A NEW ZONE II FCC FM STATION CLASS - THE 'C4' ALLOCATION - 12 KW AT 100 M HAAT
Do you have a Class A (6kW) FM station that can't quite upgrade to C3 (25kW), but 6kW just doesn't cut it for you?

  • MAY, 2018 UPDATE - AFFECTED SECONDARY SERVICES: Opponents of the FM Class C4 NPRM are claiming that Class A stations upgrading to 12 kW are likely to knock dozens of secondary services (FM translators and LPFM stations) off the air. That is utter nonsense. See the map below for a graphical depiction of ALL likely affected FM translators (including those from all four AM revitalization windows) and LPFM stations. Fewer than two dozen conflicts exist, and in every case, an engineering remedy exists to clear the conflict.


  • FEBRUARY, 2018 UPDATE - NPRM COMING SOON! On February 6th, 2018, Chairman Ajit Pai stated that the FCC is circulating a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the RM-11727 / FM Class C4 proposal. Click HERE to view an article from Radio World magazine. We are getting close now! More updates when the NPRM is released. Thanks! - Matt Wesolowski

  • MARCH, 2017 UPDATE: We're getting closer than ever to meaningful FCC action on the RM-11727 petition. With that in mind, we've put together a 'Frequently Asked Questions' flyer that explains this initiative. Click HERE to see it. Thanks! - Matt Wesolowski

  • OCTOBER, 2016 UPDATE: How will the FM Class C4 Allocation affect translators? We did a comprehensive study and found that, in 89% of cases, a potential Class A station upgrading to C4 had absolutely no effect on an adjacent translator station. In 96% of the remaining cases, the translator had at least two other alternate frequencies that it could migrate to: see summary here. Overall, there was NO NET IMPACT observed on translator stations. Want the raw data of this study? E-mail me: p e t i t i o n - a t - w y a b - d o t - c o m. Thanks! - Matt Wesolowski

  • SEPTEMBER, 2016 UPDATE: ANOTHER MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH in the Class C4/73.215 Petition!!! At this month's NAB/RAB Radio Show in Nashville, FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai recommended that the Commission put the C4/73.215 proposal out for a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking! This is a HUGE step for the cause. Read more about it here. Stay informed with our progress - send me an email: p e t i t i o n (at) w y a b (dot) c o m, and I will add you to our update list. Thanks! -Matt Wesolowski

  • JULY, 2014 UPDATE: MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH in the Class C4/73.215 Petition!!! The FCC will be taking formal comments on the proposal from now until August 18th. Please file supportive comments at this website: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?name=RM-11727. Click on 'Submit a Filing' and in the Proceeding Number box, enter RM-11727.

    If we receive enough comments in support, it is likely that the FCC will open up a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for this petition, so please file those comments soon! Thanks! - Matt Wesolowski

  • JUNE, 2014 UPDATE (POST-FCC MEETING): Our meetings with Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Ajit Pai on Tuesday went well. Commissioners Clyburn and Pai were able to include their respective Chiefs of Staff, Adonis Hoffman and Matthew Berry, who were both prepared with specific, well-thought out questions related to the petition. It was quite apparent that both Commissioners and their staffs were familiar with the proposal and were receptive to considering solutions that would benefit small broadcasters.

    Each Commissioner (and each staff member) was given a copy of the petition, along with a signed and printed version of the below online support letter. I believe that the signed support letter made a great impression and was proof of broad interest in the petition.

    We will continue working towards a formal Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and will continue to post updates on our progress. - Matt Wesolowski

  • JUNE, 2014 UPDATE: WE NOW HAVE A MEETING WITH FCC COMMISSIONERS MIGNON CLYBURN AND AJIT PAI ON JUNE 24TH TO PRESENT THE C4/73.215 PETITION IN PERSON. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS!!! A FULL REPORT OF THE MEETING WILL BE POSTED ON THIS SITE ONCE THE IT HAS TAKEN PLACE.

  • In 2013, SSR Communications, Inc. ('SSR'), in a proposal co-authored by the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council ('MMTC'), petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to create a NEW FM CLASS, the 'C4' allocation, which would permit many Class A facilities to upgrade to a maximum effective radiated power of 12kW from a reference antenna height of 100 meters above average terrain.

  • Read the Petition for Rulemaking here.

  • Sign your support to the petition here.

  • The 12kW Class C4 allocation would fill in the gap of the currently incompatible maximum effective radiated power relationship between FM Class A and FM Class C3. Every adjacent FM 'C Class' allocation's power level is 3.0 dB from the next (C3 to C2, C2 to C1, et cetera), while Class C3's 25.0 kW is slightly more than 6.0 dB away from a Class A's 6.0 kW. A 12.0 kW authorization would be about 3.0 dB between either A or C3.

  • With just a few simple revisions to the Commission's Rules pertaining to FM allocations and separation standards, the new 12kW FM Class C4 allocation could become a reality. Furthermore, the Commission could provision a new C4 allocation WITHOUT IMPACTING THE SERVICE CONTOURS OF EXISTING STATIONS.

  • SSR has identified almost EIGHT HUNDRED Zone II Class A FM stations that could potentially upgrade to the new C4 classification.

  • See maps of fully-spaced FM C4 'areas to locate' for YOUR station here. Notes: the 'area to locate' maps would fulfill the applicant's 73.207 full spacing requirements and DO NOT take into account 73.215 and directional antenna applications. An actual C4 facility could likely be located outside of the red shaded areas depicted on the map. These maps were created in 2012-2013 (when the C4 petition was first being drafted) and are not necessarily representative of the current radio landscape. Additionally, several states which include a mix of both Zone I and Zone II regions (such as Wisconsin) were not included in this study, even though C4 stations could be located in these states.

    Class A stations in almost every Zone II market in the country would be eligible to upgrade, from large markets such as Cincinnati's WYGY 97.3 FM:

    F(50,50) 60, 50, and 40 dBu contours - as licensed.

    F(50,50) 60, 50, and 40 dBu contours - C4 facility.

    60 dBu pop count - 1,533,004 as licensed.
    60 dBu service area - 2,502 sq. km., as licensed.

    60 dBu pop count - 1,692,523 as C4 facility.
    60 dBu service area - 3,455 sq. km., as C4 facility.


    ...to mid-sized markets such as Florence, South Carolina's WYNN 106.3 FM:

    F(50,50) 60, 50, and 40 dBu contours - as licensed.

    F(50,50) 60, 50, and 40 dBu contours - C4 facility.

    60 dBu pop count - 149,449 as licensed.
    60 dBu service area - 2,518 sq. km., as licensed.

    60 dBu pop count - 171,944 as C4 facility (DA).
    60 dBu service area - 3,373 sq. km., as C4 facility.


    ...to 'little' markets such as Little Falls, Minnesota's WYRQ 92.1 FM:

    F(50,50) 60, 50, and 40 dBu contours - as licensed.

    F(50,50) 60, 50, and 40 dBu contours - C4 facility.

    60 dBu pop count - 34,781 as licensed.
    60 dBu service area - 2,297 sq. km., as licensed.

    60 dBu pop count - 46,941 as C4 facility (DA).
    60 dBu service area - 3,418 sq. km., as C4 facility.

    If you operate a Class A FM facility in Zone II, then there is a good chance that your station can upgrade to the proposed Class C4 allocation.

    The petition that could create the FM Class C4 allocation has been sitting before the FCC in limbo for over one year without action. We are trying to get the attention of the FCC's commissioners and representatives of the Media Bureau through an online petition (click here), the responses of which shall be sent to the FCC.

    PLEASE HELP the Class C4 cause by signing the petition.

    If you have any questions or concerns, then please do not hesitate to call Matt Wesolowski at SSR Communications, Inc., at 601-201-2789, or email me: p e t i t i o n (at) w y a b (dot) c o m, and I will do my best to address your inquiries.


    PETITION OF SUPPORT FOR SSR'S PETITION FOR RULEMAKING
    Dear Commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission and Media Bureau Staff:

    I support the petition for rulemaking filed by SSR Communications, Inc., on Friday, January 18, 2013 (received Tuesday, January 22, 2013), requesting certain engineering changes pertaining to commercial FM broadcast standards, including the creation of a new FM 'Class C4' allocation and amendments of Sections 73.207, 73.210, 73.211, 73.215, and 73.3573 of the Commission's Rules.

    I believe that, as hundreds of Zone II commercial FM stations would be able to apply for upgraded facilities without impacting the service areas of existing stations, SSR's proposal is clearly in the interest of the public.

    In the event that the Commission announces a comment window and formal Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ('NPRM') for SSR's petition for rulemaking, then I intend to file comments in favor.

    Sincerely,

    Name: Organization: Title:

    Additional Comments: