broadcast relay station - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

7/31/2019 Broadcast Relay Station - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

1/17

12/12 Broadcast relay station - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcast_relay_station

Page 1

Broadcast relay station

A broadcast relay station, relay transmitter, broadcast translator (U.S

rebroadcaster (Canada), or repeater (two-way radio) is a broadcast transmitter which repeaor transponds the signal of another radio station or television station, usually to an area no

covered by the signal of the originating station. They may serve, for example, to expand th

broadcast range of a television or radio station beyond the primary signal's coverage area, or t

improve service in a part of the main coverage area which receives a poor signal due to geograph

constraints. They may be (but are not usually) used to create a single-frequency network.

Less commonly, a rebroadcaster may be owned by a community group rather than the owner o

the primary station.

Types

Broadcast translators

In its simplest form, a broadcast translator is a facility created to receive a terrestrial broadca

station over-the-air on one frequency and rebroadcast the same or substantially identical signal o

another frequency. These stations are used in television and radio to cover areas (such as valley

or rural v illages) not adequately covered by a station's main signal.

Boosters and distributed transmission

Relays which broadcast within or very near the parent station's coverage area (a "fill-in") on th

same channel or frequency are called "booster" stations in the U.S. However, this can be trick

because it is possible to have both stations interfering with each other unless they are careful

designed. Radio interference can be avoided by using exact atomic time obtained from GP

satellites to perfectlysynchronise co-channel stations, as in a single-frequency network.

USAM broadcasting stations do not have translators or boosters; though an SFN is actually easi

to create in their frequency band, it is largely unnecessary as the longer wavelengths of thessignals are more able to provide adequate coverage over longer distances despite a lack of line-o

sight transmission conditions.

Analog TV stations cannot have same-channel boosters unless opposite (perpendicula

polarisation is used, due to video synchronization issues such as ghosting. In the US, no new on

channel UHF signal boosters have been authorized since July 11, 1975.[1]

Distributed transmission (DTx) is the use of several medium-power stations (usually digital) o


2/17



, -

repeaters on a different frequency. Digital TVstations are technically capable of sharing a channe

however this is more difficult with the 8VSBmodulation and invariable guard interval used in th

ATSC standard than with COFDM used in the European and Australian DVB-T standard.

distributed transmission system would therefore have tight synchronisation requirements whic

require all transmitters to receive signal from one central source for broadcast at one exact GPS

synchronised time. DTS (or DTx) are not broadcast repeaters in the conventional sense as the

cannot simply receive the signal of one main terrestrial broadcast transmitter for rebroadcast; do so would introduce a retransmission delay which breaks the precise synchronisation require

causing interference between individual transmitters.

The use ofvirtual channels is another alternative, though this may cause the same channel t

appear multiple times on a receiver (once for each relay station), and requires the user to tun

manually to the best one (which changes due to radio propagation conditions like weather). Use

boosters or DTx instead causes all relay stations to ideally appear as a single signal, but require

significantbroadcast engineering to work properly and not cause destructive interference to eac

other's signals.

Satellite stations

Some fully licensed stations simply simulcast another station. These are relay stations only

name and are generally licensed the same as any other major station. This is not regulated in th

U.S., and it is also widely allowed in Canada, which otherwise the U.S. Federal Communication

Commission (FCC) regulates radio formats to ensure a diverse variety of programming.

US satellite stations may request that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) grant a

exemption to requirements that a properly staffed broadcast studio be maintained in the city

license or (in rural states) that television programming be simulcast in both analogue and digit

during digital television transition. These stations most often cover vast, sparsely populate

regions (an economic hardship) or are operated as statewide non-commercial educational rad

and television systems.

Semi-satellites

A television rebroadcaster often sells local or regional advertising for broadcast only on the loc

transmitter, and may also air a very limited amount of distinct programming from their paren

station. Some such "semi-satellites" broadcast their own local newscasts, or separate new

segments during part of the newscast. For example, CHEX-TV-2 in Oshawa, Ontario airs separa

daily late afternoon-early evening news and community broadcasts from its parent station, CHEX

TV in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.[2] The U.S. FCC prohibits this on FM translator station

only allowing it on different fully licensed stations.

National networks


3/17



Most broadcasters outside of North America maintain a national network and use several rela

transmitters to provide the same service to a region or entire nation. In comparison to the othe

types of relays explained above, the transmitter network is often created and maintained by a

independent authority, often paid for using license fees, and multiple major broadcasters use th

same transmitters.

Relay transmitters by country

Canada

In Canada, "rebroadcaster" or "rebroadcasting transmitter" are the terms most commonly use

by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

Television

A television rebroadcaster may be permitted to sell local or regional advertising for broadcast on

on the local transmitter. On rarer occasions, they may also air a very limited amount of distinprogramming from their parent station. Some such "semi-satellites" broadcast their own loc

newscasts, or separate news segments during part of the newscast.

There is no strict rule for the call sign of a television rebroadcaster. Some transmitters hav

distinct call signs from the parent station (for example, CFGC in Sudbury is a rebroadcaster

CIII), while others use the call sign of the originating station followed by a number (e.g., CBLFT-

in Sarnia). Officially, the latter type includes the television station's TV suffix between the call sig

and the number, although in media directories this is often left out for convenience.

In the latter case, the numbers are usually applied sequentially, starting from one and denotin

the chronological order in which the station's rebroadcast transmitters began operation. Som

broadcasters may, at their discretion, use a system in which the number denotes the actu

broadcast channel of the transmitter (e.g., CJOH-TV-47 in Pembroke). A broadcaster canno

however, mix the two numbering systems under a single call sign the transmitters are either a

numbered sequentially or allnumbered by their analogue channel position. On the rare occasio

that the sequential numbering reaches 99 (e.g., TVOntario's broadcast transmitters), rather tha

being numbered as 100 the next transmitter is assigned a new call sign and numbered as on

Translators which share the same frequency (such as CBLT's repeaters CBLET, CBLHT, CBLAT-and CH4113, all on channel 12) are also given distinct call signs.

Low-power rebroadcasters may also have a call sign which consists of the letters CH followed b

four numbers. For example, CH2649 in Valemount is a rebroadcaster ofVancouver's CHAN

Rebroadcasters of this type are numbered strictly sequentially to the order in which they wer

licensed by the CRTC, and their call signs have no inherent relationship to those of the paren

stations or of other rebroadcasters. Although the next number in the sequence, CH2650 in Anza

is also a rebroadcaster of CHAN, this is simply because CH2649 and CH2650 happened to b


4/17



cense s mu aneous y e o ow ng num er, 2 51 , s a re roa cas er a so n nzac

Edmonton's CITV. A single station's rebroadcasters are not necessarily all named in the sam

manner. CBLT, for example, has some retransmitters which have their own call signs, some whic

use CBLT followed by a number andsome transmitters with CH numbers.

Radio

As in television, a radio rebroadcaster may have either a distinct call sign or the call sign of thoriginating station followed by a numeric suffix. In the case of radio, however, the numeric suffix

always sequential.

For a rebroadcaster of an FM station, the numeric suffix is appended to the FM suffix. Fo

example, rebroadcasters of CJBC-FM in Toronto are numbered CJBC-FM-1, CJBC-FM-2, et

Where anAM station has a rebroadcaster operating on the FM band, the numeric suffix instea

falls between the four-letter call sign and the FM suffix for example, CKSB-1-FM is an FM

rebroadcaster of the AM station CKSB, while CKSB-FM-1 would be a rebroadcaster ofCKSB-FM

As a broadcaster is limited to no more than two stations on one radio band in a market, on

possible means to obtain a third FM signal in-market is to use a rebroadcaster of the AM station

move that signal onto low-power FM.[3] In Sarnia, Ontario, Blackburn Radio already owns CFGX

FM 99.9 and CHKS-FM 106.3; its third Sarnia station CHOK1070 uses an FM repeater for in-cit

coverage as "Country 103.9" FM, although officially the AM signal remains the station's primar

transmitter.

Low-power radio rebroadcasters may also have a call sign which consists of the letters VF followe

by four numbers. Some stations licensed under the CRTC's experimental broadcasting guidelinea special class of short-term license (similar to special temporary authority) sometimes granted

newer campus and community radio operations, may have another distinct class of call sign whic

consists of three letters from anywhere within Canada's ITU prefix range followed by three digi

e.g. CFU758 or VEK565. Some other stations within this license class, however, have bee

assigned conventional Cxxxcall signs.

Occasionally, former rebroadcasters have been converted to originating stations in their own righ

but have retained their former call sign instead of being reassigned a new one of their own. Suc

stations include CITE-FM-1 in Sherbrooke, CBF-FM-8 in Trois-Rivires and CBAF-FM-15

Charlottetown.[4]

Mexico

In Mexico, translator and booster stations are given the callsign of the parent station plus

sequential number, such as XHABC and XHABC1, XHABC2.[citation needed]

Television


5/17



The majority of full-power television stations in Mexico are operated as repeaters or sem

satellites of the major Televisa and TV Azteca stations in Mexico City; the largest of these repeate

chains rebroadcasts XEW-TV programming on more than a hundred stations nationwide. Th

National Polytechnic Institute's Once TV and Monterey, Mexico-based Multimedios are als

commonly rebroadcast nationally; individual Mexican states each operate a chain of full-powe

repeaters in-state to provide publiceducational television.

Full-power rebroadcasters are issued callsigns in the same manner as all other stations; th

callsign itself does not identify the originating station. As there are four Televisa and three T

Azteca stations in Mexico City alone, ownership of an individual transmitter by one of these group

does not in and of itself identify which signal the station is rebroadcasting. Transmitte

rebroadcasting Mxico City stations into Baja California and other communities along the Pacif

Ocean coast normally operate on a two-hour delay relative to the originating station.

The smallest repeaters are operated by municipal-level organisations; these bear standar

callsigns and license but are registered to a local translator authority (typically Patronato prTV, Comit Patronato Municipal pro TV or Comit Civil pro Ant. Retrans. de T.V. followe

by the name of a municipality) and licensed for small amounts of power often operating at

hundred watts or less. The largest repeaters are full-power satellite stations operated by nation

networks Televisa and TV Azteca. There is no legal distinction between translators and originatin

stations.

United States

Radio

As of July 2009, the basic Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations o

translators[5] are:

FM translators may be used for cross-band translation. This removes the restriction tha

prevented FM translators from retransmitting AM signals.

No translator or booster may transmit anything other than the live simulcast of its license

parent station, except for emergency warnings (such as EAS), and 30 seconds per hour

fundraising.The parent station must identify all of its translators and boosters between 7 and 9 am

between 1 2:55 and 1:05 pm, and between 4 and 6 pm each broadcast day; or each must b

equipped with its own automated device (audio or FSK) for hourly identification.

Maximum power is 250 watts ERP for a translator, and 20% of the maximum allowable ER

for the primary station's class for a booster. There is no limit on height for fill-in translato

(those that exist within the primary service contour of the primary station).

A translator or booster must go off the air if the parent station's signal is lost. (This help

prevent unauthorized retransmission of other stations).


6/17



There is one loophole by which programming may differ between a main station and an FM

translator: an HD Radio signal may contain digital subchannels with different programming fro

the main analogue channel, and a translator may operate in such a way as to broadca

programming taken from the originating station's HD2 subchannel as the translator's mai

analogue signal.[6]W237DE (95.3 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) broadcasts the programming form

formerly carried byWTCY AM 1400, but it actually gets this signal from a WNNK (104.1 FM

HD2 digital subchannel for analogue rebroadcast at the WNNK tower site on 95.3's main signal. A

such, it technically is still legally an FM repeater of an FM station, even though each signal woul

be heard as delivering unique content by users of standard analogue FM radio receivers.

Commercial stations may own their translators or boosters when that translator or booster exis

within the primary service contour of the parent station (they can only fill in where terrain block

the signal). In fact, boosters may only be owned by the primary station. Translators outside of

primary station's service contour cannot be owned by the primary station, nor can they receiv

any financial support from the primary station. Most translators operate by picking-up the sign

of the main station off the air with a directional antenna and sensitive receiver, and direct

retransmitting the signal. They also may not transmit in the FM "reserved band" from 88 to 9

MHz, where only noncommercial stations are allowed. Noncommercial stations may broadcast

the commercial band, however. Unlike commercial stations, they can also relay programming

translators via satellite, so long as those translators are in the reserved band. Translators in th

commercial band may only be fed by a direct off-the-air signal from another FM station o

translator. Non-fill-in commercial band translators may not be fed by satellite, as spelled out i

FCC rule 74.1231(b).[7 ] All stations may use any means to feed boosters.

All U.S. translator and booster stations are low-power and have a class D license, making the

secondary to other stations (including the parent). They must accept any interference from ful

power (100-watt or more on FM) stations, while not causing any of their own. Boosters must no

interfere with the parent station within the community of license. Licenses are automatical

renewed with that of the parent station and do not require separate applications, though each ma

still be challenged with a petition to deny.

FM booster stations are given the full callsign (always including an -FM suffix, even if there is non

assigned) of the parent station, plus a serial number, such asWXYZ-FM1, WXYZ-FM2, etc.

FM translator stations may use sequential numbered callsigns, consisting of K or W, followed by

three-digit number (201 through 300 corresponding to frequencies 88.1 MHz 107.9 MHz

followed by a pair of sequentially assigned letters. The format is similar to that used by numbere

TV translators, where the number refers to the permanent channel assignment.

As of October 2008 the largest terrestrial radio translator system in the US belongs to KUER-FM

the non-commercial radio outlet of the University of Utah, with 33 translator stations rangin

from Idaho to New Mexico andArizona.[8]


7/17



Television

Unlike FM, LPTV stations may operate as either translators or originate their ow

programming.[9]

Translator stations in the U.S. are given callsigns which begin with a W or K (respectively east o

west of the Mississippi River, as with regular stations), followed by a channel number, and tw

serial letters for each channel. (The first stations on that channel are AA, AB, AC, and so on

Television channels are always two-digit, from 02 to 51 (formerly 02 to 83); while FM rad

channels are from 200 (87.9 MHz) to 300 (107.9 MHz), one every 0.2 MHz. (Examples: W42BD

K263AF). The presence of an X after the number in these callsigns does not indicate a

experimental broadcasting license as it may in other services, as all 26 letters are included in th

sequence. The highest pair of letters used, as of January 2011, is ZS (K13ZS-D is a translator

KTSC in Sargents, Colorado).[10]

Numbered translator stations (a format such as "W70ZZ") are typically low-power repeater

often 100 watts or less on FM, and 1000 or less on TV. The former "translator band", UHF T

channels 70 through 83, was originally occupied primarily by these low-powered translators. Th

combination of low power and high frequencies provided a very limited range for these broadcast

This band was reallocated to cellular telephone services in the 1980s, with the handful o

remaining transmitters from these channels moved to lower frequencies.

Full-power repeaters (such as WPBS-TV's identical twin transmitter WNPI-TV) are normal

assigned -TV callsigns like those of any other full-power station. They do not bear numbere

callsigns and must operate in the same manner as other full-power broadcasters. This simulcastin

is generally not regulated by the FCC.

LPTV stations may also choose a regular four-letter callsign with an -LP suffix (shared wit

LPFM) for analog or -LD for digital, generally done only if the station originates programmin

Class A television stations get -CA and -CD instead. Digital stations which use numerals get a -

suffix (as in W42BD-D). All of these are despite the fact the full-power digital TV stations had the

-DT (originally -HD) suffixes dropped by the FCC before -D and -LD were implemented. Digit

LPTV stations have their digital RF channel numbers as part of their digital callsigns, which mean

it may be different from thevirtual channel (the analog number).

Numbered broadcast translators which are moved permanently to another frequency ar

normally issued new callsigns to reflect the updated channel assignments. The same is not true o

displaced translators using another frequency temporarily under special technical authority, Fo

instance, K55KD could retain its callsign while displaced temporarily to channel 57 to resolv

interference to MediaFLO users, while W81AA would have received new calls when channel 8

was deleted from the bandplan. On the rare occasion a station moves back to its original channel,

is given its old callsign, as they are not reused by other stations like regular callsigns can be.


8/17



Digital transition

LPTV operations are not required to simulcast a digital signal, nor were they required to shu

down analog operation in June 2009 when full-power US TV operators had to do so.

Full-power stations used to simulcast another station were, like other full-service televisio

broadcasters, required to convert fully to digital in June 2009. The FCC defines these "TV satellistations" as "full-power broadcast stations authorized under Part 73 of the Commissions rules

retransmit all or part of the programming of a parent station that is typically commonly owned

As most satellite stations operate in small or sparsely populated areas that have an insufficien

economic base to support full-service operations, many were granted FCC authorization on a case

by-case basis to flash-cut from analog to digital on the same channel instead of simulcasting in bot

formats during the digital transition.[11]

As of June 2008, no current or future DTV mandates had been forced on LPTV stations, howeve

Congress passed legislation to provide immediate funding so these low-power stations could switc

to digital by the conversion date, or shortly thereafter.

For many LPTV operations, the creation of digital companion channels for full-power stations ha

already required that the low-power station relocate to another frequency. Once the digit

transition was complete, additional LPTV broadcasters were forced onto lower channels as chann

52 through 69 were removed from television use at that time.[12] Existing channel 55 licensee

both low-power and full-power, were being encouraged to relocate early to free spectrum fo

Qualcomm's MediaFLO transmitters.[13]

Many low-power broadcast translators also were directly affected by a parent station's conversio

to digital television. Translators which received an analog over-the-air signal from a full-servic

TV station for rebroadcast needed to convert receiving equipment in much the same way tha

individual viewers needed to deploy digital converters. While the signal transmitted by th

repeater may remain in analog format, the uplink had to be changed. In the United States, 23% o

the 4000 licensed translators have received a US$1000 federal government subsidy[14] whic

covers a small portion of the cost of this additional equipment.[15] Many other translators wer

expected[by whom?] to simply go darkafter the digital transition deadline.

Some small translators operated by direct conversion of a parent station's signal to anothe

frequency for rebroadcast, without any other local signal processing or demodulation. Fo

example,W07BA, a 16-watt repeater for Syracuse, New YorkbroadcasterWSYR-TV,[16] was b

design a very simple piece of broadcast apparatus; it merely shifted the main station's signal from

channel nine to channel seven to cover a small valley in Dewitt. After digital transition, Syracus

became a UHF island and WSYR-TV's mainABC signal became a 100 kW digital broadcast o

channel seventeen. Therefore there is no longer a channel nine signal in any format available


9/17



feed the tiny repeater.[17] Translators in remote locations, where no commercial power

available, were also expected to have problems in deploying extra equipment to handle an uplink

digital conversion.[18] While many translators continue analog broadcasts (and a minorit

transitioned to digital themselves), some distant rural communities expected to find all loc

translator signals gone as a result of originating stations' transition to digital.[19] As an interi

solution to this problem, communities that are permitted to do so by state and federal laws hav

chosen to purchase Ku-Band (Echostar, Hughes, etc.) or C-Band satellite receivers for thetranslator stations: the satellite input is simply re-broadcast as their analog translator outpu

Retransmitting the local channels from the satellite has the same problems as if the service are

residents purchased individual service themselves: signal latency, atmospheric condition

(torrential rain or snow accumulation on the LNB), satellite equipment issues, etc.

A digital-to-digital repeater or broadcast translator is possible; in North America the ATS

specifications allow such repeaters to leave the virtual channel numbering and guide (PSIP) of th

originating station unchanged, so that the rebroadcaster appears to the viewer as if it were on th

same channel numbers as the original station. Some full-power television stations that have locoverage after the digital transition have applied for digital replacement translators to fill in th

gaps in some of the station's lost coverage.[20] Those "fill-in" translators use the same call letter

suffix and facility IDs as their main full-power station.

Most digital TV sets and digital video recorders include analog and digital tuners, however mo

DTV set-top boxes fail to display analog stations or even to include analog passthrough for R

from the TV antenna (the way a VCR does). This is an issue primarily with coupon-eligib

converter boxes and caused grave concern among LPTV operators and border stations; th

Community Broadcasters Association filed a lawsuit claiming it violated theAll-Channel ReceiveAct, the law on which the FCC based its digital mandate.[21] However, in late 2008, 58%

approved coupon-eligible converter models were providing analog pass-through.[22]

Controversy

Under US law, full-service local broadcasters are the primary occupants of the FM radio broadca

band. All LPFM operations, as well as all translators, are considered to be secondary

importance. In theory, this leaves low-power FM stations and broadcast translators with co-equ

status on the FM band. In practice, as the FM broadcast band becomes more crowded, frequenci

assigned to translators become unavailable to new LPFM stations or to existing LPFM station

seeking to upgrade their facilities.[23]

A few key distinctions often place small, local LPFM operators at a disadvantage:

The maximum power for an LPFM station (either 10 or 100 watts, depending on class

station) is less than that of the largest FM broadcast translators (at 250 watts), limiting th

reach of the LPFM signal.


10/17



The minimum spacing required (in distance and frequency) to other stations is less strict fo

translators than for LPFM applicants. While the translator spacing is based on signal contou

levels (and therefore takes terrain and obstacles into account), the LPFM stations have

more restrictive legally defined minimum distance requirement.[24]

An LPFM broadcaster is required to generate local content; if there are multiple applican

for the same frequency, those who agree to originate eight or more hours a day of loca

programming are favoured. Translators are not required to (and are not licensed to

originate anything locally.

LPFM licenses are normally issued to non-commercial educational entities (such as schoo

or municipalities) and are subject to strict requirements largely precluding multiple station

under common ownership. The same is not true of translators. A non-commercial translato

with no local content and no educational content is free to occupy space even in the non

commercial segment (below 92 MHz) of the US FM broadcast band. During the narrow FC

filing windows for new applicants, multiple applications for broadcast translators from th

same or related entities can be abused to request every locally available frequency i

multiple communities.[25][26]An LPFM license or construction permit cannot lawfully be resold. The same is not true fo

translators. A few related entities can easily file applications for thousands of individu

translator construction permits via automated means, using non-commercial status to gai

exemption from any FCC filing fees, then resell these construction permits en masse o

individually for thousands of dollars each even if the corresponding transmitters have no

yet been constructed.[27]

Broadcast translators for commercial stations are normally required to receive a signal from the

parent full-service FM station over-the-air and retransmit solely within the region which shoul

be covered by the main station. (This eliminates the need for a translator except in cases wher

the terrain shielding is a problem.) This same restriction does not apply to non-commerci

educational stations. Any non-commercial station, even one with no local or educational content t

offer, can apply for an unlimited number of translators anywhere to be fed by any mean

(including via satellite). The end result is a network of hundreds of small local transmitters, none o

which broadcast (and none of which can lawfully broadcast) programming of interest to the loc

community.[28] All take increasingly scarce available spectrum which otherwise could have bee

employed by local LPFM stations or used for rebroadcast of local full-service stations.[29]

Another related issue involves the use of full-power stations to carry automated or satellite

originated programming. Any new full-service station can displace an existing low-powe

translator or an independent LPFM station; regulations allow this on the presumption that th

full-service broadcaster would be more likely to provide a local voice to the community of licens

Not all full-service broadcasters live up to this expectation. In some cases (such as th

displacement of existing National Public Radio repeaters by newly created religious stations

Lake Charles, Louisiana) the result has been the loss of local or educational content.[30] While a


11/17



exac y oppos e ou come o a w c eg s a ve n en a an c pa e , o en a sma non

commercial educational translator was carrying content of higher quality than a satellite-fed ful

power station for which it is displaced.

Great T ranslator Inv asion of 2003

An FCC licensing window for new translator applications in 2003 resulted in over 13,00

applications being filed,[31] most of them coming from religious broadcasters. Due to the extremehigh volume of license applications,[32] LPFM advocates describe this as the Great Translato

Invasion.[25][33][34]

A few broadcasters have taken advantage of FM translator regulations which allow non

commercial stations to feed distant translators from satellite-delivered programming hundreds o

even thousands of miles outside the parent station's coverage area.[28] However, it is

misconception that all translators can be fed by satellites. Only translators located on the non

commercial portion of the FM band (88.1 to 91.9 MHz) can be so-called "Satellators". All othe

translators must be fed off the air by direct radio reception, except in the case of so called "fill-in

facilities that exist within the service contour of a primary station. Translators may also be used t

feed other translators, so it is possible to create small chains of translators all fed from one distan

station, however, this only works until the chain is broken and, if any one translator fails, th

entire network beyond the failed translator goes down, too. The application window of 200

resulted in so many applications, that the FCC was overloaded and issued an emergency hol

order on new translator applications[34] until the present batch can be sorted through; this cam

after considerable criticism from LPFM lobbyist groups such as Prometheus Radio.[27] Thes

translator applications were all on the commercial band and none of them can be used asatellators. It is unknown how the one broadcast group with the most applications planned t

deliver programming to all of the translators, but affiliated churches of the parent organizatio

own broadcasting outlets in many of the cities.

Some religious broadcasting outlets such as Calvary Chapel's KAWZ- Twin Falls, Idah

Educational Media Foundation or Family Radio's KEAR-FM -Sacramento are relayed b

hundreds of FM "translator" stations across the US. As these parent stations are owned by non

profit organizations and they exist on the non-commercial part of the spectrum, they are no

required to have their translators receive their signal over the air, as would be required for

commercial broadcaster.[27] This has been used by a number of religious broadcasters to set u

large satellite-based networks composed almost entirely of "distant translators" translato

outside of the market area (generally a 50-mile radius surrounding the transmitter).

Some LPFM advocates erroneously state that the proliferation of translators has posed difficultie

for non-translator station operators, in particular LPFM license applicants who claim that the

cannot get stations on the air due to translators eliminating any available channels in an area.[2

While this may be true for future LPFM applications, it is not true for any existing LPFM


12/17



broadcasters or LPFM applicants. This is because the last LPFM filing window was in 2001. A

translator applications from the 2003 window were required to protect the LPFM application

already pending or authorized at that time. As a result, no LPFM station was denied due t

translators.

Since so-called sat-casting translators are only permitted on the non-commercial part of th

spectrum, where LPFM stations do not exist, they pose no threat to the ability of existing LPFM

licensees to expand their current station facilities.[23] Non-sat-casting translators can sometime

present a problem for existing LPFM stations and the existence of a translator, theoretically, cou

leave LPFM stations who have been "bumped" from existing channel assignments by new ful

power stations with no available frequency to which to move.[29][35][36][37 ] The FCC ha

generally, not required LPFM stations to be displaced by full power stations. In such cases, th

LPFM may be subject to increased interference from the full-powered move-in, but the FCC ha

adopted a "Live and let live" policy that has been used to keep existing LPFM stations operating.

There is at least one proposed rulemaking that would revise the procedures by which nonprof

groups may apply for translators (thus disallowing more than a certain number of translato

applications to be owned by any one entity); in addition, the FCC has modified chann

requirements for LPFM broadcasters to open up channel space.[24][38] REC Networks has filed

petition with the FCC that would, among other things, require the FCC to give higher priority t

LPFM stations.[39]

Satellite translator networks

Areas with no available FM spectrum for LPFM stations due to large distant translator networkinclude Chicago[40] (with several Calvary Chapel and Educational Media Foundation stations[41]

Atlanta[42] (with several Way-FM associated with K-Love and Salem Communications an

Edgewater Broadcasting stations[43]) and Dallas, Texas[44] (with Calvary Satellite Network an

American Family Radio[45]). Even Louisville, Kentucky[46][47 ] and Knoxville, Tennessee,[48][4

both small market areas, have a complete lack of LPFM channels due to distant translator invasio

by broadcasters such as Calvary Chapel and Way-FM.

The largest satellite-fed translator networks are endeavors linked to Calvary Chapel (includin

Radio Assist Ministries, Horizon Broadcasting, and (formerly) Edgewater Broadcasting an

REACH Media[50]) and American Family Radio owned by the American Family Association.[2

The multiple networks associated with Calvary Chapel have been a particular focus in regard

translator-based networks.[51][52] In many cases, multiple applications were submitted b

different companies linked to Calvary Chapel in particular for the same channel.[28][53][54] A

least four separate radio stations operated by Calvary Chapel churches and relaying Calvar

Satellite Network programming have been identified as "home stations" for distant translators an

there are many home churches in addition to the main "national" Calvary Chapel concern


13/17



applying for licenses.[55]

In the case of American Family Radio in particular, there are indications of a deliberate strategy

crowd out rebroadcasters ofNational Public Radio stations for political purposes.[30]

Educational Media Foundation, owners of the K-Love contemporary Christian music rad

network, have also been cited as applying for distant translators en masse.

Out-of-band translators

As of 2009, the FCC officially sanctioned the use of FM translators for cross-band carriage of AM

signals. although some feel that this poses a threat to LPFM stations, the FCC did not authorize th

use of any new FM translators for this purpose and limited cross-band translation to existin

translators that had already been authorized as of May 2009. Since no new translators wer

authorized, there is no increased threat to LPFMs from cross-band translation services The FC

also allows translation ofHD Radio digital-only channels as inputs for analog FM-only output.

Sale of permits

Some groups have sold their translator construction permits for a large profit. Other licensee

have sold their translator stations for large amounts of money sometimes tens of thousands

dollars or more, and many times what it costs to build one.

Australia

Radio

Australia's national radio networks (Radio National,ABC NewsRadio, Triple J,ABC Classic FM an

SBS Radio) each have relay transmitters which allow each service to be broadcast as widely a

possible. In order to provide this, the ABC and SBS both allow community-based rela

transmitters to rebroadcast radio or television in areas which would otherwise have no service.[5

Commercial radio broadcasters normally have relay transmitters only if the local geography (suc

as mountainous terrain) prevents them from broadcasting to their entire market.

Television

Since market aggregation in the early 1990s, each television broadcaster transmits its servic

using multiple relays in order provide the same service throughout Australia's large market area

While each market is often divided into submarkets due to the legacy of previous commerci

broadcasts (for example, Southern Cross Ten maintains two separate stations in the single Victor

market, GLV and BCV), the only difference between these submarkets in practice is limited t

news services or local advertising. Except in major cities, all major television broadcasters use th

same network of transmitters, which ma have dozens of rela stations in each market. As


14/17


15/17



6. "NorthEast Radio Watch by Scott Fybush". Fybush.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011 .

7. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2007/octqtr/pdf/47cfr74.1231.pdf

8. KUER-FM on-air broadcast statement, accessed Oct. 9, 2008

9. "FCC regulations US CFR 47 Part 74 Subpart G Low Power TV, TV Translator, and T

Booster Stations". Edocket.access.gpo.gov. Retrieved December 17, 2011.

10. "TV Query Results Video Division (FCC) USA". Fcc.gov. Retrieved December 17, 2011.

11. "FCC, DTV Transition Approval of Flash Cut Requests, April 25, 2007". Retrieve

December 17, 2011.

12. [1][dead link]

13. "Qualcomm Gets FCC Nod For MediaFLO Spectrum". Phone Scoop. Retrieved December 1

2011.

14. Many rural TVs will go dark, not digital, David Migoya,Denver Post, February 10, 2009

15. Low-power rural stations will continue in analog for several more years RICHARD ECKE

Great Falls (Montana) Tribune February 1, 2009

16. "TV Query Results Video Division (FCC) USA". Fcc.gov. Retrieved December 17, 2011.

17. "Plugged In: the DTV Switch What's all this DTV stuff, anyway?, Jeff Hartman, WSYR-TABC 9 Syracuse, April 2008". Community.9wsyr.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.

18. "Further complications loom for digital television conversion, Jessie Faulkner, Times

Standard, Eureka CA, 12 December 2008". Times-standard.com. Retrieved December 1

2011.

19. Nevada Translator Stations Status Report for Digital Transition, Nevada Broadcaster

Association, 2008[dead link]

20. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-36A1.pdf

21. KeepUsOn.com: Community Broadcasters Association[dead link]

22. http://www.dtv2009.gov/stats.aspx

23. ^ a b Northeast Radio Watch, Scott Fybush, October 24, 2005 WAVM, a Maynar

Massachusetts school radio station

24. ^ ab"Microsoft Word - 47167.doc" (PDF). Retrieved December 17, 2011 .

25. ^ ab "Out of Thin Air, Daniel Schulman, Columbia Journalism Review, February 2006

Cjrarchives.org. Retrieved December 17, 2011.

26. "CJR on Godcasting Invasion, DIYmedia, March 5, 2006". Diymedia.net. Retrieve

December 17, 2011.

27. ^ abcd"God Squads Fall From Grace, DIYmedia.net, February 25, 2005". Diymedia.ne

Retrieved December 17, 2011.

28. ^ a b c d Another Kind of Low-Power Station Hogging Radio Spectrum, MediaGee

September 21, 2003[dead link]

29. ^ ab AlterNet / By Sarah Posner (April 5, 2005). "Right-wing Radio: Religious broadcaste

are squeezing community radio right off the FM dial, Sarah Posner, AlterNet, April 5, 2005

Alternet.org. Retrieved December 17, 2011.

30. ^ abReligious stations put squeeze on NPR, Blaine Harden, New York Times, Septembe


16/17



15, 2002

31. "RW Special Report". RadioWorld.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.

32. "REC Broadcast Query". Recnet.com. February 23, 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2011.

33. "REC 'Traffick' Report Great Translator Invasion". Recnet.com. Retrieved December 1

2011.

34. ^ abLPFM.WS Low Power FM Great Translator Invasion[dead link]

35. FAC: 124266 CALL: NEW CHAN: 285 CMTY: ANCHORAGE AK[dead link]

36. "Corporate bigfoot CSN tunes out community stations". FreePress.net. March 3, 200


37. http://72.166.46.24//boston/news_features/this_just_in/documents/04509192.asp

38. LPFM.WS Low Power FM powered by REC[dead link]

39. "Before The" (PDF). Retrieved December 17, 2011 .

40. RECnet search for available LPFM channels in Chicago, Illinois[dead link]

41. "RECnet search for FM translators in Chicago, Illinois". Recnet.com. December 13, 201


42. RECnet search for available LPFM channels in Atlanta, Georgia[dead link]

43. "RECnet search for FM translators in Atlanta, Georgia". Recnet.com. December 13, 201


44. RECnet search for available LPFM channels in Dallas, Texas[dead link]

45. "RECnet search for FM translators in Dallas, Texas". Recnet.com. December 13, 201


46. RECnet search for available LPFM channels in Louisville, Kentucky[dead link]

47. "RECnet search for FM translators in Louisville, Kentucky". Recnet.com. December 1

2011. Retrieved December 17, 2011.48. RECnet search for available LPFM channels in Knoxville, Tennessee[dead link]

49. "RECnet search for FM translators in Knoxville, Tennessee". Recnet.com. December 1

2011. Retrieved December 17, 2011.

50. mediageek: Something Fishy in Right-Wing-Christian-Translator-land, Grabbing Spectru

away from LPFM, Maybe Profiting from the Venture?[dead link]

51. "Religious Broadcasting As Franchise". DIYmedia.net. Retrieved December 17, 2011 .

52. Bruce Wilson. "Talk To Action | Reclaiming Citizenship, History, and Faith". Talk2action.or


53. [2][dead link]

54. "RAM-EB Activity.xls" (PDF). Retrieved December 17, 2011 .

55. Mediageek: Calvary Chapel The Decentralized Christian Clear Channel[dead link]

56. "Self-Help Guide to Rebroadcasting ABC Reception Advice". Australia: ABC. Retrieve

December 17, 2011.

External links

FCC "FM Translator & Booster Stations" webpage


17/17


en.wikipedia.org

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcast_relay_stat

ion

http://goo.gl/ffgS

broadcast relay station - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Documents