Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 122 /Thursday, June 25, 1998 / Proposed Rules 34619

frequency energy that these devices

generate can be conducted back onto the

AC power line. The conducted radio

frequency energy can cause interference

to radio communications via two

possible paths. First, the radio

frequency energy may be carried along

the electrical wiring to another device

that is also connected to the electrical

wiring. Second, the AC electrical wiring

can act as an antenna to radiate signals

over the airwaves. At frequencies below

30 MHz, where wavelengths are greater

than 10 meters, the long stretches of

electrical wiring can act as very efficient

antennas. Further, the signals radiating

onto the airwaves can cause interference

to operations at considerable distances

because propagation losses are low at

these frequencies.

2. Parts 15 and 18 of the rules control

the potential for such interference by

limiting the levels of RF voltage that

devices may conduct onto the AC power

line. Part 15 of the Commission’s rules

specifies conducted emissions limits for

radio frequency devices, including

unintentional and intentional radiators.

Part 18 specifies conducted emissions

limits for industrial, scientific, and

medical (ISM) equipment. Industrial,

scientific and medical equipment is

equipment or appliances designed to

generate and use locally RF energy for

industrial, scientific, medical, domestic

or similar purposes, excluding

applications in the field of

telecommunication. Compliance is

usually determined by connecting the

device to a line impedance stabilization

network, or LISN, which allows

measurement of RF voltage under

standard conditions. Most products are

subject to conducted emissions limits

that cover the frequency range 450 kHz

to 30 MHz. The sole exception is

induction cooking ranges, which are

subject to conducted emissions limits

beginning at 10 kHz because these

products generate high levels of radio

emissions at very low frequencies.

3. Certain devices or systems use

carrier current techniques to

deliberately couple RF energy to the AC

electrical wiring for purposes of

communication. Many AM campus

radio systems use carrier current

technology. Electrical utilities often use

carrier current technology for

monitoring and control of the electrical

grid. A variety of devices intended for

home use, such as intercom systems and

remote controls for electrical appliances

and lamps, also use carrier current

technology. Interference from carrier

current systems is controlled primarily

by requiring compliance with radiated

emissions limits. These standards

provide system operators and

equipment manufacturers the flexibility

they need to adjust the signal levels they

couple to the electrical wiring to take

into account local variations, such as

differences in impedance and layout of

the wiring. Carrier current systems that

contain their fundamental emission

within the standard AM broadcast band

of 535–1705 kHz and are intended to be

received using standard AM broadcast

receivers have no limit on conducted

emissions. All other carrier current

systems are subject to a conducted

emission limit only within the AM

broadcast band.

4. By this action, the Commission is

reviewing the conducted emissions

limits in Parts 15 and 18 of the

Commission’s rules. The conducted

emissions limits control the levels of

radio frequency (RF) voltage that

equipment may conduct onto the (AC)

power line. The purpose of these limits

is to protect against interference to radio

services operating below 30 MHz. The

Commission is initiating this proceeding

on its own motion as part of an ongoing

program of regulatory review. The

conducted emissions limits apply to a

wide variety of products, including

various consumer electronic devices

and radio transmitters. We seek to

examine whether these regulations

continue to be necessary, and if so,

whether any changes to the limits may

be appropriate. In this regard, we seek

information as to the costs of complying

with these regulations. We are also

interested in determining whether the

regulations may impede new

technologies. Further, we will examine

our general regulations for carrier

current systems. Upon review of the

responses to this inquiry, we will

determine whether to propose any

changes to these regulations.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–16628 Filed 6–24–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–F

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS

COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket No. 98–87; RM–9278]

Radio Broadcasting Services; Kaycee,

WY

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: The Commission requests

comments on a petition filed by

Mountain Tower Broadcasting

proposing the allotment of Channel

222C1 at Kaycee, Wyoming, as the

community’s first local aural

transmission service. Channel 222C1

can be allotted to Kaycee in compliance

with the Commission’s minimum

distance separation requirements with a

site restriction of 38.9 kilometers (24.2

miles) southwest to avoid short-spacings

to the licensed site of Station

KLZY(FM), Channel 223C, Powell,

Wyoming, and to the application site for

Channel 222C at Rapid City, South

Dakota. The coordinates for Channel

222C1 at Kaycee are North Latitude 43–

27–55 and West Longitude 106–58–40.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or

before August 3, 1998, and reply

comments on or before August 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications

Commission, Washington, DC 20554. In

addition to filing comments with the

FCC, interested parties should serve the

petitioner, or its counsel or consultant,

as follows: Victor A. Michael, Jr.,

President, Mountain Tower

Broadcasting, 7901 Stoneridge Drive,

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009 (Petitioner).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sharon P. McDonald, Mass Media

Bureau, (202) 418–2180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a

synopsis of the Commission’s Notice of

Proposed Rule Making, MM Docket No.

98–87, adopted June 3, 1998, and

released June 12, 1998. The full text of

this Commission decision is available

for inspection and copying during

normal business hours in the FCC

Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M

Street, NW., Washington, DC. The

complete text of this decision may also

be purchased from the Commission’s

copy contractor, International

Transcription Service, Inc., (202) 857–

3800, 1231 20th Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20036.

Provisions of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act of 1980 do not apply to

this proceeding.

Members of the public should note

that from the time a Notice of Proposed

Rule Making is issued until the matter

is no longer subject to Commission

consideration or court review, all ex

parte contacts are prohibited in

Commission proceedings, such as this

one, which involve channel allotments.

See 47 CFR 1.1204(b) for rules

governing permissible ex parte contacts.

For information regarding proper

filing procedures for comments, see 47

CFR 1.415 and 1.420.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

Radio broadcasting.
34620 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 122 /Thursday, June 25, 1998 / Proposed Rules

Federal Communications Commission.

John A. Karousos,

Chief, Allocations Branch, Policy and Rules

Division, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 98–16925 Filed 6–24–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS

COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket No. 98–88; RM–9285]

Radio Broadcasting Services; Wright,

WY

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: The Commission requests

comments on a petition filed by

Mountain Tower Broadcasting

proposing the allotment of Channel

268C at Wright, Wyoming, as the

community’s first local aural

transmission service. Channel 268C can

be allotted to Wright in compliance with

the Commission’s minimum distance

separation requirements with a site

restriction of 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles)

east to avoid a short-spacing to the

application site for Channel 269C1,

Thermopolis, Wyoming. The

coordinates for Channel 268C at Wright

are North Latitude 43–45–08 and West

Longitude 105–26–33.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or

before August 3, 1998, and reply

comments on or before August 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications

Commission, Washington, DC 20554. In

addition to filing comments with the

FCC, interested parties should serve the

petitioner, his counsel, or consultant, as

follows: Victor A. Michael, Jr.,

President, Mountain Tower

Broadcasting, 7901 Stoneridge Drive,

Cheyenne, WY 82009 (Petitioner).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sharon P. McDonald, Mass Media

Bureau, (202) 418–2180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a

synopsis of the Commission’s Notice of

Proposed Rule Making, MM Docket No.

98–88, adopted June 3, 1998, and

released June 12, 1998. The full text of

this Commission decision is available

for inspection and copying during

normal business hours in the FCC

Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M

Street, NW., Washington, DC. The

complete text of this decision may also

be purchased from the Commission’s

copy contractor, International

Transcription Service, Inc., (202) 857–

3800, 1231 20th Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20036.

Provisions of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act of 1980 do not apply to

this proceeding.

Members of the public should note

that from the time a Notice of Proposed

Rule Making is issued until the matter

is no longer subject to Commission

consideration or court review, all ex

parte contacts are prohibited in

Commission proceedings, such as this

one, which involve channel allotments.

See 47 CFR 1.1204(b) for rules

governing permissible ex parte contacts.

For information regarding proper

filing procedures for comments, see 47

CFR 1.415 and 1.420.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

Radio broadcasting.

Federal Communications Commission.

John A. Karousos,

Chief, Allocations Branch, Policy and Rules

Division, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 98–16924 Filed 6–24–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS

COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket No. 98–89; RM–9279]

Radio Broadcasting Services; Hanna,

WY

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: The Commission requests

comments on a petition filed by

Mountain Tower Broadcasting

proposing the allotment of Channel

277C at Hanna, Wyoming, as the

community’s first local aural

transmission service. Channel 277C can

be allotted to Hanna in compliance with

the Commission’s minimum distance

separation requirements with a site

restriction of 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles)

south to avoid a short-spacing to the

construction permit site for Station

KQLT(FM), Channel 279C, Casper,

Wyoming. The coordinates for Channel

277C at Hanna North Latitude 41–49–13

and West Longitude 106–34–54.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or

before August 3, 1998, and reply

comments on or before August 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications

Commission, Washington, DC 20554. In

addition to filing comments with the

FCC, interested parties should serve the

petitioner, his counsel, or consultant, as

follows: Victor A. Michael, Jr.,

President, Mountain Tower

Broadcasting, 7901 Stoneridge Drive,

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009 (Petitioner).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sharon P. McDonald, Mass Media

Bureau, (202) 418–2180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a

synopsis of the Commission’s Notice of

Proposed Rule Making, MM Docket No.

98–89, adopted June 3, 1998, and

released June 12, 1998. The full text of

this Commission decision is available

for inspection and copying during

normal business hours in the FCC

Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M

Street, NW., Washington, DC. The

complete text of this decision may also

be purchased from the Commission’s

copy contractor, International

Transcription Service, Inc., (202) 857–

3800, 1231 20th Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20036.

Provisions of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act of 1980 do not apply to

this proceeding.

Members of the public should note

that from the time a Notice of Proposed

Rule Making is issued until the matter

is no longer subject to Commission

consideration or court review, all ex

parte contacts are prohibited in

Commission proceedings, such as this

one, which involve channel allotments.

See 47 CFR 1.1204(b) for rules

governing permissible ex parte contacts.

For information regarding proper

filing procedures for comments, see 47

CFR 1.415 and 1.420.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

Radio broadcasting.

Federal Communications Commission.

John A. Karousos,

Chief, Allocations Branch, Policy and Rules

Division, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 98–16923 Filed 6–24–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS

COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket No. 98–90; RM–9270]

Radio Broadcasting Services; Dayton,

WA and Weston, OR

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: The Commission requests

comments on a petition filed by Dayton

Broadcasting Company proposing the

substitution of Channel 270C2 for

Channel 272A at Dayton, Washington,

the reallotment of Channel 270C2 from