[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 28, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26491-26496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12946]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket No. 96-62; FCC 96-124]


Broadcast Blanketing Interference

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Commission proposes consolidation of FCC regulations to 
combine the blanketing interference rules into a new single rule 
section for AM, FM, and TV broadcast services. This rulemaking 
proceeding also proposes to amend signal contour determinations in 
establishing AM radio and TV broadcast blanketing areas, provide 
detailed clarification of broadcast licensee's responsibility in 
resolving blanketing interference, and provide a list of protected and 
non-protected devices.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or before June 25, 1996 and reply 
comments filed on or before July 25, 1996. Written comments by the 
public

[[Page 26492]]

on the proposed and/or modified information collections are due on or 
before June 29, 1996. Written comments must be submitted by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) on the proposed and/or modified 
information collections on or before July 29, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554. In 
addition to filing comments with the Secretary, a copy of any comments 
on the information collection contained herein should be submitted to 
Dorothy Conway, Federal Communications Commission, Room 234, 1919 M 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20554, or via the Internet to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2246414d4c55435b624441410c454d54"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fc989f93928b9d85bc9a9f9fd29b938a">[email protected]</span></a>, and to Timothy Fain, OMB Desk Officer, 10234 NEOB, 
725--17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503 or via the Internet to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1a7c7b737410454545456e5a7b76347f756a347d756c">fain
<span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="83dcdcdcdcf7c3e2efade6ecf3ade4ecf5">[email protected]</span></a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernard Gorden (202) 418-2190, or 
Robert Greenberg (202) 418-2720, Mass Media Bureau. For additional 
information concerning the information collection contained in the 
NPRM, contact Dorothy Conway at (202) 418-0217, or via the Internet at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bcd8dfd3d2cbddc5fcdadfdf92dbd3ca"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fb9f9894958c9a82bb9d9898d59c948d">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Information Collection Notification

    The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. The NRPM has been 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review under 
Section 3507(d) of the PRA. Comments are requested concerning (a) 
whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including 
whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of the Commissions burden estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information collected and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on the 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    OMB Control Number: None.
    Title: Proposed Section 73.1630 Blanketing Interference.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: New.
    Respondents: Broadcast Licensees.
    Number of Respondents: 21,000 Complainants.
    Estimated time per response: The burden ranges from 1 hour to 2 
hours.
    Annual Burden: 41,000 hours.
    Total Annual Cost per Respondent: 0.
    Needs and Uses: This rulemaking proceeding proposes to provide 
detailed clarification of the AM, FM, and TV licensee's 
responsibilities in resolving/eliminating blanketing interference 
caused by their individual stations. Under the current rules (Section 
73.88 (AM), Section 73.318 (FM), Section 73.685(d) (TV)), the licensee 
is financially responsible for resolving complaints of interference 
within one year of program test authority when certain conditions are 
met. After the first year, a licensee is only required to provide 
technical assistance in determining the cause of the interference. In 
this NPRM, we are proposing to consolidate all blanketing interference 
rules under a new Section 73.1630, Blanketing Interference. This new 
rule is designed to facilitate the resolution of broadcast interference 
problems and sets forth all responsibilities of the licensee/permittee 
of a broadcast station. For one year after the broadcast station 
commences program tests, the licensee is financially responsible for 
resolving blanketing interference complaints. After the first year, the 
licensee is obligated to provide technical assistance to resolve 
complaints of blanketing interference. The information provided to 
complainants will be used to facilitate the resolution of complaints of 
blanketing interference.
    This is a synopsis of the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rule 
Making in MM Docket No. 96-62 adopted March 21, 1996, and released on 
April 26, 1996. The complete text of this Notice of Proposed Rule 
Making is available for inspection and copying during normal business 
hours in the FCC Dockets Branch (Room 230), 1919 M St., NW., 
Washington, DC, and may be purchased from the Commission's copy 
contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc., (202) 857-3800, 
2100 M St., NW., Suite 140, Washington, DC 20037.

Synopsis of Notice of Proposed Rule Making

    1. This proceeding is initiated, on the Commission's own motion, in 
order to clarify to what extent broadcast licensees are responsible for 
eliminating blanketing interference caused by their individual 
stations. In addition, this action is taken to refine and specify 
methods for determining the geographical blanketing area. In many 
cases, the licensee's responsibility in eliminating blanketing 
interference is misunderstood by listeners and broadcasters alike. 
Thus, the objectives of this action is intended to remove confusion and 
facilitate the resolution of broadcast blanketing interference 
problems.
    2. Receivers are designed to operate in an environment consisting 
of desired and undesired signals. As long as the levels of the signals 
remain within the design specifications of the receiver, it will 
operate in a predictable manner. If any of the signals in the 
environment exceed the design specifications of the receiver, the 
receiver will begin to operate with unpredictable results. In addition 
to broadcast receivers, as mentioned above, a wide range of electronic 
devices can suffer blanketing interference from the signals of nearby 
radio and TV stations. For example, we are aware of problems with 
telephone equipment (including answering machines, hard-wired, 
cordless, and cellular telephones), hi-fi audio amplifiers, public 
address systems, electronic music keyboard instruments, professional 
studio and home recording components, and electronic medical equipment. 
Currently, however, protection of these devices are not the 
responsibility of the broadcast licensee.

Blanketing Interference Contours

    3. Section 73.88 currently requires licensees of each AM broadcast 
station to satisfy all reasonable complaints of blanketing interference 
within the 1 V/m contour. Unlike the rules for FM, which define the 
method of calculating the blanketing contour, no such method is 
specified for AM. Thus, the licensee may find it convenient to 
determine the 1 V/m contour by field measurements. As an alternative, 
determining the AM blanketing contour mathematically for a single tower 
antenna may result in a close approximation of the measured contour. 
Determination of the AM blanketing contour from multi-tower directional 
antenna arrays, however, may need to be calculated with near-field 
considerations.
    4. In continuing to use the current AM blanketing contour, we 
propose that for directional antenna array systems, the determination 
of the 1 V/m contour along each radial direction should be by actual 
mathematical vector summation of the field radiated by each antenna. 
Since this approach may require near-field considerations, we believe 
that a more realistic determination of the 1 V/m contour AM blanketing 
area would be reflected with this method. Therefore, we propose to 
amend the rules for the method of calculating the blanketing

[[Page 26493]]

interference contour for AM broadcast stations as presented under 
proposed Section 73.1630(a) below.
    5. Because many of the transmitting antenna signal characteristics 
and structural locations are the same for both FM and television 
broadcast stations, we are not aware of any apparent reason, at this 
time, not to utilize for television stations the same blanketing area 
contour currently used for FM stations. Therefore, for regulatory 
consistency, we propose to amend the rules by specifying that the TV 
blanketing area be defined by the 115 dBu contour, as presented under 
proposed Section 73.1630(b) below.
    6. When the 115 dBu contour was originally proposed for FM 
blanketing in BC Docket No. 82-186, most of the commenters agreed with 
its use. Now that the industry has had much experience with this 
contour level, we seek information as to whether it continues to be an 
appropriate contour for defining FM blanketing areas, and should be 
extended for defining television blanketing areas. In addition, because 
the 1 V/m contour used for describing the AM blanketing area was 
established at an even earlier period than the FM blanketing contour, 
we seek information as to whether the 1 V/m contour continues to be an 
appropriate contour level in today's radiofrequency environment.

Licensee's Responsibility

    7. Under the current rules, which we propose to continue, the 
licensee is financially responsible for resolving complaints when all 
three of the following conditions are met: (1) The complainant's 
affected device is located inside the station's blanketing contour; (2) 
the complainant filed notice to the station within the first year of 
program test authority; and (3) the interference is not to electrical 
devices excluded from protection by Section 73.318(b). When these 
conditions are met, the licensee must provide effective technical 
assistance in determining the cause of the problem and advising on 
corrective measures. Resolution of such blanketing interference 
complaints may involve the installation of electrical or electronic 
filters and traps, or the replacement of the complainants' affected 
equipment, and these efforts are at the licensee's expense and without 
cost to the complainant. If an otherwise valid complaint is lodged 
after the one year period, the licensee is only required to provide 
effective technical assistance in determining the cause of the problem 
and advice on corrective measures; the licensee is not financially 
responsible for any necessary corrective equipment or measures. If a 
complainant is located outside of the blanketing contour area and files 
after the one year period or the complaint involves devices and 
equipment excluded from protection, the licensee has no obligation 
under our rules to resolve the interference problem. However, as noted 
earlier, many licensees take voluntary steps to assist in alleviating 
the interference to promote goodwill within the station's community.
    8. To give broadcast licensees further detailed guidance in 
resolving blanketing interference problems, we propose to publish in 
the rules an outlined summary of the station's responsibilities. We 
propose that the licensee responsibility will vary depending on (1) 
whether or not the complaint was filed within the first year of 
operation, (2) whether the complainant is located inside or outside the 
blanketing contour, and (3) whether the device experiencing 
interference is covered under the blanketing rule.
    9. Additionally, we note that in today's highly transitory society, 
neighborhoods may have many residents move in after the initial one 
year period specified in the rules. Further, the proliferation of new 
communications services and technology may bring into established 
neighborhoods many new devices subject to blanketing interference. 
Therefore, we seek comment on whether the Commission's rules should be 
modified for situations when blanketing interference occurs after the 
one year period. Further, we seek comment on whether locations of 
temporary lodging or transient residences, e.g., hotels, university 
student dormitories, and rental properties should be subject to the 
blanketing rules beyond the one year limit. In other words, we seek 
comment on whether a station's obligation ends with that initial group 
of complainants that files within one year, or whether the station's 
obligation should extend to subsequent residents. Further, we seek 
comment on whether these types of cases should be considered on a case-
by-case basis.

Effective Technical Assistance

    10. Section 73.1630(d) of the proposed rules states, ``[f]ollowing 
the one year period of full financial obligation to satisfy blanketing 
complaints, licensees shall provide technical information or assistance 
to complainants on remedies for blanketing interference.'' The rule 
requires that a licensee provide information and assistance 
sufficiently specific to enable the complainant to eliminate all 
blanketing interference and not simply that the station attempt to 
correct the problems. Effective technical assistance entails providing 
specific details about proper corrective measures to resolve the 
blanketing interference. For example, licensees may provide 
complainants with diagrams and descriptions which explain how and where 
to use radiofrequency chokes, ferrite cores, filters, and/or shielded 
cable. In addition, effective technical assistance also includes the 
recommendation on replacement equipment that would work better in the 
high radiofrequency fields. We note that the licensee may authorize a 
consultant or service company to provide this information or 
assistance. However, effective technical assistance is not rendered 
merely by referring the complainant to the equipment manufacturer.

High Gain Antennas

    11. Section 73.318(b) specifies the conditions under which 
licensees and permittees must satisfy complaints of blanketing 
interference. It states, in pertinent part, that ``[t]hese requirements 
specifically do not include interference complaints resulting from 
malfunctioning or mistuned receivers, improperly installed antenna 
systems, or the use of high gain antennas or antenna booster 
amplifiers.'' It has been our experience that high gain antennas have 
not been a factor in blanketing interference problems. Therefore, we 
propose to delete reference to high gain antennas from our blanketing 
rules and seek comment accordingly.

Telephone Interference

    12. A great number of blanketing interference complaints are 
submitted because of interference to telephones. The Commission's 
blanketing rules, however, do not currently require broadcasters to 
resolve telephone interference. Hard-wired telephones are considered 
non-RF devices under the current blanketing interference rules and 
thus, are excluded from protection per Section 73.318(b). Cordless 
telephones are covered by Part 15 of the Commission's rules and thus, 
Section 15.5(b) states, in pertinent part, that cordless telephones may 
not cause harmful interference and that interference to cordless 
telephones caused by the operation of an authorized radio station must 
be accepted. Portable and mobile cellular telephones are RF devices 
licensed under Part 22, Subpart K, and are considered as mobile 
receivers, and thus, not protected by the current blanketing 
interference rules. Because cell sites are fixed locations, however,

[[Page 26494]]

they would be protected from blanketing interference by the 
Commission's rules.
    13. We are concerned about interference to all telephones and 
wireless devices, including interference that may develop in future PCS 
and specialized mobile radio (SMR) systems. Therefore, we seek specific 
comment on the following questions:
    a. Should the Commission require broadcasters to resolve 
interference to telephones, either hard-wired or wireless?
    b. If so, to what extent should broadcast licensees be responsible 
for resolving the interference? The Commission found, while conducting 
the telephone interference survey, that filters are not always reliable 
in eliminating residential telephone interference. Thus, if such 
filtering devices are ineffective and licensees are not required to 
furnish them, to what extent should licensees provide other technical 
information and assistance?
    c. Should the Commission rely on industry voluntary efforts to 
implement interference free design standards for telephones, or should 
the Commission initiate a separate rulemaking proceeding to consider 
imposing higher interference immunity standards for residential 
telephones?
    d. If voluntary standards for interference immunity are developed, 
should there be any blanketing requirements for telephones that do not 
meet the voluntary standards for interference free telephones?

Licensee's Response Time

    14. There is currently no criteria for speed of service for 
correcting blanketing interference caused by new or modified station 
operation. Based on case history, many stations have been slow to 
respond, i.e., months before a complaint was acted upon, and often even 
further delay before the interference was finally corrected. There is 
also no specific requirement to maintain records of name, location, 
type of complaint, etc. The public inspection file requirements, 
however, do specify that license application engineering related 
matters need not be retained longer than three years in the local 
public inspection file. Accordingly, in that blanketing interference is 
of engineering related circumstances, the Commission expects broadcast 
licensees to maintain all letters of such complaints that are timely 
filed with the station per the proposed Section 73.1630. However, in 
order to establish a station's definitive efforts to solve blanketing 
interference, should we require stations to maintain a specific log for 
some period of time, such as two years after new construction or 
transmitter modification which would include name, location, phone 
number, date complaint filed, date complaint resolved, type of 
complaint, list of affected equipment (manufacturer's name and model 
number), and what action it took to resolve the complaint? And finally, 
should we require licensees to respond to complaints within a specified 
period such as 10 working days and to resolve the complaints within an 
additional period of time such as 30 calendar days?

Conclusion

    15. In light of the proliferation of electronic equipment available 
to consumers, the increase in the number of broadcast stations, and our 
concern about the effects of blanketing interference on future wireless 
communication systems, we believe that it is time to revisit the 
subject of broadcast blanketing interference. In addition to proposing 
amendments to refine the Commission's rules and regulations in this 
area for broadcast licensees, this proceeding may stimulate various 
related industry manufacturers to begin to meet the challenge of 
producing components that are less susceptible to blanketing 
interference. We are proposing specific rule amendments in the 
broadcast services that primarily clarify our current requirements. 
Additionally, we seek specific comment on the questions raised, 
especially those regarding telephone interference, and the specific 
rule amendments proposed below.

Administrative Matters

Ex Parte Rules--Non-Restricted Proceeding

    16. This is a non-restricted notice and comment rulemaking 
proceeding. Ex parte presentations are permitted, except during the 
Sunshine Agenda period, provided they are disclosed as provided in 
Commission rules. See generally 47 CFR Secs. 1.1202, 1.1203 and 
1.1206(a).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    17. As required by Section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 
the Commission has prepared the following Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) of the expected impact on small entities of 
the proposals suggested in this document. Written public comments are 
requested on the IRFA. These comments must be filed in accordance with 
the same filing deadlines as comments on the rest of the NPRM, but they 
must have a separate and distinct heading designating them as responses 
to the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis. The Secretary shall 
send a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rule Making, including the IRFA, 
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration 
in accordance with paragraph 603(a) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(Public Law No. 96-354, 94 Stat. 1164, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq. (1981)).
    Reason for Action. This action is taken in order to clarify to what 
extent broadcast licensees are responsible for eliminating blanketing 
interference cause by their individual stations. In addition, this 
action is taken to refine and specify methods for determining the 
geographical blanketing area.
    Objectives. In many cases, the licensee's responsibility in 
eliminating blanketing interference is misunderstood by listeners and 
broadcaster alike. Thus, the objectives of this action is intended to 
remove confusion and facilitate the resolution of broadcast blanketing 
interference problems.
    Legal Basis. Authority for the actions proposed in this Notice may 
be found in Sections 4 and 303 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended, 47 U.S.C. 154 and 303.
    Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance Requirements. None.
    Federal Rules which Overlap, Duplicate, or Conflict with the 
Proposed Rule. None.
    Description, Potential Impact and Number of Small Entities 
Involved. None.
    Any Significant Alternatives Minimizing the Impact on Small 
Entities and Consistent with the Stated Objectives. There are none 
apparent.

Initial Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis

    18. This NPRM contains either a proposed or modified information 
collection. As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork 
burdens, we invite the general public and the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) to take this opportunity to comment on the information 
collections contained in this NPRM, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law No. 104-13. Public and agency 
comments are due June 25, 1996, OMB comments are due July 29, 1996. 
Comments should address: (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimates; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and

[[Page 26495]]

clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including 
the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

Comment Information

    19. Pursuant to applicable procedures set forth in Sections 1.415 
and 1.419 of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR Secs. 1.415 and 1.419, 
interested parties may file comments on or before June 25, 1996 and 
reply comments on or before July 25, 1996. To file formally in this 
proceeding, you must file an original plus five copies of all comments, 
reply comments, and supporting comments. If you want each Commissioner 
to receive a personal copy of your comments, you must file an original 
plus nine copies. You should send comments and reply comments to Office 
of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 
20554. Comments and reply comments will be available for public 
inspection during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center 
(Room 239), 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20554.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

    Radio broadcasting, Television broadcasting.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.

Rule Changes

    Part 73 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations is proposed 
to be amended as follows:

PART 73--RADIO BROADCAST SERVICES

    1. The authority citation for Part 73 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 334.


Sec. 73.88  [Removed]

    2. Sections 73.88 is removed.


Sec. 73.318  [Removed]

    3. Section 73.318 is removed.
    4. Section 73.685 is amended by revising paragraph (d) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 73.685  Transmitter location and antenna system.

* * * * *
    (d) (See Section 73.1630 concerning blanketing interference)
* * * * *
    5. A new Section 73.1630 is added to Subpart H to read as follows:


Sec. 73.1630  Blanketing interference.

    (a) Calculation of the Blanketing Interference Contour for AM 
Stations. Areas adjacent to the transmitting antenna that receive a 
signal with a strength of 1 V/m or greater will be assumed to be 
blanketed. The determination of the location of the 1 V/m contour along 
a radial shall be by actual field strength measurement or by iterative 
vector summation of the field radiated by each antenna until the 1 V/m 
contour is located. The distance from each tower to the point at which 
the fields are being summed, shall be calculated using the Cosine Law 
with the distance from the tower to the array reference point being one 
side, the distance to the point of summation from the reference point 
being the second side and the angle between the two sides being the 
included angle. The field radiated by each tower is attenuated using 
only inverse distance attenuation and the phase of the field component 
from each tower shall be taken as the phase of the current at the 
tower's current loop minus the space phase from the tower to the point 
of summation.

    Note to paragraph (a): If d<INF>n is the distance from the 
reference point to the point of summation, s<INF>n the distance from 
the reference point to the tower n, and <greek-PH><INF>n the 
included angle, the distance D<INF>n, from tower n, is given by 
D<INF>n = (d<INF>n<SUP>2 + s<INF>n<SUP>2 
-2d<INF>ns<INF>ncos(<greek-PH> ))\<SUP>1/2\. The Field <greek-THM>, 
a vector quantity, is given by <greek-THM> = <greek-S> 
<greek-THM><INF>n/D<INF>n where <greek-THM><INF>n is the field 
radiated by tower n and D<INF>n is the distance from tower n.

    (b) Calculation of the Blanketing Interference Contour for FM and 
TV Stations. Areas adjacent to the transmitting antenna that receive a 
signal with a strength of 115 dBu (562 mV/m) or greater will be assumed 
to be blanketed. In determining the blanketed area, the 115 dBu contour 
is determined by calculating the inverse distance field using the 
effective radiated power of the maximum radiated lobe of the antenna 
without considering its vertical radiation pattern or height. For 
directional antennas, the effective radiated power in the pertinent 
bearing shall be used. The distance to the 115 dBu contour is 
determined using the following equation:

D (in kilometers) = 0.394<radical>P
D (in miles) = 0.245<radical>P

Where P is the maximum effective radiated power (ERP), measured in 
kilowatts, of the maximum radiated lobe.

    (c) After January 1, 1997, permittees or licensees who either 
commence program tests, replace their antennas, or request facilities 
modifications and are issued a new construction permit must satisfy all 
complaints of blanketing interference which are received by the station 
during a one year period. The period begins with the commencement of 
program test, or commencement of programming utilizing the new antenna. 
Resolution of complaints shall be at no cost to the complainant. These 
requirements specifically do not include interference complaints 
resulting from malfunctioning or mistuned receivers, improperly 
installed antenna systems, or the use of antenna booster amplifiers. 
Mobile receivers and non-RF devices such as tape recorders or hi-fi 
amplifiers (phonographs) are also excluded. (See the Appendix to 
Sec. 73.1630 for covered devices and non-covered devices.)
    (d) A permittee collocating with one or more existing stations and 
beginning program tests on or after January 1, 1997, must assume full 
financial responsibility for remedying new complaints of blanketing 
interference for a period of one year. Two or more permittees that 
concurrently collocate on or after January 1, 1997, shall assume shared 
responsibility for remedying blanketing complaints within the 
blanketing area unless an offending station can be readily determined 
and then that station shall assume full financial responsibility.
    (e) Following the one year period of full financial obligation to 
satisfy blanketing complaints, licensees shall provide technical 
information or assistance to complainants on remedies for blanketing 
interference.
    (f) A summary of the station's responsibilities are as follows:
    (1) Complainant Within the Blanketing Contour.
    (i) Complaint Received Within First Year of Operation--Paragraph 
(c) of this section.
    (A) DEVICES COVERED UNDER Section 73.1630--Licensee/permittee is 
financially responsible for resolving interference complaints.
    (B) DEVICES NOT COVERED UNDER Section 73.1630--Licensee/permittee 
is not financially responsible for resolving interference complaints.
    (ii) Complaint Received After First Year of Operation--Paragraph 
(e) of this section.
    (A) DEVICES COVERED UNDER Section 73.1630--Licensee/permittee is 
not financially responsible for resolving interference complaints. 
Licensee/permittee is required to provide technical assistance to 
complainants. This entails the providing of information on the cause of 
the interference and also providing information on proper corrective 
measures.

[[Page 26496]]

    (B) DEVICES NOT COVERED UNDER Section 73.1630--Same as paragraph 
(f)(1)(i)(B) of this section.
    (2) Complainant Outside the Blanketing Contour.
    (i) Complaint Received Within First Year of Operation--Paragraph 
(c) of this section.
    (A) DEVICES COVERED UNDER Section 73.1630--Licensee/permittee is 
not financially responsible for resolving interference complaints. 
However, the licensee/permittee is expected to cooperate with 
complainants by providing technical assistance in determining the cause 
of the problem and providing advice on corrective measures.
    (B) DEVICES NOT COVERED UNDER Section 73.1630--Same as paragraph 
(f)(1)(i)(B) of this section.
    (ii) Complaint Received After First Year of Operation--Paragraph 
(e) of this section.
    (A) DEVICES COVERED UNDER Section 73.1630--Same as paragraph 
(f)(1)(i)(B) of this section.
    (B) DEVICES NOT COVERED UNDER Section 73.1630--Same as paragraph 
(f)(1)(i)(B) of this section.

Appendix to Sec. 73.1630--Covered and Non-Covered Devices

I. Devices Covered Under 47 CFR Sec. 73.1630

Receivers, Tuners, and RF Amplifiers

    --Radio (stationary or portable)
    --TV (stationary or portable)
    --Satellite TV
    --VCR
    --Cable TV head-end
    --Fixed radio sites for cellular systems, private radio 
services, SMR and PCS systems.

II. Devices Not Covered Under 47 CFR Sec. 73.1630

    --Malfunctioning or mistuned receivers
    --Improperly installed antenna systems
    --Antenna booster amplifiers
    --Mobile receivers and non-RF devices such as:
    --Mobile receivers (i.e. Walkman or Watchman)
    --Car radios
    --Musical instrument amplifiers
    --All Telephones (including hard-wired, cordless, mobile or 
pocket cellular or PCS)
    --Answering machines
    --Digital or Analog tape recorders
    --CD players
    --Phonographs
    --Computers

III. Definitions

    Mobile Receivers--Devices that do not remain in one fixed 
location. These devices are excluded due to their inherently 
transient nature.
    Portable Receivers--Capable of being carried, whether operating 
by electric cord or batteries.

    Note: Not all portable receivers are operated in the mobile 
mode.

[FR Doc. 96-12946 Filed 5-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P

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