**PUBLIC NOTICE**![](media/image1.png){width="0.7388888888888889in"
height="0.7458333333333333in"}

**FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION** News Media Information: (202)
418-0500

**445 12th STREET, S.W.** Fax-On-Demand: (202) 418-2830

# WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 Internet: [http://www.fcc.gov](http://www.fcc.gov/)

# ftp.fcc.gov

DA 03-831

March 20, 2003

OMB Control No. 3060-1034

**IBOC Notification Procedures Effective Immediately**

## 

## AM and FM Stations Implementing Digital Operations May Do So Without Special Temporary Authority; Notification Required Within 10 Days of Commencement of Digital Operations 

The Media Bureau (MB) announces that AM and FM radio stations must
notify the Commission by letter within 10 days of the commencement of
in-band, on-channel (IBOC) digital transmissions. This new notification
procedure is effective immediately and replaces the requirement that
radio stations obtain special temporary authority (STA) prior to the
initiation of IBOC transmissions. The digital notification letter shall
provide the information listed below. A sample notification letter is
shown in Attachment A, and is also available on the Commission's web
site at
[http://www.fcc.gov](http://www.fcc.gov/)[/mb/ad/digital]{.underline}.

**Interim digital operation.** AM and FM stations may commence IBOC
operations immediately with the iBiquity hybrid IBOC systems[^1]
evaluated by the National Radio Systems Committee. [^2] The notification
procedure is intended to assist the Commission in monitoring the
development of digital radio, including its technical impact on analog
service.[^3] Specifications of iBiquity's hybrid IBOC systems, known as
HD Radio, are given in Appendices B and C of the *IBOC Order*. Stations
implementing IBOC shall broadcast the same main channel program material
in both analog and digital modes, and shall use their licensed main
antennas.[^4]

Until further notice, AM stations must restrict IBOC operation to
daytime hours. An AM station with authority to operate between 6 a.m.
and local sunrise (pre-sunrise hours) and between local sunset and 6
p.m. (post-sunset hours)[^5] may operate its hybrid IBOC system during
those periods.

**Information required in the digital notification letter.** Stations
must notify the Commission within 10 days of the commencement of IBOC
transmissions. The notification letter shall contain the following
information:

-   the date that interim operation commenced;

-   a certification that the IBOC facilities conform to the iBiquity
    hybrid specifications;

-   the name and telephone number of a technical representative the
    Commission can call in the event of interference;

-   transmitter power output; if separate analog and digital
    transmitters are used, the power output for each transmitter;

-   a certification that analog effective radiated power remains as
    authorized;

-   a certification that the interim operation would not cause human
    exposure to levels of radiofrequency radiation in excess of Section
    1.1310 of the Commission's rules and is therefore categorically
    excluded from environmental processing pursuant to Section
    1.1306(b). Any station that cannot certify compliance must submit an
    environmental assessment (EA) pursuant to Section 1.1311 and may not
    commence interim operation until such EA is ruled upon by the
    Commission;[^6] and

-   if applicable, any power reduction in an AM station's primary
    digital carriers.[^7]

A copy of the notification letter shall be posted next to the station
license and a copy retained in the station's public inspection file.
Digital notifications shall be sent to the following address:

> Digital Radio Notification
>
> 445 12^th^ Street S.W.
>
> Room 2-B450
>
> Washington, DC 20554

**Stations with STAs for IBOC operation.** Stations granted STAs for
IBOC operation before the notification procedures became effective
received such authority for a period of 6 months, consistent with the
limitations in 47 C.F.R. § 73.1635. To convert to standard interim
digital authority, which will not require renewal, we require all
stations that have commenced IBOC operations under an STA to send a
digital notification letter with the information listed above.

For additional information, contact Ann Gallagher (FM notification) or
Norm Miller (AM notification) at the Audio Division, Media Bureau at
(202) 418-2700.

> Attachment A: Sample Digital Notification Letter

![](media/image2.wmf){width="6.944444444444445e-4in"
height="6.944444444444445e-4in"}

**FCC NOTICE REQUIRED BY THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT**

On February 24, 2003, the Commission received approval for the
information collection contained herein pursuant to the \"emergency
processing\" provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (5 CFR
1320.13). The OMB Control Number for this information collection is
**3060-1034**, expiring on August 31, 2003. The annual reporting burdens
for this collection of information, including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining
the required data and completing and reviewing the collection of
information, are estimated to be: 200 respondents, 2 hours per response
per annum, for a total annual burden of 400; there are no annual costs.
If you have any comments on this burden estimate, or how we can improve
the collection and reduce the burden it causes you, please write to Les
Smith, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-A804, 445 12^th^
Street, SW, Washington, DC, 20554. Please include the OMB Control
Number: 3060-1034, in your correspondence. We will also accept your
comments regarding the Paperwork Reduction Act aspects of this
collection via the Internet if you send them to lesmith@fcc.gov or call
(202)418-0217.

Under 5 CFR Section 1320, an agency may not conduct or sponsor a
collection of information unless it displays a current valid control
number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply
with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
(PRA) that does not display a valid control number. The OMB Control
Number for this collection is **3060-1034**.

THE FORGOING NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995,
PUBLIC LA W 104-13, OCTOBER 1, 1995, 44 U.S.C. SECTION 3507.

**[ATTACHMENT A -- SAMPLE NOTIFICATION LETTER]{.underline}**

\[Date\]

Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary

Federal Communications Commission

Digital Radio Notification

445 Twelfth Street, S.W.

Room 2-B450

Washington, D.C. 20554

> Re: \[Station Call Sign\]\[AM/FM\]\[City, State\]\[Frequency/Channel\]
>
> Facility Identification Number: \[ \]
>
> Notification of Digital Operation

Dear Ms. Dortch:

\[Name of Licensee\] hereby notifies the Commission of the commencement
of digital broadcasting using iBiquity Digital Corporation's HD Radio™
technology. Consistent with the Commission's recent Order on interim
digital operations,[^8] \[Name of Licensee\] hereby supplies the
following information in support of this notification.

1.  *Date*. \[Name of Licensee\] plans to commence digital broadcasts on
    \[insert date\]

2.  *Certification of Facilities*. \[Name of Licensee\] hereby certifies
    its facilities conform to the iBiquity Digital Corporation hybrid
    \[AM or FM\] specifications.

3.  *Technical Reference*. In the event of interference, questions
    should be directed to \[Name of Licensee\]'s technical
    representative:

> \[ Name\]
>
> \[telephone number\]

4.  *Transmitter Output Power*.

> Combined:
>
> Analog:
>
> Digital:

5.  *Certification of ERP*. \[Name of Licensee\] hereby certifies its
    analog effective radiated power will remain as authorized after
    commencement of digital operations.

6.  *Radiation Exposure Certification*. \[Name of Licensee\] hereby
    certifies that its interim digital operations will not cause human
    exposure to levels of radio frequency radiation in excess of Section
    1.1310 of the Commission's rules and is therefore categorically
    excluded from environmental processing pursuant to Section 1.1306
    (b).

> 7\. (For AM stations only): The primary digital carrier power has been
> reduced by \_\_\_\_ dB from the iBiquity specified level. \_\_\_\_ Not
> applicable.

Any questions concerning this notification should be directed to the
undersigned.

\[Signature\]

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\[Name\]

\[Title\]

[^1]: The term "hybrid" refers to a system which transmits both the
    digital and analog signals within the spectral emission mask of a
    single AM or FM channel.

[^2]: *Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and Their Impact on the
    Terrestrial Broadcast Service,* 17 FCC Rcd 19990, 20004 (2002)
    *("IBOC Order").*

[^3]: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the new
    information collection requirements under the Paperwork Reduction
    Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501, *et seq.* OMB Control No. 3060-1034.

[^4]: FM licensees must excite all radiating elements of their
    authorized antennas with both analog and digital signals. The
    Commission has not authorized interim operations that employ
    separate radiating elements for analog and digital signals. The
    notification procedures announced in this *Public Notice* may not be
    used to authorize such operations.

[^5]: *See* 47 C.F.R. § 73.99.

[^6]: *See* 47 C.F.R. § 1.1312(b).

[^7]: *See IBOC Order,* 17 FCC Rcd at 20000*.*

[^8]: *Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and Their Impact on the
    Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service*, MM Docket No. 99-325, *First
    Report and Order* (October 11, 2002).