Access to a Computer is Essential. The Commission is rapidly implementing electronic filing of its applications and the elimination of paper forms. This procedure has several advantages, including error checking of application entries before an application is accepted for filing, more rapid posting of data, and reduced processing time. Construction permit applications, for example, must now be electronically filed; paper-filed applications will not be accepted for filing.

Application Filing Fees. For commercial AM, FM, and TV broadcast station applications, filing fees must be paid with the submission of any application. These fees are detailed in the Media Bureau Fee Filing Guide, which may be retrieved through the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/audio/appfees.html.

FCC Application Forms. FCC application forms may be retrieved through the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html, or by writing to:

Federal Communications Commission
Forms Distribution Center
2803 52nd Avenue
Hyattsville, MD 20817

and requesting the appropriate form (e.g., FCC Form 340). Broadcast application forms available for electronic filing may be retrieved through http://www.fcc.gov/mb/elecfile.html. Please be aware that the availability of paper vesions of the form at these locations does not override the requirement for electronic filing of most applications.

FCC Rules. Any FCC rule may be retrieved at the Code of Federal Regulations site at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html. Parts 70 to 79 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which contains the radio and television broadcast station rules in Part 73 and the FM and TV translator rules in Part 74, may also be obtained in book form from the Government Printing Office, 866-512-1800.

For your convenience, we have compiled the radio broadcast station rules on the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/audio/amfmrule.html. FM translator station rules may be retrieved at http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/audio/part74rule.html. These rule lists are updated once a year, after the Code of Federal Regulations website is updated to reflect rule changes from the previous year.

Mutually Exclusive Commercial Auctions. Where conflicts occur between mutually exclusive commercial applicants (that is to say, where interference would be created between applicants if all applications were to be granted), the conflict will be resolved by means of an auction. The auction process was mandated by Congress and the President in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

Information about the auction process is available on the Internet at http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/ (see also the general information about auctions). Please note that we cannot provide advance information as to when an auction or application filing window for a particular service might be opened. However, notice of an auction proceeding or an application filing window period will be posted in the Headlines at the Media Bureau website.

Mutually Exclusive Noncommercial Educational Applications. Noncommercial educational station conflicts with other timely filed noncommercial educational applicants (i.e., where interference would be created between stations if all applications were to be granted) will be resolved through a point system. The point system is described in the Report and Order in MM Docket 95-31, FCC 00-120, released April 21, 2000 [ PDF | Word | txt ]. See also the Memorandum Opinion and Order, MM Docket 95-31, FCC 01-64, released February 28, 2001 [ PDF | Word | txt ], [ Appendix D (PDF); Appendix D (Word) ]. See also Sections 73.7000 through 73.7005.

FM Commercial Stations

FM commercial stations may be authorized on 92.1 MHz to 107.9 MHz, corresponding to Channels 221 through 300. Noncommercial educational FM stations may also be authorized in this band but such applications must meet the spacing, city coverage, and other technical criteria applicable to commercial stations.

Rules. FM commercial station rules include 47 CFR 73.201 through 73.333, and 73.1001 through 73.7005. These rules may be retrieved at http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/audio/amfmrule.html or obtained from the Government Printing Office at the location listed in the Introduction above. New rules in effect as of January 19, 2007 prescribe new procedures for the filing of petitions for rulemaking and applications for new commercial FM stations (see the Report and Order in MB Docket 05-210, FCC 06-163, 21 FCC Rcd 14212 (2006), 71 FR 76208 (December 20, 2006) [ PDF | Word ]). An applicant/petitioner seeking to apply for a new allotment must:

Electronically file FCC Form 301, application for construction permit, for specific allotment proposed by the petitioner. This application must be complete and acceptable. The applicant must pay the rulemaking fee as well as the application filing fee listed in the Media Bureau Fee Filing Guide and include FCC Form 159 with the fee payment and application. Please note that payments for commercial applications must be directed to the Pittsburgh, PA address listed in the Media Bureau Fee Filing Guide, and NOT the FCC in Washington, DC.

On the same day as the Form 301 is filed, file a petition for rulemaking on letter-sized paper (an original and two copies) through the Office of the Secretary, FCC. The petition must include the proposed new channel, class, and the community to be served. The proposed new allotment must meet the spacing requirements of Section 73.207 of the Commission’s rules to other stations, prior-filed applications, and vacant allotments, and provide at least a 70 dBu signal strength over the entire community of license.
The petition and application must cross-reference each other, so that we can associate the two related filings.

We will then consider the merits of the petition for rulemaking. If the petition for rulemaking is technically acceptable, the Bureau will release a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which will indicate the date by which interested parties may file comments or counterproposals. If approved, an FM allotment will be created and placed in a future FM broadcast auction proceeding. The petitioner/applicant must, at a minimum, qualify to bid in the auction. If the applicant is the successful bidder for the allotment, the previously filed Form 301 construction permit application will become the applicant’s post-auction long-form construction permit application.

Petitions for rulemaking for new allotments should be directed (in triplicate) to the attention of the Audio Division (MB), c/o Office of the Secretary, TW B204, FCC, 445 12th Street NW, Washington, DC 20554.

Auctions. Once auction filing window dates are announced for allotments which were created previously, instructions for filing applications will be released on a Public Notice, which will also be placed on the FCC’s Internet site at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/. We cannot provide advance information as to when the next auction or application filing window might take place. (General information about auctions.)

Additional Information about FM broadcast stations and applications may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/main/fm.html.
References :
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/radio.html