**DA 05-2518**

**Released: September 24, 2005**

**Media Bureau Announces Procedures to Promote the Resumption of Radio
and Television Broadcast Service to Areas Impacted by Hurricane Rita**

The Media Bureau announces procedures to help radio and television
stations resume and maintain broadcast operations to the residents of
the areas impacted by Hurricane Rita. For additional information,
broadcast stations should contact the Media Bureau staff specified
below.

**Special Temporary Authority:** Requests for special temporary
authority (STA) pursuant to Section 73.1635 of the Commission's rules
may be submitted by informal letter or email. FM, television, and low
power television stations also may file requests electronically through
the Consolidated Database System (CDBS). These requests will be handled
as expeditiously as possible. Requests should include the following
certification. "Neither the applicant nor any party to this application
is subject to a denial of federal benefits that includes FCC benefits
pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, 21 U.S.C. §
862."

AM and FM Stations: Norm Miller, 202 418-2767 (<Charles.Miller@fcc.gov>)

Television Stations: Kevin Harding or Nai Tam, 202 418-1600
(<Kevin.Harding@fcc.gov> or <Nai.Tam@fcc.gov>)

**Emergency Antennas:** Section 73.1680 of the Commission's rules
permits FM and TV stations to erect temporary antennas without prior
authority from the FCC. It also allows AM stations to use a horizontal
or vertical wire or a non-directional vertical element of a directional
antenna as an emergency antenna. The Media Bureau waives the requirement
that licensees notify the Commission within 24 hours of the commencement
of operations employing such antennas. If a licensee desires to continue
to use an emergency antenna, it must submit a request for STA within 10
business days of commencement of operations. This waiver is applicable
to any station which ceased operations as a result of Hurricane Rita and
is effective until January 1, 2006.

AM and FM Stations: Norm Miller, 202 418-2767 (<Charles.Miller@fcc.gov>)

Television Stations: Kevin Harding or Nai Tam, 202 418-1600
(<Kevin.Harding@fcc.gov> or <Nai.Tam@fcc.gov>)

Low Power Television Stations: Mohammad Habib, 202 418-1600
(<Mohammad.Habib@fcc.gov>)

**AM Nighttime Operations:** Section 73.1250(f) of the Commission's
rules permits AM stations to use their full daytime facilities during
nighttime hours to broadcast emergency information, provided all
operation is conducted on a noncommercial basis. The Media Bureau waives
Section 73.1250(f) of the Commission's rules to permit an AM licensee to
operate with such facilities during nighttime hours based on the
licensee's good faith determination that such operations are necessary
to the safety of life or property or where dangerous conditions of a
general nature exist. Licensees must notify the Commission within 48
hours of the commencement of such operations. Authority to operate with
daytime facilities during nighttime hours may be rescinded upon
licensee's failure to resolve all interference complaints. This waiver
is effective until November 1, 2005.

Contact: Norm Miller, 202 418-2767 (<Charles.Miller@fcc.gov>)

**Limited and Discontinued Operations:** The Media Bureau encourages any
station which has discontinued operations as a result of Hurricane Rita
to submit a notification and, if necessary, request authority to remain
silent within the periods specified in Section 73.1740(a)(4) of the
Commission's rules. The Media Bureau waives this rule to accept
notifications within 30 days and requests to remain silent within 60
days of the discontinuance of operations. Notifications and requests may
be submitted by informal letter, email, or by filing electronically
through CDBS. This waiver is effective until January 1, 2006.

AM and FM Stations: Allen Myers, 202 418-2774 (<Allen.Myers@fcc.gov>)

Televisions Stations: Kevin Harding, 202 418-1600
(<Kevin.Harding@fcc.gov>)

Low Power Television Stations: Mohammad Habib, 202 418-1600
(<Mohammad.Habib@fcc.gov>)

**Tolling of Broadcast Station Construction Permit Deadlines:** Upon
request, a permittee of a broadcast station located within a Federal
Disaster Area will be provided an additional 90 days to complete
construction. Stations located outside such areas will be provided an
additional 90 days upon submission of a particularized showing of
construction delays caused by Hurricane Rita.

AM and FM Stations: Irene Bleiweiss, 202 418-2785
(<Irene.Bleiweiss@fcc.gov>)

Television Stations: Molly Fitzgerald, 202 418-1600
(<Mary.Fitzgerald@fcc.gov>)

Low Power Television Stations: Shaun Maher, 202 419-1600
(<Shaun.Maher@fcc.gov>)

**\--FCC\--**