§ 73.816 - Antennas.

§ 73.816 Antennas.

Cross Reference

Link to an amendment published at 85 FR 35573, June 11, 2020.

(a) Permittees and licensees may employ nondirectional antennas with horizontal only polarization, vertical only polarization, circular polarization or elliptical polarization.

(b) Directional antennas generally will not be authorized and may not be utilized Permittees and licensees may employ directional antennas in the LPFM service, except as provided in accordance with paragraph (cd) of this section.

(c) [Reserved]

(d)

(1) Composite antennas and antenna arrays may be used where the total ERP does not exceed the maximum determined in accordance with § 73.811(a).

(2) Either horizontal, vertical, circular, or elliptical polarization may be used provided that the supplemental vertically polarized ERP required for circular or elliptical polarization does not exceed the ERP otherwise authorized. Either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation may be used. Separate transmitting antennas are permitted if both horizontal and vertical polarization is to be provided.

(3) An application that specifies the use of a directional antenna must provide the information identified in § 73.316(c) except that such information shall not be required of:

(i) Public safety and transportation permittees and licensees

,

eligible pursuant to § 73.853(a)(2)

, may utilize

using directional antennas in connection with

the

operation of

a

Travelers' Information Service stations;

(

TIS

ii)

provided each

LPFM

TIS station utilizes only a single antenna with standard pattern characteristics that are predetermined by the manufacturer. Public safety and transportation

permittees and licensees

may not use composite antennas (i.e., antennas that consist of multiple stacked and/or phased discrete transmitting antennas). (2) LPFM permittees and licensees

proposing a waiver of the second-adjacent channel spacing requirements of § 73.807

may utilize directional antennas

for the sole purpose of justifying such a waiver

.

; and

(

d) LPFM TIS stations will be authorized as nondirectional stations. The use of a directional antenna as provided for in paragraph (c) of this section will not be considered in the determination of compliance with any requirements of this part.

iii) LPFM permittees and licensees using directional antennas solely for the purpose of meeting the international border zone distance requirements of § 73.807(g).

[65 FR 67303, Nov. 9, 2000, as amended at 78 FR 2106, Jan. 9, 2013; 85 FR 35573, June 11, 2020]