[BC] FAA RF rulemaking

[Tom Taggart]

See below, from a post on the small market operators group list-serv.
Makes me wonder why we bother with having the FCC if the FAA is going to join the party.  Great Lakes district of the FAA tried this years ago, was trying to shut down new FM's left and right. Most of the so-called "problems" occur because of AM receivers in the aircraft band that were designed by Billy Marconi

Gee, I thought that was a Republican in the White House.

"The purpose of this email is two fold. First, since the SMOC listserv
has not had any traffic lately, this email confirms that the listserv is still operational. Second, this email alerts SMOC members to an FAA
rulemaking that could have a substantial impact on small market
broadcasters.

The FAA has for many years subjected any NEW tower proposal for which an FAA "Determination of No Hazard" was needed based upon height or
location, to an additional review for possible electromagnetic
interference (EMI) to FAA radio locaters and FAA radio facilities.

Now the FAA is proposing to extend this EMI review to virtually ALL
changes to FM stations including minor changes to existing stations
without any change in the tower height. This proposed FAA EMI review
will make many changes to FM stations substantially more expensive and
entail much additional bureaucracy. 

Links to the FAA's NPRM, and an explanation of the changes, are
available at the Womble Carlyle Mass Media Legal Blog at:
www.womblecommlaw.blogspot.com.

In particular, small market FMs will suffer because the cost of EMI
compliance is the same no matter what the market size. Stations merely
replacing an antenna with a different model, for instance, might find
that their facility is causing alleged EMI interference to FAA radio
facilities and be required to pay substantial sums to obtain an FAA
determination of no hazard.

Comments to the FAA's NPRM must be filed by September 11, 2006. Any
radio group, or radio trade association such as a state broadcasters
association, who does or has members who do radio facility changes,
should have an interest in filing comments to this FAA proposed
rulemaking. 

I welcome any questions.

John"
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