For the purpose of this subpart, the following definition applies:

Locally produced programming is programming produced within the predicted noise-limited contour (see § 73.619(c)) of a Class A station broadcasting the program or within the contiguous predicted noise-limited contours of any of the Class A stations in a commonly owned group.

(a) Qualified low power television licensees which, during the 90-day period ending November 28, 1999, operated their stations in a manner consistent with the programming and operational standards set forth in the Community Broadcasters Protection Act of 1999, may be accorded primary status as Class A television licensees.

(b) Class A television broadcast stations are required to:

(1) Broadcast a minimum of 18 hours per day; and

(2) Broadcast an average of at least three hours per week of locally produced programming each quarter.

(c) Licensed Class A television broadcast stations shall be accorded primary status as a television broadcaster as long as the station continues to meet the minimum operating requirements for Class A status.

(d) Licensees unable to continue to meet the minimum operating requirements for Class A television stations, or which elect to revert to low power television status, shall promptly notify the Commission, in writing, and request a change in status.

(a) A Class A television broadcast license will only be issued to a qualified low power television licensee that:

(1) Filed a Statement of Eligibility for Class A Low Power Television Station Status on or before January 28, 2000, which was granted by the Commission; and

(2) Files an acceptable application for a Class A Television license (FCC Form 302-CA).

Class A TV stations will not be authorized on channels unavailable for TV broadcast station use pursuant to § 73.603.

An application to change the facilities of an existing Class A TV station will not be accepted if it requests an effective radiated power that exceeds the power limitation specified in § 74.735 of this chapter.

The distance between two reference points must be calculated in accordance with § 73.208(c) of this part.

(a)-(b) [Reserved]

(c) A Class A TV station will be protected from interference within the following predicted signal contours:

(1) 43 dBu for stations on Channels 2 through 6;

(2) 48 dBu for stations on Channels 7 through 13; and

(3) 51 dBu for stations on Channels 14 through 36.

(d) The Class A TV station protected contour is calculated from the effective radiated power and antenna height above average terrain, using the F(50,90) signal propagation method specified in § 73.619(b)(1).

(e) A digital Class A DTS station will be protected from interference within its Class A DTS protected area as defined by § 73.6023(d).

An application to change the facilities of a Class A TV station will not be accepted if it fails to protect authorized Class A stations in accordance with the requirements of § 74.793 (b) through (d) and § 74.793(g) of this chapter. This protection must be afforded to applications for changes in other authorized Class A stations filed prior to the date the Class A application is filed.

Class A TV stations must protect the TV service that would be provided by the facilities specified in the Table of TV Allotments in § 73.622(j), by authorized TV stations, and by applications that propose to expand TV stations' allotted or authorized coverage contour in any direction. Protection of these allotments, stations, and applications must be based on meeting the requirements of § 74.793 (b) through (e) of this chapter. An application to change the facilities of a Class A TV station will not be accepted if it fails to protect these TV allotments, stations, and applications in accordance with this section.

An application to change the facilities of a Class A TV station will not be accepted if it fails to protect authorized low power TV and TV translator stations in accordance with the requirements of § 74.793(b) through (d) and (h) of this chapter. This protection must be afforded to applications for changes filed prior to the date the Class A station application is filed.

An application to change the facilities of an existing Class A TV station will not be accepted if it fails to protect stations in the land mobile radio service pursuant to the requirements specified in § 74.709 of this chapter.

(a) Notwithstanding the technical criteria in this subpart J of this part, subpart E of this part, and subpart G of part 74 of this chapter regarding interference protection to and from Class A TV stations, Class A TV stations may negotiate agreements with parties of authorized and proposed TV, LPTV, TV translator, Class A TV stations or other affected parties to resolve interference concerns; provided, however, other relevant requirements are met with respect to the parties to the agreement. A written and signed agreement must be submitted with each application or other request for action by the Commission. Negotiated agreements under this paragraph can include the exchange of money or other considerations from one entity to another. Applications submitted pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph (a) will be granted only if the Commission finds that such action is consistent with the public interest.

(b) [Reserved]

(a) Station licensees may operate a commonly owned group of Class A stations with contiguous predicted TV noise-limited contours (pursuant to § 73.619(c)) on a common television channel in a distributed transmission system.

(b) A Class A TV station may be authorized to operate multiple synchronized transmitters on its assigned channel to provide service consistent with the requirements of this section. Such operation is called a distributed transmission system (DTS). Except as expressly provided in this section, Class A stations operating a DTS facility must comply with all rules in this part applicable to Class A single-transmitter stations.

(c) For purposes of compliance with this section, a Class A station's “authorized facility” is the facility authorized for the station in a license or construction permit for non-DTS, single-transmitter-location operation. A Class A station's “authorized service area” is defined as the area within its protected contour (described by § 73.6010(c)) as determined using the authorized facility.

(d) The protected area for each DTS transmitter is determined based on the F(50,90) field strength given in § 73.6010(c), calculated in accordance with § 73.625(b). The combined protected area of a Class A DTS station is the logical union of the protected areas of all DTS transmitters, that falls within the station's authorized service area as defined in paragraph (c) of this section.

(e) The DTS limiting area for each DTS transmitter is determined using the field strength from § 73.6010(c) and the F(50,50) curves.

(f) An application proposing use of DTS will not be accepted for filing unless it meets all of the following conditions:

(1) The combined protected area covers all of the applicant's authorized service area;

(2) Each DTS transmitter's Class A DTS limiting contour falls within the authorized facility's Class A DTS limiting contour;

(3) Each DTS transmitter's protected area is contiguous with at least one other DTS transmitter's protected area;

(4) The “combined field strength” of all DTS transmitters in a network does not cause interference to another station in excess of the criteria specified in §§ 73.6017, 73.6018, 73.6019, and 73.6020. The combined field strength at a given location is determined by a “root-sum-square” calculation, in which the combined field strength is equal to the square root of the sum of the squared field strengths from each transmitter in the DTS network at that location; and

(5) Each DTS transmitter must be located within the station's authorized service area.

(g) All transmitters operating under a single Class A DTS license must follow the same digital broadcast television transmission standard.

(a) A Class A TV station must meet the requirements of §§ 73.682 and 73.687, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) A Class A TV station may continue to operate with the transmitter operated under its previous LPTV license, provided such operation does not cause any condition of uncorrectable interference due to radiation of radio frequency energy outside of the assigned channel. Such operation must continue to meet the requirements of § 74.750 of this chapter.

(c) [Reserved]

(d) A Class A station must meet the emission requirements of § 74.794 of this chapter. Stations within 275 kilometers of the US-Mexico border shall specify the full-service emission mask.

(a) Applications for modified Class A TV facilities proposing the use of directional antenna systems must include all appropriate documentation specified in § 73.625(c)(3).

(b) [Reserved]

(c) Where a Class A TV licensee or permittee proposes to mount its antenna on or near an AM tower, as defined in § 1.30002, the Class A TV licensee or permittee must comply with § 1.30003 or § 1.30002.

(d) Class A TV stations are subject to the provisions in § 73.617(d) regarding blanketing interference.

The following rules are applicable to Class A television stations:

(a) Section 73.603 Numerical designation of television channels.

(b) Section 73.624(b), (c), and (g) Television broadcast stations.

(c) Section 73.658 Affiliation agreements and network program practice; territorial exclusivity in non-network program arrangements.

(d) Section 73.664 Determining operating power.

(e) Section 73.670 Commercial limits in children's programs.

(f) Section 73.671 Educational and informational programming for children.

(g) Section 73.673 Public information initiatives regarding educational and informational programming for children.

(h) Section 73.688 Indicating instruments.

(i) Section 73.1030 Notifications concerning interference to radio astronomy, research and receiving installations.

(j) Section 73.3615(a) and (g) Ownership reports.

(a) Eligibility. Subject to the provisions of this section, Class A television stations may voluntarily seek Commission approval to share a single six megahertz channel with other Class A, full power, low power, or TV translator television stations.

(b) Licensing of channel sharing stations. (1) Each station sharing a single channel pursuant to this section shall continue to be licensed and operated separately, have its own call sign, and be separately subject to all of the Commission's obligations, rules, and policies.

(2) A station relinquishing its channel must file an application for a construction permit, include a copy of the Channel Sharing Agreement (CSA) as an exhibit, and cross reference the other sharing station(s). Any engineering changes necessitated by the CSA may be included in the station's application. Upon initiation of shared operations, the station relinquishing its channel must notify the Commission that it has terminated operation pursuant to § 73.1750 and each sharing station must file an application for license.

(c) Channel sharing between Class A television stations and full power, low power television, and TV translator stations. (1) A Class A television sharee station (defined as a station relinquishing a channel in order to share) that is a party to a CSA with a full power television sharer station (defined as the station hosting a sharee pursuant to a CSA) must comply with the rules of this part governing power levels and interference, and must comply in all other respects with the rules and policies applicable to Class A television stations, as set forth in §§ 73.6000 through 73.6027.

(2) A Class A television sharee station that is a party to a CSA with a low power television or TV translator sharer station must comply with the rules of part 74 of this chapter governing power levels and interference that are applicable to low power television or TV translator stations, and must comply in all other respects with the rules and policies applicable to Class A television stations, as set forth in §§ 73.6000 through 73.6027.

(d) Deadline for implementing CSAs. CSAs submitted pursuant to this section must be implemented within three years of the grant of the initial channel sharing construction permit.

(e) Channel sharing agreements (CSAs). (1) CSAs submitted under this section must contain provisions outlining each licensee's rights and responsibilities regarding:

(i) Access to facilities, including whether each licensee will have unrestrained access to the shared transmission facilities;

(ii) Allocation of bandwidth within the shared channel;

(iii) Operation, maintenance, repair, and modification of facilities, including a list of all relevant equipment, a description of each party's financial obligations, and any relevant notice provisions;

(iv) Transfer/assignment of a shared license, including the ability of a new licensee to assume the existing CSA; and

(v) Termination of the license of a party to the CSA, including reversion of spectrum usage rights to the remaining parties to the CSA.

(2) CSAs must include provisions:

(i) Affirming compliance with the channel sharing requirements in this section and all relevant Commission rules and policies; and

(ii) Requiring that each channel sharing licensee shall retain spectrum usage rights adequate to ensure a sufficient amount of the shared channel capacity to allow it to provide at least one Standard Definition program stream at all times.

(f) Termination and assignment/transfer of shared channel. (1) Upon termination of the license of a party to a CSA, the spectrum usage rights covered by that license may revert to the remaining parties to the CSA. Such reversion shall be governed by the terms of the CSA in accordance with paragraph (e)(1)(v) of this section. If upon termination of the license of a party to a CSA only one party to the CSA remains, the remaining licensee may file an application for license to change its status to non-shared.

(2) If the rights under a CSA are transferred or assigned, the assignee or the transferee must comply with the terms of the CSA in accordance with paragraph (e)(1)(iv) of this section. If the transferee or assignee and the licensees of the remaining channel sharing station or stations agree to amend the terms of the existing CSA, the agreement may be amended, subject to Commission approval.

(g) Notice to cable systems. (1) Stations participating in channel sharing agreements must provide notice to cable systems that:

(i) No longer will be required to carry the station because of the relocation of the station;

(ii) Currently carry and will continue to be obligated to carry a station that will change channels; or

(iii) Will become obligated to carry the station due to a channel sharing relocation.

(2) The notice required by this section must contain the following information:

(i) Date and time of any channel changes;

(ii) The channel occupied by the station before and after implementation of the CSA;

(iii) Modification, if any, to antenna position, location, or power levels;

(iv) Stream identification information; and

(v) Engineering staff contact information.

(3) Should any of the information in paragraph (g)(2) of this section change, an amended notification must be sent.

(4) Sharee stations must provide notice as required by this section at least 90 days prior to terminating operations on the sharee's channel. Sharer stations and sharee stations must provide notice as required by this section at least 90 days prior to initiation of operations on the sharer channel. Should the anticipated date to either cease operations or commence channel sharing operations change, the stations must send a further notice to affected cable systems informing them of the new anticipated date(s).

(5) Notifications provided to cable systems pursuant to this section must be either mailed to the system's official address of record provided in the cable system's most recent filing in the FCC's Cable Operations and Licensing System (COALS) Form 322, or emailed to the system if the system has provided an email address.

(a) Simulcasting arrangements. For purposes of compliance with the simulcasting requirement in paragraph (b) of this section, a Class A television station may partner with one or more other Class A stations or with one or more full power, LPTV, or TV translator stations in a simulcasting arrangement for purposes of airing either an ATSC 1.0 or ATSC 3.0 signal on a host station's (i.e., a station whose facilities are being used to transmit programming originated by another station) facilities.

(1) A Class A television station airing an ATSC 1.0 or ATSC 3.0 signal on the facilities of a full power host station must comply with the rules of Part 73 of this chapter governing power levels and interference, and must comply in all other respects with the rules and policies applicable to Class A television stations, as set forth in this subpart.

(2) A Class A television station airing an ATSC 1.0 or ATSC 3.0 signal on the facilities of a low power television or TV translator host station must comply with the rules of part 74 of this chapter governing power levels and interference that are applicable to low power television or TV translator stations, and must comply in all other respects with the rules and policies applicable to Class A television stations, as set forth in this subpart.

(b) Simulcasting requirement. A Class A television station that chooses to air an ATSC 3.0 signal must simulcast the primary video programming stream of that signal in an ATSC 1.0 format. This requirement does not apply to any multicast streams aired on the ATSC 3.0 channel.

(1) The programming aired on the ATSC 1.0 simulcast signal must be “substantially similar” to that aired on the ATSC 3.0 primary video programming stream. For purposes of this section, “substantially similar” means that the programming must be the same except for advertisements, promotions for upcoming programs, and programming features that are based on the enhanced capabilities of ATSC 3.0. These enhanced capabilities include:

(i) Hyper-localized content (e.g., geo-targeted weather, targeted emergency alerts, and hyper-local news):

(ii) Programming features or improvements created for the ATSC 3.0 service (e.g., emergency alert “wake up” ability and interactive program features);

(iii) Enhanced formats made possible by ATSC 3.0 technology (e.g., 4K or HDR); and

(iv) Personalization of programming performed by the viewer and at the viewer's discretion.

(2) For purposes of paragraph (b)(1) of this section, programming that airs at a different time on the ATSC 1.0 simulcast signal than on the primary video programming stream of the ATSC 3.0 signal is not considered “substantially similar.”

(3) The “substantially similar” requirement in paragraph (b)(1) of this section will sunset on July 17, 2027.

(c) Coverage requirements for the ATSC 1.0 simulcast signal. For Class A broadcasters that elect temporarily to relocate their ATSC 1.0 signal to the facilities of a host station for purposes of deploying ATSC 3.0 service (and that convert their existing facilities to ATSC 3.0), the station:

(1) Must maintain overlap between the protected contour (§ 73.6010(c)) of its existing signal and its ATSC 1.0 simulcast signal;

(2) May not relocate its ATSC 1.0 simulcast signal more than 30 miles from the reference coordinates of the relocating station's existing antenna location; and

(3) Must select a host station assigned to the same DMA as the originating station (i.e., the station whose programming is being transmitted on the host station).

(d) Coverage requirements for ATSC 3.0 signals. For Class A broadcasters that elect to continue broadcasting in ATSC 1.0 from the station's existing facilities and transmit an ATSC 3.0 signal on the facilities of a host station, the ATSC 3.0 signal must be established on a host station assigned to the same DMA as the originating station.

(e) Simulcasting agreements. (1) Simulcasting agreements must contain provisions outlining each licensee's rights and responsibilities regarding:

(i) Access to facilities, including whether each licensee will have unrestrained access to the host station's transmission facilities;

(ii) Allocation of bandwidth within the host station's channel;

(iii) Operation, maintenance, repair, and modification of facilities, including a list of all relevant equipment, a description of each party's financial obligations, and any relevant notice provisions;

(iv) Conditions under which the simulcast agreement may be terminated, assigned or transferred; and

(v) How a guest station's (i.e., a station originating programming that is being transmitted using the facilities of a host station) signal may be transitioned off the host station.

(2) Broadcasters must maintain a written copy of any simulcasting agreement and provide it to the Commission upon request.

(f) Licensing of simulcasting stations and stations converting to ATSC 3.0 operation. (1) Each station participating in a simulcasting arrangement pursuant to this section shall continue to be licensed and operated separately, have its own call sign, and be separately subject to all applicable Commission obligations, rules, and policies. ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 signals aired on the facilities of a host station will be licensed as temporary second channels of the originating station. The Commission will include a note on the originating station's license identifying any ATSC 1.0 or ATSC 3.0 signal being aired on the facilities of a host station. The Commission will also include a note on a host station's license identifying any ATSC 1.0 or ATSC 3.0 guest signal(s) being aired on the facilities of the host station.

(2) Application required. A Class A broadcaster must file an application (FCC Form 2100) with the Commission, and receive Commission approval, before:

(i) Moving its ATSC 1.0 signal to the facilities of a host station, moving that signal from the facilities of an existing host station to the facilities of a different host station, or discontinuing an ATSC 1.0 guest signal;

(ii) Commencing the airing of an ATSC 3.0 signal on the facilities of a host station (that has already converted to ATSC 3.0 operation), moving its ATSC 3.0 signal to the facilities of a different host station, or discontinuing an ATSC 3.0 guest signal; or

(iii) Converting its existing station to transmit an ATSC 3.0 signal or converting the station from ATSC 3.0 back to ATSC 1.0 transmissions.

(3) Streamlined process. With respect to an application in paragraph (f)(2) of this section, a Class A broadcaster may file only an application for modification of license provided no other changes are being requested in such application that would require the filing of an application for a construction permit as otherwise required by the rules (see, e.g., § 73.1690).

(4) Host station. A host station must first make any necessary changes to its facilities before a guest station may file an application to air a 1.0 or 3.0 signal on such host.

(5) Expedited processing. An application filed in accordance with the streamlined process in paragraph (f)(3) of this section will receive expedited processing provided, for stations requesting to air an ATSC signal on the facilities of a host station, the station will provide ATSC 1.0 service to at least 95 percent of the predicted population within the noise limited service contour of its original ATSC 1.0 facility.

(6) Required information. (i) An application in paragraph (f)(2) of this section must include the following information:

(A) The station serving as the host, if applicable;

(B) The technical facilities of the host station, if applicable;

(C) The DMA of the originating broadcaster's facility and the DMA of the host station, if applicable; and

(D) Any other information deemed necessary by the Commission to process the application.

(ii) If an application in paragraph (f)(2) of this section includes a request to air an ATSC 1.0 signal on the facilities of a host station, the broadcaster must, in addition to the information in paragraph (f)(6)(i), also indicate on the application:

(A) The predicted population within the protected contour served by the station's original ATSC 1.0 signal;

(B) The predicted population within the protected contour served by the station's original ATSC 1.0 signal that will lose the station's ATSC 1.0 service as a result of the simulcasting arrangement, including identifying areas of service loss by providing a contour overlap map; and

(C) Whether the ATSC 1.0 simulcast signal aired on the host station will serve at least 95 percent of the population in paragraph (f)(6)(ii)(A) of this section.

(iii)(A) If an application in paragraph (f)(2) of this section includes a request to air an ATSC 1.0 signal on the facilities of a host station and does not meet the 95 percent standard in paragraph (f)(6)(ii) of this section, the application must contain, in addition to the information in paragraphs (f)(6)(i) and (ii) of this section, the following information:

(1) Whether there is another possible host station(s) in the market that would result in less service loss to existing viewers and, if so, why the Next Gen TV broadcaster chose to partner with a host station creating a larger service loss;

(2) What steps, if any, the station plans to take to minimize the impact of the service loss (e.g., providing ATSC 3.0 dongles, set-top boxes, or gateway devices to viewers in the loss area); and

(3) The public interest benefits of the simulcasting arrangement and a showing of why the benefit(s) of granting the application would outweigh the harm(s).

(B) These applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

(g) Consumer education for Next Gen TV stations. (1) Class A stations that relocate their ATSC 1.0 signals (e.g., moving to a host station's facilities, subsequently moving to a different host, or returning to its original facility) will be required to air daily Public Service Announcements (PSAs) or crawls every day for 30 days prior to the date that the stations will terminate ATSC 1.0 operations on their existing facilities. Stations that transition directly to ATSC 3.0 will be required to air daily PSAs or crawls every day for 30 days prior to the date that the stations will terminate ATSC 1.0 operations.

(2) PSAs. Each PSA must be provided in the same language as a majority of the programming carried by the transitioning station and be closed-captioned.

(3) Crawls. Each crawl must be provided in the same language as a majority of the programming carried by the transitioning station.

(4) Content of PSAs or crawls. For stations relocating their ATSC 1.0 signals or transitioning directly to ATSC 3.0, each PSA or crawl must provide all pertinent information to consumers.

(h) Notice to MVPDs. (1) Next Gen TV stations relocating their ATSC 1.0 signals (e.g., moving to a temporary host station's facilities, subsequently moving to a different host, or returning to its original facility) must provide notice to MVPDs that:

(i) No longer will be required to carry the station's ATSC 1.0 signal due to the relocation; or

(ii) Carry and will continue to be obligated to carry the station's ATSC 1.0 signal from the new location.

(2) The notice required by this section must contain the following information:

(i) Date and time of any ATSC 1.0 channel changes;

(ii) The ATSC 1.0 channel occupied by the station before and after commencement of local simulcasting;

(iii) Modification, if any, to antenna position, location, or power levels;

(iv) Stream identification information; and

(v) Engineering staff contact information.

(3) If any of the information in paragraph (h)(2) of this section changes, an amended notification must be sent.

(4)(i) Next Gen TV stations must provide notice as required by this section:

(A) At least 120 days in advance of relocating their ATSC 1.0 signals if the relocation occurs during the post-incentive auction transition period; or

(B) At least 90 days in advance of relocating their ATSC 1.0 signals if the relocation occurs after the post-incentive auction transition period.

(ii) If the anticipated date of the ATSC 1.0 signal relocation changes, the station must send a further notice to affected MVPDs informing them of the new anticipated date.

(5) Next Gen TV stations may choose whether to provide notice as required by this section either by a letter notification or electronically via email if the relevant MVPD agrees to receive such notices by email. Letter notifications to MVPDs must be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested to the MVPD's address in the FCC's Online Public Inspection File (OPIF), if the MVPD has an online file. For cable systems that do not have an online file, notices may be sent to the cable system's official address of record provided in the system's most recent filing in the FCC's Cable Operations and Licensing System (COALS). For MVPDs with no official address in OPIF or COALS, the letter must be sent to the MVPD's official corporate address registered with their State of incorporation.

(a) Definitions. For purposes of the Low Power Protection Act, a low power television station's Designated Market Area (DMA) shall be defined as the DMA where its transmission facilities (i.e., the structure on which its antenna is mounted) are located. DMAs are determined by Nielsen Media Research. A low power television station shall be defined in accordance with § 74.701(k).

(b) Eligibility requirements. In order to be eligible for Class A status under the Low Power Television Protection Act, low power television licensees must:

(1) Have been operating in a DMA with not more than 95,000 television households as of January 5, 2023;

(2) Have been broadcasting a minimum of 18 hours per day between October 7, 2022 and January 5, 2023;

(3) Have been broadcasting a minimum of at least three hours per week of locally produced programming between October 7, 2022 and January 5, 2023;

(4) Have been operating in compliance with the Commission's requirements applicable to low power television stations between October 7, 2022 and January 5, 2023;

(5) Be in compliance with the Commission's operating rules for full-power television stations from and after the date of its application for a Class A license; and

(6) Demonstrate that the Class A station for which the license is sought will not cause any interference described in 47 U.S.C. 336(f)(7).

(c) Application requirements. Applications for conversion to Class A status must be submitted using FCC Form 2100, Schedule F within one year beginning on the date on which the Commission issues notice that the rules implementing the Low Power Protection Act takes effect. The licensee will be required to submit, as part of its application, a statement concerning the station's operating schedule during the 90 days preceding January 5, 2023 and a list of locally produced programs aired during that time period. The applicant may also submit other documentation, or may be requested by Commission staff to submit other documentation, to support its certification that the licensee meets the eligibility requirements for a Class A license under the Low Power Protection Act.

(d) Licensing requirements. A Class A television broadcast license will only be issued under the Low Power Protection Act to a low power television licensee that files an application for a Class A Television license (FCC Form 2100, Schedule F), which is granted by the Commission.

(e) Service requirements. Stations that convert to Class A status pursuant to the Low Power Protection Act are required to meet the service requirements specified in § 73.6001(b) through (d) of this chapter for the term of their Class A license. In addition, such stations must remain in compliance with the programming and operational standards set forth in the Low Power Protection Act for the term of their Class A license. In addition, such stations must continue to operate in DMAs with not more than 95,000 television households in order to maintain their Class A status unless the population in the station's DMA later exceeds 95,000 television households through population growth, a change in the boundaries of a qualifying DMA such that the population of the DMA exceeds 95,000 television households, or the merger of a qualifying DMA into another DMA such that the combined DMA exceeds 95,000 television households. LPPA Class A stations will not be permitted to initiate a move to a different DMA with more than 95,000 television households at the time of the move and still retain their Class A status.

(f) Other regulations. From and after the date of applying for Class A status under the Low Power Protection Act, stations must comply with the requirements applicable to Class A stations specified in subpart J of this part (§§ 73.6000 through 73.6029) and must continue to comply with such requirements for the term of their Class A license.