abuse Act Certification is required for all requests
for Special Temporary Authority. Failure to provide this
certification may result in processing delays.
Broadcast Actions --
These Public Notices, which are
released each business day, contain a list of actions (grant,
deny, dismiss, etc.) taken by the staff on various types
of broadcast applications a few days before.
Broadcast Applications --
These Public Notices, which are released each
business day, contain a list of broadcast applications received
or accepted for filing. Please note that
it can take a few weeks after the filing date before an application
appears on a Broadcast Applications public notice.
Call Sign Changes -- Public Notices
are released periodically which contain a list of recent call sign changes
and new call signs for broadcast stations.
Call Sign Reservation and Authorization System -- Check to see if
a call sign is available. Permittees and licensees may reserve and apply for
call sign changes under this secure on-line system.
CDBS Broadcast Station Query. The Media Bureau's Consolidated
DataBbase Sytem contains application and other
information about broadcast stations and applications.
Community of License Minor Change Applications filed pursuant to the new
streamlined procedures adopted by the Commission in Revision of Procedures Governing
Amendments to FM Table of Allotments and Changes of Community of License in the Radio Broadcast Services,
Report and Order (R&O), MB Docket 05-210, FCC 06-163, released November 29, 2006.
[ PDF | Word ].
[ AM List | FM List ].
Coordination Zone established for Broadcast
Facilities in Puerto Rico. See "Amendment of the Commission's Rules
to Establish a Radio Coordination Zone in Puerto Rico",
Report and Order, FCC 97-347, 12 FCC Rcd 16522 released October 15, 1997.
[ PDF ]
Consummation of
Assignments or Transfers -- Licensees and permittees must provide
notification to the Commission of the consummation of an assignment or
transfer.
Critical Hours computations -- Section 73.187 applies to Class B or Class D AM
broadcast stations against Class A AM stations.
Cutoff Lists are
presently applicable only to FM booster applications, although before adoption
of the window filing periods currently in use cutoff
lists were also used for AM, FM noncommercial educational, and FM translators
Decisions -- Collected
Engineering Decisions and
Legal Decisions and other documents pertaining to radio broadcasting
are available through these two
pages. Documents are sorted by subject areas. A number of documents
of primarily historical interest may be accessed from the pages.
Criteria for Licensing of FM Broadcast Antenna Systems,
Public Notice, FCC 84-437, released
September 14, 1984. Any technique or means (including side mounting)
which intentionally distorts the radiation pattern of an FM antenna requires
that the antenna be licensed as directional.
DJ Licenses
are Not Required -- DJs and other persons
operating a licensed broadcast station are not required to have an
operator's license. The broadcast licensee continues to be responsible for proper
operation of the licensed station. Report and Order, MM Docket
94-130, 10 FCC Rcd 11479 [ PDF ].
1997 Broadcast and Cable
Employment Report, released June 23, 1998 [ Word Perfect 5.1 | Text ]
Summary of report of five year (1993-1997) minority and female employment trends.
ERP for FM stations:
Mass Media Bureau Lists Commercial FM Broadcast Stations
Potentially Eligible to Increase Effective Radiated Power on Form
302-FM, Public Notice, DA 97-2568, released December 8, 1997
[ HTML | PDF ]
Ex Parte Rules,
from the FCC's Office of General Counsel
FAA Flight Service Station Reporting
Service Requirements for Tower Light Outages, DA 00-580,
released March 16, 2000. [ PDF | MS Word 97 | Text ]. Tower light outages and restoration of tower lighting
must be recorded in the station's log, in addition to the date, time,
and the Flight Service Station (FSS) notified of the lighting outage.
Facility ID Number for Broadcast Stations: A unique
number has been assigned to each AM, FM, TV, translator, and
booster station. This number provides an unvarying reference between
various databases at the Commission, and minimizes discrepancies caused
by call sign or facilities changes. The Facility ID Number for a broadcast
station may be determined by using
CDBS, or can be obtained directly
from the
AM Query,
FM Query, or
TV Query.
We encourage the use of
this number, along with the station call sign and file number if
appropriate, on the cover page of all documents pertaining to particular
broadcast stations submitted to the FCC.
FM Preliminary Study searches the FM Query for database records on the same channel
(cochannel), first-adjacent, second-adjacent, and third-adjacent channels,
as well as the intermediate frequency (I.F.) channels. Search is by
distances only.
Forms, Electronic Filing of -- AM, FM, and TV
Forms available for electronic filing are FCC Forms 301, 301-CA, 302-CA, 302-FM,
302-DTV, 302-TV, 303-S, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 323, 323-E, 337, 340,
345, 346, 347, 349, 350, 396, 396-A, 396-C, 397. Please be
aware that many forms MUST be filed electronically even if a paper version is
available.
Order Forms to be sent by Mail by calling 1 - 202 - 418 - 3676.
Formats of Programming -- The FCC does not
keep records on what format of programming is aired on radio broadcast
stations, nor records about specific programs. (See"Entertainment Formats", 60 FCC 2d 858, for an explanation of
this policy (scanned document)). There are commercial ratings services
that compile this information.
Hoover, Secretary of Commerce, v. Intercity Radio Co., Inc.,
No. 3766 (52 App D.C. 339, 286 Fed.1003),
decided February 5, 1923. Historical interest.
Court: Congress in 1912 had not given the Secretary of Commerce discretion
over the issuance of licenses.
Industry Guidance on the Commission's Case Law
Interpreting 18 U.S.C. § 1464 and Enforcement Policies Regarding
Broadcast Indecency, Policy Statement, FCC 01-90, 16 FCC Rcd
7999, released April 6, 2001. [ PDF | MS Word 97 | Text ]
Inspection Authority -- This fact sheet, compiled by the Enforcement Bureau, addresses some of the more
common questions asked about inspections of radio and television installations.
Internet or Web Broadcasts -- The FCC
does not regulate "broadcast" stations established solely on the Internet
or World Wide Web. No notice is required to the FCC when starting a
station confined solely to the Internet.
Loop Antennas can improve AM radio reception,
by increasing the received signal presented to the radio antenna, and by
reducing interfering stations' received signal strengths. These can be
commercially purchased or made inexpensively at home. Search for
AM broadcast loop antenna or
mediumwave loop antenna
in your favorite Internet search engine to see the
possibilities.
Main Studio Location and Public Inspection Files for
Broadcast Radio and TV Stations,
Memorandum Opinion and Order, FCC 99-118, released May 28, 1999
[ Word Perfect 5.1 | Text ].
Main Studio
Location and Public Inspection Files for Broadcast Radio and TV
Stations, Report and Order, FCC 98-175, MM Docket
97-138, released August 11, 1998 [ PDF ].
Maps - Service Area / Service Contour are
available through the FM Query or the TV Query. Select the
longer, detailed Query output before subbmitting the request; when the
records are returned, select the "Service Contour Map" link under the
desired record.
Minor
Changes [of certain types] in Broadcast Facilities Without a Construction
Permit, Report and Order, FCC 97-290, 62 FR 51052, MM Docket 96-58, released August 22, 1997. [ PDF | Word ].
Minority Oriented Programming -- The FCC does not keep track of broadcast
programming formats of interest to minorities (seeEntertainment Formats, 60 FCC 2d 858 (1976) (scanned document)).
There are private ratings services which track this information, but the
information may not be free.
Minority Ownership
1998 Biennial Regulatory Review -- Streamlining of Mass Media
Applications Rules and Processes / Policies and Rules Regarding
Minority and Female Ownership of Mass Media Facilities, Report and Order,
MM Dockets 98-43 and 94-149, FCC 98-281, released November 25, 1998. [ PDF | Document as a zipped file ].
1997 Broadcast and Cable Employment Report,
released June 23, 1998. [ Word Perfect 5.1 | Text ]. Summary of report of five year (1993-1997) minority and
female employment trends.
Industry Guidance on the Commission's Case Law
Interpreting 18 U.S.C. § 1464 and Enforcement Policies Regarding
Broadcast Indecency, Policy Statement, FCC 01-90, 16 FCC Rcd
7999, released April 6, 2001. [ PDF | MS Word 97 | Text ]
Programming
Formats -- The FCC does not
keep records on what format of programming is aired on radio broadcast
stations. SeeEntertainment Formats, 60 FCC 2d 868 (1976) for an explanation of
this policy (scanned document). There are commercial services that
compile this information.
PTFP / Public Telecommunications Facilities Program. "PTFP is a
competitive grant program to help public broadcasting stations, state
and local governments, Indian Tribes and nonprofit organizations construct
facilities to bring educational and cultural programs to the American
Public using broadcasting and nonbroadcasting telecommunications
technologies." This program is administered by NTIA -- NOT the FCC -- and all inquiries must be referred to NTIA.
Public
and Broadcasting (revised July, 2008) provides a brief
non-technical overview of the FCC's regulation of broadcast radio and
television. This manual is REQUIRED to be in each station's local public
inspection file, per 47 CFR 73.3526 and 73.3527.
Public
Inspection Files -- see
Main Studio Location and Public Inspection Files for
Broadcast Radio and TV Stations, Memorandum Opinion and Order,
FCC 99-118, released May 28, 1999
[ Word Perfect 5.1 | Text ].
Main Studio
Location and Public Inspection Files for Broadcast Radio and TV
Stations, Report and Order, MM Docket
97-138, FCC 98-125, 13 FCC rcd 15691, released August 11, 1998 [ PDF ].
"Availability of Locally Maintained Records for
Inspection by Members of the Public", Public Notice, DA 98-1895,
released September 18, 1998 [ PDF ].
Radio Act of 1927
of February 23, 1927 established the Federal Radio Commission, predecessor to
the FCC. Historical interest. Scanned document.
Radio Coordination Zone established for Broadcast
Facilities in Puerto Rico. See "Amendment of the Commission's Rules
to Establish a Radio Coordination Zone in Puerto Rico,
Report and Order, FCC 97-347, 12 FCC Rcd 16522 released October 15, 1997.
[ PDF | ]
Radio Communication Laws of the United States and the International
Radiotelegraphic Convention: Regulations Governing Radio Operators and the
Use of Radio Apparatus on Ships and on Land, Edition of August 15, 1919.
Historical interest. From the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Navigation,
Radio Service, edition of August 15, 1919. Includes the text of the Ship
Radio Act of 1910 as amended in 1912.Scanned document sections: [ Pages 1 to 48
| Pages 49 to 102 ]
Radio Operators' Licenses
are issued by the Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau. However, DJs and other persons operating
a licensed broadcast
station are no longer required to have an operator's license.
(Report and Order, MM Docket 94-130, 10 FCC Rcd 11479 (1995)
[ PDF].) The broadcast
licensee continues to be responsible for proper operation of the station.
Radio Service Bulletins, Nos. 45 to 182, January 1921 through May 1932,
were issued monthly by the Bureau of Navigation (and later the Radio Division),
Department of Commerce. Bulletins for the years 1921 to 1932 are available here.
Historical interest.
OET Bulletin No.
56, "Questions and Answers About the Biological Effects and Potential
Hazards of Radiofrequency Radiation"
OET Bulletin No.
65, "Evaluating Compliance With FCC-Specified Guidelines for Human
Exposure to Radiofrequency Radiation". Updated as of August 1997.
"Guidelines for Evaluating the Environmental
Effects of Radiofrequency Radiation", Second Memorandum Opinion and Order
and NPRM, ET Docket 92-62, FCC 97-303, released August 25, 1997: [ Word Perfect 5.1 |%nbsp;Text ].
FM
Model computer software from OET, used to predict the
downward radiation from FM antennas
Religious Broadcasting -- The FCC cannot preclude religious groups from
owning or operating stations. A petition commonly and erroneously
attributed to Madilyn Murray O'Hare
requesting the FCC to do so was denied in 1975 (54 FCC 2d 941).
Excerpts from that proceeding are located here.
"FCC Modifies EEO Enforcement for Religious Broadcasters", News
Release, Report No. MM 98-2, released February 25, 1998. The FCC said
that it is appropriate for employees of religious broadcasters to share a
common commitment to a licensee's basic religious objective and mission.
Order and Policy Statement, MM Docket 96-16, FCC 98-19,
released February 28, 1998 [ Word Perfect 5.1 | Text ].
Sampling System Design and Installation for AM Directional
Antennas -- Excerpts from "Design and Installation of Sampling Systems for
Antenna Monitors in Standard Broadcast Stations With Directional
Antennas", Report and Order, Docket 19692, FCC 76-101, 57 FCC 2d 1085 (1976).
These considerations remain valid today.
Service Area / Service Contour Maps are
available through the FM Query. Select the
longer, detailed Query output before subbmitting the request; when the
records are returned, select the "Service Contour Map" link under the
desired record.
Siting Information Guide, Tower (Media Bureau) was created at the request of the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regarding the inclusion of broadcast
facilities in the March 16, 2001 nationwide Programmatic Agreement on Collocation of communications
antennae. It is also intended to help State Historic Preservation Officers
as well as Tribal Historic Preservation Officers understand broadcast
facilities.
Source Code for CDBS programs. This code is machine translated and is
not readily readable nor readily complied, and may not constitute complete
programs.
FM Preliminary
Study searches the FM Query for database records on the same channel
(cochannel), first-adjacent, second-adjacent, and third-adjacent channels,
as well as the intermediate frequency (I.F.) channels. Search is by
distances only.
Tools Popup -- A small
popup screen allows quick access to programs and
most-requested information for radio broadcasting.
Tower Siting Information Guide (MB) was created at the request of the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regarding the inclusion of broadcast
facilities in the March 16, 2001 nationwide Programmatic Agreement on Collocation of communications
antennae. It is also intended to help State Historic Preservation Officers
as well as Tribal Historic Preservation Officers understand broadcast
facilities.
TOWAIR program can be used to determine
whether an antenna structure 200 feet (61 meters) or less
in height requires FAA clearance and antenna structure
registration.
United States v. Zenith Radio Corporation et al.,
No. 14257 (District Court N.D. Illinois, E.D. April 16, 1926).
Historical interest. Court: Congress did not delegate to the Secretary of Commerce
the power to address wrongdoing by licensed stations. All penalties were set forth
in the 1912 legislation.
Webcasting or
Internet Broadcasts --
The FCC does not regulate broadcast "radio" stations established solely on
the Internet or World Wide Web. No notice to the FCC is required to set up
such a station.
Your Comments and Questions Are
Valuable To Us! Please provide suggestions, comments, and
corrections for this page or other Audio Division
pages to Dale Bickel (dale.bickel@fcc.gov). Questions may be referred to
the Audio Division. The main telephone
number for the Audio Division is (202)- 418 - 2700. Thank you for your input!
A
Your Comments and Questions Are
Valuable To Us! Please provide suggestions, comments, and
corrections for this page or other Audio Division
pages to