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FM Station Separation
Requirements 47 CFR Section 73.207
The following table lists the FM spacing standards contained in Table A of 47 CFR Section 73.207 of the FCC's rules for the various classes of
FM commercial radio stations in the USA.
These separations also apply to all noncommercial educational stations
operating between 92.1 MHZ to 107.9 MHz (Channels 221 to 300), and to certain
noncommercial ecuational stations on Channels 218, 219 and 220 which must meet
these spacings to FM stations operating on Channels 221, 222, and 223.
Intermediate Frequency (I.F.) separations apply both to commercial and
most noncommercial educational stations.
These minimum separations must be met before a petition for rulemaking
may be filed for new FM allotments. FM broadcast stations or
applicants for an existing commercial-band allotment may in some cases
apply for (on FCC Form 301) a transmitter site which is closer spaced than
these requirements, provided that the provisions of 47 CFR Section 73.215 are met. In addition to these
separations, applicants or petitioners for Channel 253 (98.5 MHz)
must also meet the I.F. spacing
with respect to TV Channel 6 stations.
Applicants and petitioners for rulemaking within 320 km of the
Canadian and Mexican borders must meet different spacing standards with
respect to foreign stations. These are located in the Canadian
Border Zone Spacings and the Mexican
Border Zone Spacings documents.
Noncommercial Educational FM stations on Channels 218,
219, and 220 mustalso meet these separations with respect to
commercial FM stations and vacant allotments
on Channels 221, 222 and 223. The I.F. separation requirements
in the following table also apply to noncommercial educational stations.
Spacing requirements for LPFM stations and applications will be found
in 47 CFR 73.807.
Spacings should be rounded to the nearest kilometer, per 47 CFR 73.208.
Minimum Distance Separation
Requirements in Kilometers
Table A, Section 73.207
Relation
Co-Channel (Same
Frequency)
200 kHz
(First-Adjacent Channel)
400 or 600 kHz
(Second- or Third-Adjacent Channel)