Sec. 73.611  Reference points and distance computations.

    (a) In considering petitions to amend the Table of Allotments 
(Sec. 73.606(b)), the following reference points shall be used by the 
Commission in determining assignment separations between communities:
    (1) Where transmitter sites for the pertinent channels have been 
authorized in communities involved in a petition to amend the Table of 
Allotments, separations between such communities shall be determined by 
the distance between the coordinates of the authorized transmitter sites 
in the respective communities as set forth in the Commission's 
authorizations therefor.
    (2) Where an authorized transmitter site is available for use as a 
reference point in one community but not in the other for the pertinent 
channels, separations shall be determined by the distance between the 
coordinates of the transmitter site as set forth in the FCC's 
authorization therefor and the coordinates of the other community as set 
forth in the publication of the United States Department of the Interior 
entitled, Index to The National Atlas of the United States of America. 
If this publication does not contain the coordinates for said other 
community, the coordinates of the main post office thereof shall be 
used.
    (3) Where no authorized transmitter sites are available for use as 
reference points in both communities for the pertinent channels, the 
distance between the two communities listed in the above publication 
shall be used. If said publication does not contain such distance, the 
separation between the two communities shall be determined by the 
distance between the coordinates thereof as set forth in the 
publication. Where such coordinates are not contained in the 
publication, the coordinates of the main post offices of said 
communities shall be used.
    (4) Where the distance between the reference point in a community to 
which a channel is proposed to be assigned and the reference point in 
another community or communities does not meet the minimum separation 
requirements of Sec. 73.610, the channel may be assigned to such 
community upon a showing that a transmitter site is available that would 
meet the minimum separation requirements of Sec. 73.610 and the minimum 
field strength requirements of Sec. 73.685. In such cases, where a 
station is not authorized in the community or communities to which 
measurements from the proposed channel assignment must be made pursuant 
to Sec. 73.610 a showing should also be made that the distance between 
suitable transmitter sites in such other community or communities and 
the proposed transmitter site for the new channel meet the Commission's 
minimum spacing and coverage requirements.
    (b) Station separations in licensing proceedings shall be determined 
by the distance between the coordinates of the proposed transmitter site 
in one community and
    (1) The coordinates of an authorized transmitter site for the 
pertinent channel in the other community; or, where such transmitter 
site is not available for use as a reference point,
    (2) The coordinates of the other community as set forth in the Index 
to The National Atlas of the United States of America; or if not 
contained therein,

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    (3) The coordinates of the main post office of such other community.
    (4) In addition, where there are pending applications in other 
communities which, if granted, would have to be considered in 
determining station separations, the coordinates of the transmitter 
sites proposed in such applications must be used to determine whether 
the requirements with respect to minimum separations between the 
proposed stations in the respective cities have been met.
    (c) In measuring assignment and station separations involving cities 
listed in the Table in combination, where there is no authorized 
transmitter site in any of the combination cities on the channel 
involved, separation measurements shall be made from the reference point 
which will result in the lowest separation.
    (d) To calculate the distance between two reference points see 
paragraph (c), Sec. 73.208. However, distances shall be rounded to the 
nearest tenth of a kilometer.

[ 52 FR 11655 , Apr. 10, 1987]