FM Channel 200 (87.9) after Feb 17

[Aaron Read]

http://sujan.hallikainen.org/~harold/FCC/FccRules/2003/73/501/

The rules still have Channel 200 as pretty restricted for use by FM
stations.  73.501 says:

"The frequency 87.9 MHz, Channel 200, is available only for use of
existing Class D stations required to change frequency. It is
available only on a noninterference basis with respect to TV Channel 6
stations and adjacent channel noncommercial educational FM stations.
It is not available at all within 402 kilometers (250 miles) of Canada
and 320 kilometers (199 miles) of Mexico. The specific standards
governing its use are contained in Sec.   73.512."

So only grandfathered Class D FM 10 watt TPO stations and Class D FM
translators can operate on 87.7, and only if they are REQUIRED to
change frequency...which in 73.512 is specified that they
(grandfathered Class D 10 watters) must try the NCE band first, then
the commercial band, before they can go on Channel 200.   I don't know
about regular FM translators; I think it's easier for them, but it's
still not "easy".   You've got to be pretty damn far away from the
Mexican and Canadian borders, and a zillion miles away from any
Channel 6 TV stations.  Not to mention from anything on 88.1 or
88.3FM.

At last check there are only two stations broadcasting on 87.9FM in
the country, K200AA in Sun Valley, Nevada (relaying KAWZ) and KSFH in
Mountain View, CA (southern end of San Francisco Bay).   It's VERY
rare that all the preconditions of 73.501 are able to be met; KSFH got
the right largely because of KQED camped out on 88.5, which precludes
anything else from being on 88.1 or 88.3, and there doesn't happen to
be any TV6's in the Bay Area or nearby (itself pretty unusual).

Now what may be more likely post Feb.09 is that a lot of stations on
88.1 (and also most of the NCE band) that're running vertical
polarized will apply to run circularly polarized.  Or, in some cases,
they'll be able to add more ERP and/or run a more advantageous antenna
pattern.   For example, there's a bunch of stations around Providence
that already have applications in to do so...and there's a few others
that no doubt will do so before March.

Hey Scott - how exactly are all those LPTV's managing to get -CA
(Class A) protected status anyways?  Isn't that kind of against the
point of LPTV's?
-- 
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Aaron Read
friedbagels@gmail.com
WEOS 89.7FM General Manager
(315) 781-3811