What steps should I take to acquire a translator for my LPFM station?

To obtain a translator for an LPFM (Low Power FM) station, you can follow these steps:

1. Determine Need: First, assess the need for a translator for your LPFM station. Determine if there is a specific area or community that could benefit from improved signal coverage. A translator is typically used to rebroadcast the signal of an existing station to extend its reach to areas with poor reception.
2. Research Available Frequencies: Check the available frequencies in your area for potential translator use. You’ll need to find a frequency that is not already allocated or in use by other stations. The FCC provides tools and databases to help you identify available frequencies.
3. Identify Potential Translator Sites: Look for suitable locations to place your translator. These sites should provide good coverage of the target area and comply with FCC regulations regarding translator placement. Ensure that the proposed site meets zoning and licensing requirements.
4. Prepare Application: Complete the necessary application forms for a translator license. The specific forms may vary depending on the type of translator you’re applying for and the FCC rules in effect at the time of your application. Typically, you’ll use FCC Form 349 for FM translators.
5. Technical Proposal: Include a technical proposal that outlines the details of your translator, including the frequency, transmitter power, antenna height, and coordinates of the translator site. Ensure that your proposal adheres to FCC regulations regarding translator specifications.
6. Financial Documentation: Provide financial documentation that demonstrates your ability to fund the translator project. This may include budget estimates, financial statements, and funding sources.
7. Environmental Assessment: Depending on the location of your translator site, you might need to conduct an environmental assessment or provide documentation that proves the project’s environmental compliance.
8. File the Application: Submit your completed application, technical proposal, financial documentation, and any other required materials to the FCC. Be prepared to pay the necessary application fees.
9. Await FCC Approval: The FCC will review your application and may request additional information or clarification if needed. Once your application is approved, you will receive a construction permit for the translator.
10. Construction and Testing: After receiving the construction permit, you can proceed with building and testing the translator. Ensure that it meets the technical specifications outlined in your application.
11. License to Cover: Once construction is complete, you must file a “License to Cover” application with the FCC. This application verifies that the translator is operating as proposed in your initial application.
12. Operation: After receiving the FCC’s approval of the License to Cover, you can begin operating your translator and extending the coverage of your LPFM station.

Remember that the process of obtaining a translator for an LPFM station can be complex and time-consuming. It’s advisable to consult with an attorney or a consulting engineer experienced in FCC regulations to help navigate the process and ensure compliance with all requirements.

If you wish to acquire an FM translator for an LPFM station, the following steps and considerations apply:

1. Find a Willing Seller: Seek out someone who holds a license or construction permit for a translator and is willing to sell it to your organization. Note that FM translators are in high demand, often used to rebroadcast HD-2 channels of commercial stations, which can drive up prices considerably.
2. Proximity: The translator you acquire must be physically close to your LPFM station. Unlike AM radio, there is no 250-mile relocation rule for FM translators.
3. Contour Overlap: If the translator needs to be moved to a different site, there must be contour overlap between the translator’s existing protected contour and the proposed new site.
4. Channel Assignment: The translator’s channel must remain the same or can only be changed to an adjacent channel or intermediate frequency (plus or minus 1, 2, 3, 53, or 54 channels). A change to a non-adjacent channel requires an application by a full-power station causing interference.
5. Over-the-Air Reception: The translator must receive the LPFM station’s signal over the air, not via the internet, satellite, or microwave. If the translator is not commonly owned by the LPFM organization, it can receive the signal from another translator carrying the same station.
6. Ownership Rules: If the translator is owned by the same organization as the LPFM station, specific additional rules apply, including limitations on the number of translators (2 max), carrying the main analog programming of the LPFM, and location within certain distances from the LPFM station.
7. Cross-Ownership Rules: Individuals who own translators cannot be board members or officers of the LPFM organization, and vice versa, to avoid violating cross-ownership rules.
8. Interference Rules: Interference rules for LPFM differ from those for translators. LPFM is based on distance separation, while translators can face interference issues if even one listener falls outside the full-power station’s protected contour but within the translator’s protected contour.
9. ERP Limitations: Unlike “fill-in” translators for AM and full-power FM stations, FM translators for LPFM stations have power limitations calculated based on height above average terrain (HAAT) and location.

Remember that Nexus Broadcast does not act as a broker for translator sales but can assist with the paperwork required for the assignment of the translator and relocation if needed. Acquiring an FM translator for an LPFM station can be a complex process, so it’s advisable to consult with experts well-versed in FCC regulations and LPFM operations to navigate these requirements effectively.