The radio annual (1957)

HOW TO APPLY FOR FCC LICENSE Official FCC Procedure for AM, FM and TV Licenses (XZXI ANY qualified citizen, firm, or group may apply to the Federal Communications Comniission for authority to construct a commercial standard (AM), frequency modulation (FM), or television (TV) broadcast station. 0<=>« Licensing of these facilities is prescribed by the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, which sets up certain basic requirements. In general, applicants must satisfy the Commission that they are legally, technically and financially qualified, and that operation of the proposed station would serve the public convenience, interest or necessity. The Communications Act also recognizes broadcasting as a eompetitive industry and invests the Commission with the responsibility of allocating facilities so as to provide a fair, efficient, and equitable distribution of radio service. The licensing procedure is detailed in Part 1 of the Commission's "Rules Relating to Practice and Procedure," while station operation is covered by Part 3, "Rules Governing Radio Broadcast Services," and "Standards of Good Engineering Practice" for AM stations. 0<O0 Following is a summary of the consecutive steps required in applying for authorization to build and operate a commercial broadcast station. The application procedure is substantially the same whether the facility sought is for AM, FM, or TV broadcast. Selecting a Frequency Standard CAM) broadcast stations operate on "local," "regional," or "clear" channels. Local stations are of 100 to 250 watts power and serve smaller communities; stations of 500 watts to 5 kilowatts power cover larger centers of population and surrounding areas; stations of 10 to 50 fcilowatt maximum power are for large area coverage, particularly at night. There is no separate classification for AM operation by educational stations. To determine whether an AM frequency is available for assignment in a particular area, it is necessary for the applicant to have a frequency search made by a competent engineer. The (Commission's engineering personnel cannot undertake to make such studies for prospective applicants. (XZX) An applicant for a commercial FM station must specify a frequency available to the area to be served. The Commission has tentatively allocated geographic blocks of frequencies to accommodate Class A stations (commimity) and Class B stations (metropolitan and rural) throughout the United States. The demand for FM stations has not yet exceeded the supply of available frequencies. (The Noncommercial Educational FM Broadcast Service is a separate category with its own rules.) An applicant for a new television station must request a channel assigned in the Table of Assignments to the community involved. However, a channel assigned to any community listed in the table can be requested for operation in any unlisted community within 15 miles of the listed community. Commercial TV stations are authorized for unlimited hours of operation and are of a single class with minimum power determined by the size Of the principal city and maximum power dependent on antenna height and allocation zone. Channels are reserved for noncommercial educational TV operation. Applying for a Construction Permit Once a prospective licensee has decided upon the type of station he wishes to apply for, the next step is to make application for a construction permit. This 1241