Contour Protection Triggering Problematic for Radio Transmitter Moves, iHeart Says
Saying it generally backs creation of a new FM Class C4, iHeart officials told FCC Media Bureau staffers it worries about establishing a triggering system where an under-maximum station would be reduced to the more-limited contour protections of FCC rules,…
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changing the allocation scheme for the non-reserved FM band. In an RM-11727 ex parte filing Thursday, iHeart said if a station is triggered, can't maximize facilities and is forced into such contour protection, it would have limited ability to relocate its transmitter site, which is problematic due to the pressures on tower relocations from the changing TV repack environment. It said an evaluation of its own transmitter sites, compared with a similar evaluation a year ago, indicated a 30 percent increase in radio sites that will be affected by TV repacking, with some iHeart sites needing to be moved. IHeart suggested a notice of inquiry to seek input on issues including the downsides of a trigger system for under-maximum radio stations subject to relocation pressures.