The FCC has adopted final rules allowing FM boosters to originate up to three minutes of programming per hour different from their primary station to super-serve local areas.
First adopted in April on an experimental basis, the final rule-making adopts processing, licensing, and service rules for licenses willing to do it on a permanent basis. Among the rule-making’s points:
- A booster of a full-powered FM or LPFM may originate up to three minutes of programming per hour. The time can not be aggregated to be used in a larger lump sum.
- New booster applications will not be granted if the grant will result in interference to the reception of a regular used, off-the-air signal of any co-channel, first, second, or third adjacent station including previously authorized secondary services such as a translator or LPFM within the 45 dBu contour of the infringed station.
- Each booster originating programming will need to file an FM Booster Program Origination Notification form in LMS within 15 days before starting or within 30 days or terminating origination.
- No station will be allowed more than 25 program originating boosters and each station will be required to maintain a separate Political File for each booster in their online public file.
