[BC] Next up - EXB and thoughts

[Tom]

Been pondering the related topic of the proposal to expand FM into 
chs 5 and 6, and migrate various services, expand LPFM slots and NCEs 
with 100 kHz spacing.

Here's what I've come up with so far...

Phase 1) Starting at 76 MHz, migrate all Class D AMs that CANNOT have 
ANY night-time facilities at all in the top 50 markets.  (I haven't 
researched this, but bear with me...), and all Class D AMs operating 
on Region 2 Clears, whether they have night / CH / PSRA/PSSA / 
facilities or not, and the first-adjacents thereto, regardless of 
market.  100 kHz spacing

Phase 2) Allow all remaining Class D's the opportunity to either 
upgrade to Class B status or migrate to EXB; again, 100 kHz spacing in EXB.
With the daytimers gone, there could be sufficient room for the 
varied and sundry stations remaining to get 250-watt nights, even if 
it's a DA-N.

Phase 3) expand NCE operations 10 channels down  (1 MHz at 100 kHz 
spacing, or NCE allowed from 86.9 - 91.9 MHz); restricted to NEW FULL 
SERVICE STATIONS - no repeaters, translators, or "satellators"; 
maintain 200 kHz spacing

Phase 4) Class A-II  (50 kw D, 10 kw N, DA some or all) to me 
migrated or reassigned as needed to allow 50 kw DA-1 operation.

Phase 4A) The TRUE Clears - 50 kw ND-U - raise power ceiling to 500 
kw ND-U  Conflicting co-channel or first-adjacents protect by 
seniority - the older station on that channel has primary status; the 
newer co and first adjacents become additional A-II, with the minima 
/ nulls protecting the older stations.  Alternatively, they may 
migrate to a Regional channel (5 kw) or EXB

Phase 4B) While all that's going on, restore the original intent of 
LPFM between 81.9 - 86.7 MHz (plus as-available in the existing 
band); 200 kHz channel spacing, ownership restricted to purely local 
entities and commercial operations allowed except in the reserved 
bands.  Included is the elimination of the loophole that allows 
"satellators" - STL and ICR links may ONLY be Part 74 or Part 101 on 
a case-by-case with showing that no suitable location exists for a 
co-located studio/transmitter facility and no Part 74 spectrum is 
available.  (This includes a ban on "STL-over-Internet" or a 
requirement that the majority of programming originate from the Main 
Studio.  The intent is to close ANY loophole that some satellator 
might try to come up with to keep their 50,000 station empire intact 
at the expense of the local folks).  Also re-open the LP-100 
class.  Same rules.

100 kHz spacing in former Ch. 5; 200 kHz in former Ch. 6

FM would look something like

L-2; (1-watt maximum ERP @ 50 meters) hobby station; may be non-comm 
or commercially funded operation (or some hybrid).  Part 15 writ 
large, IOW.  Ownership restricted to individuals; non-reserved 
channel operation only
L-1; (10-watt ERP @ 50 meters); Community or neighborhood station; 
support as above; may be on reserved or non-reserved channels; 
Non-comm operation in reserved channels
L; (100-watt ERP @ 50 meters) larger neighborhood or small-town 
community stations; as above
A-2; (1 kw ERP @ 100meters) low-end of the migrated AMs mostly, 
intended to replicate a 250-watt daytimer's primary service area, or 
a reference distance of 20 km
A-1; (3 kw ERP @ 100 meters) Legacy Class A (24 km reference distance)
A; (6 kw ERP @ 100 meters) (Reference distance 28 km)
B-I; (25 kw ERP @ 150 meters)
B; (50 kw @ 150 meters)
C-2; (100 kw @ 150 meters)
C-1; (50 kw @ 300 meters)
C; (100 kw @ 300 meters)
D; technically equivalent to an L-1 operated by an educational 
institution and exempt from the hours-of-operation rules; non-reserved bands
E; same as D, but in the reserved bands.

AM would look like

(All maximum facilities; actual designations by frequency as now)
A - 500 kw ND-U
A-1 - 50 kw ND-U or DA-1, DA-2, or DA-N
A-2  - 50 kw to 10 kw; DA-1 or DA-N
B -  5 kw ND-U
B-1 - 5 kw DA-N
B-2 - 5 kw D, 0.25 kw to 2.5 kw N, DA-1, DA-2, or DA-N
B-3 - 0.25 kw to 2.5 kw DA-1, DA-2 or DA-N
C - 1kw ND-U, 1.0 kw D, 0.25 kw N, ND
C-1 1 kw D, 1.0 to 0.25 kw N - DA-1 or DA-N
New Class D - 0.05 kw ND-U into a 30-meter (or 45-degree, whichever 
is smaller) antenna (see class L-2 FM; same type operation); and 
secondary status - no protection, and must protect everyone 
else.  fifty watts, especially at the high end of the band and with 
the shorty antenna should minimize DX...

Thunk thoughts - now tell me it's all wet WITHOUT involving 
Megacaster, Inc, Gargantua Radio, or the NAB....

IOW, technical merits, please, not politics.  I don't say it's 
perfect, but all ideas have to start somewhere... not even Edison got 
it right the first time.....<grin>

-- 

Tom Spencer
PG-18-25453 (nee' P1-18-48841)
http://radioxtz.com/
Part 15 transmitters on AM 640 and FM 100.1