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AM Broadcast Radio Stations
AM stands for "Amplitude Modulation", which refers
to the means of encoding the audio signal on the carrier
frequency. In many countries, AM radio stations are known as "mediumwave"
(MW) stations. AM stations are also sometimes referred to as
"standard broadcast stations", since AM was the was the first form used
to transmit broadcast radio signals to the public.
AM Query
-- Technical information about radio stations (such as power or
whether station is directional)
Agreements with Canada related to broadcasting.
Agreements with Mexico related to broadcasting.
AM Stereo. Short notes on AM Stereo.
Antenna Structure Registration -- ASRS Registration, ASRS Query, TOWAIR
Anti-Drug Abuse Act Certification
must accompany all requests for Special Temporary
Authority (STA). Failure to provide this certification
may result in processing delays.
Application
Status Reports for AM and FM applications. Includes
Broadcast Applications and Broadcast Actions public notices.
Auctions for AM construction permits
Call Sign Reservation and Authorization System
-- Apply for broadcast call signs, check call sign availability
CDBS (Consolidated DataBase System) Query for broadcast stations
Circular Plots on Tiger Census Maps. This program can be
used to show on a map the area within 3.2 km (2 miles) of
an AM transmitter site, within which tall structures
may have an effect on an AM station's emissions (see 47 CFR 73.1692) Use the AM Query to locate stations first. This program can also be used to
find acceptable locations for the main studio (see 47 CFR 73.1125).
Classes of AM Stations
Community of License Minor Change Applications filed pursuant to the new
streamlined procedures adopted by the Commission in Revision of Procedures Governing
Amendments to FM Table of Allotments and Changes of Community of License in the Radio Broadcast Services,
Report and Order (R&O), MB Docket 05-210, FCC 06-163, released November 29, 2006.
[ PDF | Word ].
[ AM List | FM List ].
Construction Permit Information
Sheets are sent along with the granted
construction permit to new AM
and FM stations and modified AM
and FM stations.
Consummation of Assignments and Transfers - Licensees and
permittees must provide notification to the Commission of the consummation
of an assignment or transfer.
Coordinates
Critical Hours computations -- Section 73.187 applies to Class B or Class D AM
broadcast stations against Class A AM stations.
Daytime-Only AM Stations -- New daytime-only AM stations will not be
authorized by the Commission. AM daytime-only authorizations for new stations
were discontinued on December 1, 1987. See Unlimited Time Operation by Existing AM Daytime-Only Radio Broadcast
Stations, Discontinuance of Authorization of Additional
Daytime-Only Stations, Minimum Power of Class III Stations,
Report and Order), 2 FCC Rcd 7113, 52 Fed. Reg. 48268 (1987).
Defective AM Applications -- Public
Notice, Commission States Future Policy on Incomplete and Patently
Defective AM and FM Construction Permit Applications, 47 CFR
73.4015, 55 RR 2d 776 (1984). Because of subsequent rules and procedures changes,
this 1984 policy statement presently applies only to AM
applications and FM noncommercial educational applications.
Digital AM and FM Radio (IBOC)
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List of stations authorized for "hybrid" operation (analog + digital signals),
[ AM | FM ]
Directional Antennas for AM stations (documents pertaining to)
DJ Licenses
are No Longer Required -- DJs and other persons
operating a licensed broadcast station are not required to have an
operator's license. The broadcast licensee continues to be responsible for proper
operation of the licensed station. Report and Order, MM Docket
94-130, 10 FCC Rcd 11479 [ PDF ].
Documents --
Engineering and
Legal documents pertaining to radio, of historical and topical
interest, as collected by the Audio Division. A
Subject List is available to show the various subject areas.
The lists are updated as needed.
Early
AM Radio -- Documents
Donor
Acknowledgements, Enhanced Underwriting, and Program Related
Materials -- Noncommercial Educational Stations only
Emergency Alert System
(EAS) is administered by the Public
Safety and Homeland Security Bureau
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Information
from the Media Bureau
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) to FAA Installations,
Public Notice, released 4/16/1991.
Expanded AM Band (1610 to 1700 kHz)
Applications for new AM stations in the expanded band are not
being accepted at this time.
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"Freeze Announced on the Filing of AM Expanded Band Major Change Applications",
Public Notice, DA 02-239, released February 1, 2002.
[ HTML |
PDF |
Word ].
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"Implementation of the AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan",
Memorandum Opinion and Order, FCC 98-69, released April 28, 1998.
[ PDF | Text ]. Two petitions for reconsideration denied.
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"First Two AM Expanded Band Applications Granted to Stations in
Arvada, Colorado and Lake Oswego, Oregon", News Release, Report No. MM
97-15, September 26, 1997. [ PDF
- AM Expanded Band Fact Sheet, dated April 18, 1997.
- Filing Instructions for AM Expanded Band Allotments, dated
April 18, 1997.
- March 17, 1997 Expanded AM Band Public Notice
- MO&O in Docket 87-267, released March 17, 1997
"FAA Flight Service Station Reporting
Service Requirements for Tower Light Outages", DA 00-580,
released March 16, 2000. [ PDF |
MS Word 97 | Text ]. Tower light outages and restoration of tower lighting
must be recorded in the station's log, in addition to the date, time,
and the Flight Service Station (FSS) notified of the lighting outage.
Facility ID Number for Broadcast Stations
-- A unique number has been assigned to each AM, FM,, LPFM, TV, LPTV,
translator, and booster station. This number
is being employed to provide an unvarying reference between
various databases at the Commission, and to minimize discrepancies caused
by call sign or facilities changes. The Facility ID Number for a broadcast
station may be determined by using CDBS. We encourage the use of this number, along with the station
call sign and file number if appropriate,
on the cover page of all documents pertaining to particular
broadcast stations submitted to the FCC.
Filing
Fees and Regulatory Fees -- Fees are applicable to
commercial applicants only.
Forms
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Forms, Electronic Filing of -- AM, FM, and TV
Forms available for electronic filing are
FCC Forms 301, 301-CA, 302-CA, 302-FM, 302-DTV, 314, 315, 316, 318, 319, 323,
323-E, 337, 340, 346, 347, 349, 350, 396, 396-A
- EEO Forms 395-A and 395-B have been suspended by
Commission Order FCC 01-34. Forms 396, 396-C, and 397 are
presently in preparation.
- Forms via the Internet
Ground
Conductivity in the United States (M3 Map) -- A Wall
Map
Ground System
Correction Factors for AM Nondirectional Stations
Groundwave Field Strength Graphs 1 - 20, 540 to 1700 kHz (Section
47 CFR 73.184)
How To Apply For A
Broadcast Station, general information
Inspections of Radio
Installations -- Fact Sheet, from the Enforcement Bureau
Inverse
Distance Field Calculations for AM Stations, Figure 8, Section 73.190
Localism
in broadcasting (Localism Task Force)
Loop Antennas can improve AM radio reception,
by increasing the received signal presented to the radio antenna, and by
reducing interfering stations' received signal strengths. These can be
commercially purchased or made inexpensively at home. Search for
MW loop antenna or
mediumwave loop antenna
in your favorite Internet search engine to see the
possibilities.
Low Power AM and FM Broadcast Radio Stations
Mailing Addresses for Broadcast Stations -- Call sign only
is required for access.
Minor Change Definition and Procedures Revised for AM Applications --
First Report and Order, MM Docket 98-93, FCC 99-55, 64 FR 19498, released March 30,
1999. First Come / First Served processing adopted for AM, FM
noncommercial educational, and FM translator minor change
applications. The definition of what constitutes a minor change
AM application was greatly expanded.
Main Studio and
Public Inspection File Requirements.
See the Memorandum Opinion and Order in MM Docket
97-138, FCC 99-118, 14 FCC Rcd 11113, released May 28, 1999 [ PDF ] and the earlier Report and Order, MM Docket 97-138, FCC 98-175,
13 FCC Rcd 15691, released August 11, 1998 [ PDF ]
Numbers of
Radio and TV Broadcast Stations in the USA
Obscene or Indecent Broadcasts
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"Industry Guidance on the Commission's Case Law
Interpreting 18 U.S.C. § 1464 and Enforcement Policies Regarding
Broadcast Indecency", Policy Statement, FCC 01-90, 16 FCC Rcd
7999, released April 6, 2001. [ PDF | MS Word 97 | Text ]
PTFP / Public Telecommunications Facilities Program. "PTFP is a
competitive grant program to help public broadcasting stations, state
and local governments, Indian Tribes and nonprofit organizations construct
facilities to bring educational and cultural programs to the American
Public using broadcasting and nonbroadcasting telecommunications
technologies." This program is administered by NTIA -- NOT the FCC -- and all inquiries must be referred to NTIA.
"Public and Broadcasting" provides a brief
non-technical overview of the FCC's regulation of broadcast radio and
television. This manual is REQUIRED to be in each station's local public
inspection file, per 47 CFR 73.3526 and 73.3527. Revised July 2008.
"Quiet Spots"
Between Stations on the Dial
Radio Operators' Licenses
are issued by the Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau. However, DJs and other persons operating a licensed broadcast
station are no longer required to have an operator's license.
(Report and Order, MM Docket 94-130, 10 FCC Rcd 11479 (1995)
[ PDF | Word ].) The broadcast licensee continues to be responsible for proper operation of the
station.
Radiofrequency Exposure information. Broadcasters
are required to comply with the Commission's radiofrequency exposure
limits, in coordination with other RF users at the site.
Radio Tools -- A small
popup screen allows quick access to programs and
most-requested information.
Remote Control Applications on Form 301-A
are not longer required for AM directional or nondirectional stations.
See the Report and Order in MM Docket 94-130, 10 FCC Rcd
11479 (1995) [ PDF | Word ]. A letter notifying the Commission of the location and telephone number
of the remote control point (also called transmission system
control point) must be sent to the Audio Division,
Mail Stop 1800B2, FCC, Washington, D.C. 20554 within 3 days of the
initial use of that point. Notification is not required if personnel
can be contacted at the main studio site or at the transmitter site during
all hours of operation. See 47 CFR Section 73.1350(g) and Question 8 of Unattended Operation of Radio and Television Broadcast
Stations.
Renewal of License Applications for Radio Broadcast Stations
-- All radio
broadcast station licenses will expire between 2011 and 2014. Licensees
must file a license renewal application (FCC Form 303-S) and the
Broadcast Equal Employment Opportunity Program Statement (FCC Form 396)
four months before the expiration date of the station's license.
This page provides information about the license
renewal process for radio broadcast stations.
Rules and Regulations from the Code of
Federal Regulations, which is compiled by the Government Printing
Office
Sampling Systems
Self-Inspection
Checklist for AM Broadcast Stations
Silent
AM and FM Broadcast Station Lists
Siting Policy Information Guide
Special Temporary Authority for
licensed broadcast radio stations.
Sunrise / Sunset Calculations indicate when a daytime-only AM station
must cease operation for the night, or when an AM station with separate
sunrise and sunset operations or presunrise or postsunset authority must
change its operating mode.
"The Public and Broadcasting" (revised May 2008) provides a brief
non-technical overview of the FCC's regulation of broadcast radio
and television. This manual is REQUIRED to be in each station's local public
inspection file, per 47 CFR 73.3526 and .
Travelers' Information Stations (TIS), which operate on the AM band,
are handled by the Land Mobile Branch
of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
Unattended Operation of Broadcast Stations,
Report and Order, MM Docket 94-130, 10 FCC Rcd 11479, released 10/23/1995
[ PDF |
Questions and
Answers About Unattended Operation of Broadcast Stations, Fact Sheet,
September,1997.
Wavelength Calculations for Frequencies up to 30,000 kHz (30
MHz) -- a Fortran Post method CGI
Why AM Radio Stations Must Reduce Power, Change Operations, or Cease
Operations at Night
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