The FCC, under Chairman Ajit Pai, continues to give AM broadcasters some love. On Thursday, the Commission moved to open the first of two new FM translator filing windows on July 26. This window is for licensees of Class C and D AM stations – those having the least power and/or the most limited (or nonexistent) nighttime service, and which did not participate in either of the 2016 windows – to file applications for FM translators.
After the first-window applicants have had an opportunity to resolve their mutual exclusivities through settlement or technical amendment, the Commission will announce the dates of the second new FM translator filing window, which will be open to licensees that did not participate in either of the 2016 translator modification windows or the first new FM translator auction filing window.
Over a thousand AM broadcasters took advantage of the two FM translator windows in 2016.
