(a) On any authorized frequency, the average power delivered to an antenna shall be the minimum amount of power necessary to carry out the communications desired. In no event shall the average transmitter power or equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) exceed the values specified below.

(b) LDS stations shall use for the visual signal-vestigial sideband AM transmission. When vestigial sideband AM transmission is used the peak power of the visual signal on all channels shall be maintained within 2 dB of equality. The mean power of the aural signal on each channel shall not exceed a level of 7 dB below the peak power of the visual signal.

(c) The EIRP of transmitters that use Automatic Transmitter Power Control (ATPC) shall not exceed the EIRP specified on the station authorization. The EIRP of non-ATPC transmitters shall be maintained as near as practicable to the EIRP specified on the station authorization.

[45 FR 78694, Nov. 26, 1980, as amended at 52 FR 7144, Mar. 9, 1987; 65 FR 48182, Aug. 7, 2000; 68 FR 12776, Mar. 17, 2003]

(a) A CARS station may be authorized to employ any type of emission, for which there are technical standards incorporated in Subpart D of this part, suitable for the simultaneous transmission of visual and aural television signals.

(b) Any emission appearing on a frequency outside of the channel authorized for a transmitter shall be attenuated below the power of the emission in accordance with the following schedule:

(1) For stations using FM or double sideband AM transmission:

(i) On any frequency above the upper channel limit or below the lower channel limit by between zero and 50 percent of the authorized channel width: At least 25 decibels below the mean power of the emission;

(ii) On any frequency above the upper channel limit or below the lower channel limit by more than 50 percent and up to 150 percent of the authorized channel width: At least 35 decibels below the mean power of the emission; and

(iii) On any frequency above the upper channel limit or below the lower channel limit by more than 150 percent of the authorized channel width: At least 43 + 10 log 10 (power in watts) decibels below the mean power of the emission.

(2) For CARS stations using vestigial sideband AM transmission: At least 50 decibels below the peak power of the emission.

(c) For operation in the 17.7.7-19.7 GHz band:

The mean power of any emission shall be attenuated below the mean output power of the transmitter in accordance with the following schedule:

(1) When using frequency modulation:

(i) On any frequency removed from the assigned (center) frequency by more than 50% up to and including 100% of the authorized bandwidth: At least 25 dB;

(ii) On any frequency removed from the assigned (center) frequency by more than 100% up to and including 250% of the authorized bandwidth: At least 35 dB;

(iii) On any frequency removed from the assigned (center) frequency by more than 250% of the authorized bandwidth: At least 43 + 10 log 10 (mean output power in watts) dB, or 80 dB, whichever is the lesser attenuation.

(2) When using digital modulation:

(i) In any 1 MHz band, the center frequency of which is removed from the assigned frequency by more than 50% up to and including 250% of the authorized bandwidth: As specified by the following equation but in no event less than 11 dB.

A = 11 + 0.4 (P − 50) + 10 log10 B where: A = Attenuation (in dB) below the mean output power level. P = Percent removed from the carrier frequency. B = Authorized bandwidth in MHz.

[Attenuation greater than 56 decibels is not required.]

(ii) In any 4 kHz band, the center frequency of which is removed from the assigned frequency by more than 250% of the authorized bandwidth: At least 43 = 10 log10 (mean output power in watts) dB, or 80 dB, whichever is the lesser attenuation.

(3) Amplitude Modulation:

For vestigial sideband AM video: On any frequency removed from the center frequency of the authorized band by more than 50%: at least 50 dB below peak power of the emission.

(d) In the event that interference to other stations is caused by emissions outside the authorized channel, the Commission may require greater attenuation than that specified in paragraph (b) of this section.

(e) The maximum bandwidth that will be authorized per frequency assignment is set out in the table that follows. Regardless of the maximum authorized bandwidth specified for each frequency band, the Commission reserves the right to issue a license for less than the maximum bandwidth if it appears that a bandwidth less than the maximum would be sufficient to support an applicant's intended communications.

[37 FR 3292, Feb. 12, 1972, as amended at 37 FR 15927, Aug. 8, 1972; 38 FR 16648, June 25, 1973; 39 FR 26025, July 16, 1974; 48 FR 50736, Nov. 3, 1983; 49 FR 37779, Sept. 26, 1984; 52 FR 7145, Mar. 9, 1987; 65 FR 48182, Aug. 7, 2000; 68 FR 12776, Mar. 17, 2003; 68 FR 68253, Dec. 8, 2003]

(a) The authorized bandwidth permitted to be used by a CARS station and specified in the station license shall be the occupied or necessary bandwidth, whichever is greater, except when otherwise authorized by the Commission in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) As an exception to the provision of paragraph (a) of this section, the Commission may approve requests to base the authorized bandwidth for the station on the lesser of the occupied or necessary bandwidth where a persuasive showing is made that:

(1) The frequency stability of the transmitting equipment to be used will permit compliance with § 78.103(b)(1) and, additionally, will permit 99 percent of the total radiated power to be kept within the frequency limits of the assigned channel.

(c) The emission designator shall be specified in terms of the necessary bandwidth. (See § 2.201(a) of this chapter.)

[39 FR 26025, July 16, 1974, as amended at 45 FR 78694, Nov. 26, 1980]

(a) For fixed stations operating in the 12.7-13.2 GHz and 17.7-19.7 GHz bands, the following standards apply:

(1) Fixed CARS stations shall use directional antennas that meet the performance standards indicated in the following table.

(i) Stations must employ an antenna that meets the performance standards for Category B. In areas subject to frequency congestion, where proposed facilities would be precluded by continued use of a Category B antenna, a Category A antenna must be employed. The Commission may require the use of a high performance antenna where interference problems can be resolved by the use of such antennas.

(ii) Upon adequate showing of need to serve a larger sector, or more than a single sector, greater beamwidth or multiple antennas may be authorized. Applicants shall request and authorization for stations in this service will specify the polarization of each transmitted signal.

(iii) Licensees shall comply with the antenna standards table shown in this paragraph in the following manner:

(A) With either the maximum beamwidth to 3 dB points requirement or with the minimum antenna gain requirement; and

(B) With the minimum radiation suppression to angle requirement.

(2) New periscope antenna systems will be authorized upon a certification that the radiation, in a horizontal plane, from an illuminating antenna and reflector combination meets or exceeds the antenna standards of this section. This provision similarly applies to passive repeaters employed to redirect or repeat the signal from a station's directional antenna system.

(3) The choice of receiving antennas is left to the discretion of the licensee. However, licensees will not be protected from interference which results from the use of antennas with poorer performance than defined in paragraph (a) of this section.

(4) Pickup stations are not subject to the performance standards herein stated. The provisions of this paragraph are effective for all new applications accepted for filing after October 1, 1981.

(b) Any fixed station licensed pursuant to an application accepted for filing prior to October 1, 1981, may continue to use its existing antenna system, subject to periodic renewal until April 1, 1992, After April 1, 1992, all licensees are to use antenna systems in conformance with the standards of this section. TV auxiliary broadcast stations are considered to be located in an area subject to frequency congestion and must employ a Category A antenna when:

(1) A showing by an applicant of a new CAR service or TV auxiliary broadcast, which shares the 12.7-13.20 GHz band with CARS, indicates that use of a category B antenna limits a proposed project because of interference, and

(2) That use of a category A antenna will remedy the interference thus allowing the project to be realized.

(c) As an exception to the provisions of this section, the FCC may approve requests for use of periscope antenna systems where a persuasive showing is made that no frequency conflicts exist in the area of proposed use. Such approvals shall be conditioned to require conversion to a standard antenna as required in paragraph (a) of this section when an applicant of a new TV auxiliary broadcast or Cable Television Relay station indicates that the use of the existing antenna system will cause interference and the use of a category A or B antenna will remedy the interference.

(d) As a further exception to the provision of paragraph (a) of this section the Commission may approve antenna systems not conforming to the technical standards where a persuasive showing is made that:

(1) Indicates in detail why an antenna system complying with the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section cannot be installed, and

(2) Includes a statement indicating that frequency coordination as required in § 78.18a was accomplished.

[45 FR 78694, Nov. 26, 1980, as amended at 49 FR 37779, Sept. 26, 1984; 50 FR 7343, Feb. 22, 1985; 51 FR 19841, June 3, 1986; 56 FR 50664, Oct. 8, 1991; 62 FR 4923, Feb. 3, 1997; 68 FR 12776, Mar. 17, 2003]

Applicants and licensees must comply with § 101.145 of this chapter to minimize the potential of interference to geostationary-satellites.

[68 FR 12776, Mar. 17, 2003]

(a) Applications for new cable television relay stations, other than fixed stations, will not be accepted unless the equipment specified therein has been certified in accordance with subpart J of part 2 of this chapter. In the case of fixed stations, the equipment must be authorized under Supplier's Declaration of Conformity for use pursuant to the provisions of this subpart. Transmitters designed for use in the 31.0 to 31.3 GHz band shall be authorized under Supplier's Declaration of Conformity.

Note 1 to the introductory text to paragraph (a):

The verification procedure has been replaced by Supplier's Declaration of Conformity. Equipment previously authorized under subpart J of part 2 of this chapter may remain in use. See § 2.950 of this chapter.

(1) All transmitters first licensed or marketed shall comply with technical standards of this subpart. This paragraph (b)(1) of this section is effective October 1, 1981.

(2) Neither certification nor Supplier's Declaration of Conformity is required for the following transmitters:

(i) Those which have an output power not greater than 250 mW and which are used in a CARS pickup station operating in the 12.7-13.2 GHz band; and

(ii) Those used under a developmental authorization.

(b) Cable television relay station transmitting equipment authorized to be used pursuant to an application accepted for filing prior to October 1, 1981, may continue to be used, provided, that if operation of such equipment causes harmful interference due to its failure to comply with the technical standards set forth in this subpart the Commission may, at its discretion, require the licensee to take such corrective action as is necessary to eliminate the interference.

(c) The installation of a CARS station shall be made by or under the immediate supervision of a qualified engineer. Any tests or adjustments requiring the radiation of signals and which could result in improper operation shall be conducted by or under the immediate supervision of a person with required knowledge and skill to perform such tasks.

(d) Simple repairs such as the replacement of tubes, fuses, or other plug-in components which require no particular skill may be made by an unskilled person. Repairs requiring replacement of attached components or the adjustment of critical circuits or corroborative measurements shall be made only by a person with required knowledge and skill to perform such tasks.

[37 FR 3292, Feb. 12, 1972, as amended at 45 FR 78695, Nov. 26, 1980; 49 FR 4001, Feb. 1, 1984; 49 FR 20672, May 16, 1984; 50 FR 7343, Feb. 22, 1985; 63 FR 36606, July 7, 1998; 63 FR 49870, Sept. 18, 1998; 82 FR 50837, Nov. 2, 2017]

(a) The distance between end points of a fixed link must equal or exceed the value set forth in the table below or the EIRP must be reduced in accordance with the equation set forth below.

(b) For paths shorter than those specified in the Table, the EIRP shall not exceed the value derived from the following equation.

EIRP = MAXEIRP − 40 log(A/B) dBW Where: EIRP = The new maximum EIRP (equivalent isotropically radiated power) in dBW. MAXEIRP = Maximum EIRP as set forth in the Table in § 74.636 of this part. A = Minimum path length from the Table above for the frequency band in kilometers. B = The actual path length in kilometers. Note to paragraph (b):

For transmitters using Automatic Transmitter Power Control, EIRP corresponds to the maximum transmitter power available, not the coordinated transmit power or the nominal transmit power.

(c) Upon an appropriate technical showing, applicants and licensees unable to meet the minimum path length requirement may be granted an exception to these requirements.

Note:

Links authorized prior to April 1, 1987, are excluded from this requirement, except that, effective April 1, 1992, the Commission will require compliance with the criteria where an existing link would otherwise preclude establishment of a new link.

[52 FR 7145, Mar. 9, 1987, as amended at 68 FR 12776, Mar. 17, 2003]

(a) Amendments to applications and modifications to stations are classified as major or minor. A major modification requires a formal application. A major amendment to an application is treated as a new application.

(b) Major modifications to a station or amendments to an application include, but are not limited to:

(1) Any increase in bandwidth;

(2) Any change in the transmitting antenna system of a station, other than a CARS pickup station, including the direction of the main radiation lobe, directive pattern, antenna gain or transmission line, antenna height or location;

(3) Any change in the type of modulation;

(4) Any change in the location of a station transmitter, other than a CARS pickup station transmitter, except a move within the same building or upon the tower or mast or a change in the area of operation of a CARS pickup station;

(5) Any change in frequency assignment, including polarization;

(6) Any increase in authorized operating power;

(7) Any substantial change in ownership or control;

(8) Any addition or change in frequency, excluding removing a frequency;

(9) Any modification or amendment requiring an environmental assessment (as governed by §§ 1.1301 through 1319 of this chapter, including changes affecting historic preservation under § 1.1307(a)(4) of this chapter and 16 U.S.C. 470 (National Historic Preservation Act));

(10) Any request requiring frequency coordination; or

(11) Any modification or amendment requiring notification to the Federal Aviation Administration as defined in 47 CFR 17, subpart B.

(c) Minor changes may be made at the discretion of the licensee, provided proper notice is given to the Commission within 30 days of implementing the change and provided further, that the changes are appropriately reflected in the next application for renewal of the license for the station.

(d) For applications and modifications, the following changes are considered minor:

(1) Any name change not involving change in ownership or control of the license;

(2) Any change to administrative information, e.g., address, telephone number, or contact person;

(3) Any change in ownership that does not affect the identity or controlling interest of the licensee;

(4) Lowering power;

(5) Removing one or more channels; or

(6) Deleting a path.

[68 FR 27004, May 19, 2003]

Stations in this service shall maintain the carrier frequency of each authorized transmitter to within the following percentage of the assigned frequency.

[52 FR 7145, Mar. 9, 1987, as amended at 68 FR 12776, Mar. 17, 2003]

(a) The licensee of each CARS station shall employ a suitable procedure to determine that the carrier frequency of each transmitter is maintained within the tolerance prescribed in § 78.111 at all times. The determination shall be made, and the results thereof entered in the station records: when a transmitter is initially installed; when any change is made in a transmitter which may affect the carrier frequency or the stability thereof; or in any case at intervals not exceeding one year.

(b) The choice of apparatus to measure the operating frequency is left to the discretion of the licensee. However, failure of the apparatus to detect departures of the operating frequency in excess of the prescribed tolerance will not be deemed an acceptable excuse for the violation.

[37 FR 3292, Feb. 12, 1972, as amended at 41 FR 29696, July 19, 1976; 50 FR 23422, June 4, 1985]

(a) If amplitude modulation is employed, negative modulation peaks shall not exceed 100 percent modulation.

[37 FR 3292, Feb. 12, 1972, as amended at 45 FR 78696, Nov. 26, 1980]

[50 FR 38537, Sept. 23, 1985, as amended at 63 FR 36606, July 7, 1998]