[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 186 (Thursday, September 25, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50256-50257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25324]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[FCC 97-272]


Minimum Distance Separations to Mexican Broadcast Stations

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This Order modifies the Commission's rules to relax the 
minimum distance separations between U.S. FM broadcast stations or 
allotments as compared to Mexican FM broadcast stations or allotments. 
The revised separations were promulgated by the Agreement Between the 
Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 
United Mexican States Relating to the FM Broadcasting Service in the 
Band 88-108 MHz, dated August 11, 1992. The revised spacings are no 
event greater than, and are in most cases less than, the required 
separations between stations in effect prior to this date.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 25, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dale Bickel, Mass Media Bureau, Audio 
Services Division, (202) 418-2720, or via the Internet at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is the synopsis of the Commission's 
Order, FCC 97-272, adopted July 31, 1997, and released August 13, 1997. 
The complete text of this Order is available for inspection and copying 
during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room 239), 
1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, DC, and may also be purchased from the 
Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Services, 
Inc., at (202) 857-3800, 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036. 
The complete text is also available as a Word Perfect 5.1 file through 
the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass__Media/Orders/1997/
fcc97272.wp .

Synopsis of the Order

    1. The rule and procedure change adopted in the Order were enabled 
by revisions to the Agreement Between the Government of the United 
States of America and the Government of the United Mexican States 
Relating to the FM Broadcasting Service, dated August 11, 1992. The 
rule revisions to Sec. 73.207 conform the rule to the agreement. 
Because the revisions are made in response to an international 
agreement, and because there will be no adverse effect on any existing 
permittee or licensee or pending applicant, a notice and comment 
rulemaking is not required. See 47 U.S.C. 551(a) and (b)(3)(B), and 47 
CFR 1.412(c).

Final Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis

    2. This Order contains no new or modified information collections 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (``PRA'').

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    3. Because the rule change conforms the Commission rule to an 
international agreement, and also because the rule change will not 
affect any licensee, permittee, or current applicant, a Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis is not required. See 5 U.S.C. 551(a) and 
553(b)(3)(B). The Commission certifies that no significant impact on a 
substantial number of small entities will result from adoption of this 
Order.

Ordering Clauses

    4. Accordingly, it is ordered that pursuant to the authority 
contained in Sections 4(i) and 303 of the Communications Act of 1934, 
as amended, 47 CFR part 73 is amended.
    5. It is further ordered that the rules adopted established in this 
Order will become effective on September 25, 1997.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

    Radio broadcasting, Television broadcasting.

Federal Communications Commission.
Shirley S. Suggs,
Chief, Publications Branch.

Rule Changes

    Part 73 of title 47 is amended to read as follows:

PART 73--RADIO BROADCAST SERVICES

    1. The authority citation for part 73 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 334, 336.

    2. Section 73.207 is amended by removing the number ``8'' appearing 
in the I.F. column between the entries for B-B and B-C1 in Table B of 
paragraph (b)(2) and by revising paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows:

[[Page 50257]]

Sec. 73.207  Minimum distance separation between stations.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) Under the 1992 Mexico-United States FM Broadcasting Agreement, 
domestic U.S. assignments or allotments within 320 kilometers (199 
miles) of the common border must be separated from Mexican assignments 
or allotments by not less than the distances given in Table C in this 
paragraph (b)(3). When applying Table C--
    (i) U.S. or Mexican assignments or allotments which have been 
notified internationally as Class A are limited to a maximum of 3.0 kW 
ERP at 100 meters HAAT, or the equivalent;
    (ii) U.S. or Mexican assignments or allotments which have been 
notified internationally as Class AA are limited to a maximum of 6.0 kW 
ERP at 100 meters HAAT, or the equivalent;
    (iii) U.S. Class C3 assignments or allotments are considered Class 
B1;
    (iv) U.S. Class C2 assignments or allotments are considered Class 
B; and
    (v) Class C1 assignments or allotments assume maximum facilities of 
100 kW ERP at 300 meters HAAT. However, U.S. Class C1 stations may not, 
in any event, exceed the domestic U.S. limit of 100 kW ERP at 299 
meters HAAT, or the equivalent.

                         Table C--Minimum Distance Separation Requirements in Kilometers                        
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                                                                                  400 kHz or 600   10.6 or 10.8 
                    Relation                        Co-channel        200 kHz           kHz         MHz (I.F.)  
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A to A..........................................             100              61              25               8
A to AA.........................................             111              68              31               9
A to B1.........................................             138              88              48              11
A to B..........................................             163             105              65              14
A to C1.........................................             196             129              74              21
A to C..........................................             210             161              94              28
AA to AA........................................             115              72              31              10
AA to B1........................................             143              96              48              12
AA to B.........................................             178             125              69              15
AA to C1........................................             200             133              75              22
AA to C.........................................             226             165              95              29
B1 to B1........................................             175             114              50              14
B1 to B.........................................             211             145              71              17
B1 to C1........................................             233             161              77              24
B1 to C.........................................             259             193              96              31
B to B..........................................             237             164              65              20
B to C1.........................................             270             195              79              27
B to C..........................................             270             215              98              35
C1 to C1........................................             245             177              82              34
C1 to C.........................................             270             209             102              41
C to C..........................................             290             228             105              48
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[FR Doc. 97-25324 Filed 9-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P