Sec.  73.610   Minimum distance separations between stations.

   (a) The provisions of this section relate to allotment separations and
   station separations. Petitions to amend the Table of Allotments ( Sec. 73.606(b))
   (other than those also expressly requesting amendment of this section or
    Sec. 73.609) will be dismissed and all applications for new TV broadcast
   stations or for changes in the transmitter sites of existing stations will
   not be accepted for filing if they fail to comply with the requirements
   specified in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this section.

   Note: Licensees and permittees of television broadcast stations which were
   operating on April 14, 1952 pursuant to one or more separations below those
   set forth in  Sec. 73.610 may continue to so operate, but in no event may they
   further reduce the separations below the minimum. As the existing
   separations of such stations are increased, the new separations will become
   the required minimum separations until separations are reached which comply
   with the requirements of  Sec. 73.610. Thereafter, the provisions of said section
   shall be applicable.

   (b) Minimum co-channel allotment and station separations:

   (1)


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      Kilometers
                               Zone                                ------------
---------------------------------
                                                                        Channel
s 2-13          Channels 14-69
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---------------------------------
I.................................................................    272.7 (16
9.5 miles)    248.6 (154.5 miles)
II................................................................    304.9 (18
9.5 miles)    280.8 (174.5 miles)
III...............................................................    353.2 (21
9.5 miles)    329.0 (204.5 miles)
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---------------------------------

   (2) The minimum co-channel distance separation between a station in one zone
   and a station in another zone shall be that of the zone requiring the lower
   separation.

   (c) Minimum allotment and station adjacent channel separations applicable to
   all zones:

   (1) Channels 2–13 95.7 kilometers (59.5 miles). Channels 14–69 87.7
   kilometers (54.5 miles).

   (2) Due to the frequency spacing which exists between Channels 4 and 5,
   between Channels 6 and 7, and between Channels 13 and 14, the minimum
   adjacent channel separations specified above shall not be applicable to
   these pairs of channels (see  Sec. 73.603(a)).

   (d) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this
   section, the minimum assignment and station separations between stations on
   Channels 14–69, inclusive, as set forth in Table II of  Sec. 73.698 must be met
   in either rule-making proceedings looking towards the amendment of the Table
   of Assignments ( Sec. 73.606(b)) or in licensing proceedings. No channel listed
   in column (1) of Table II of  Sec. 73.698 will be assigned to any city, and no
   application for an authorization to operate on such a channel will be
   granted, unless the distance separations indicated at the top of columns (2)
   through (7), inclusive, are met with respect to each of the channels listed
   in those columns and parallel with the channel in column (1).

   (e) The zone in which the transmitter of a television station is located or
   proposed to be located determines the applicable rules with respect to
   co-channel distance separations where the transmitter is located in a
   different zone from that in which the channel to be employed is located.

   (f) The distances listed below apply only to allotments and assignments on
   Channel 6 (82–88 MHz). The Commission will not accept petitions to amend the
   Table of Allotments, applications for new stations, or applications to
   change the channel or location of existing assignments where the following
   minimum distances (between transmitter sites, in kilometers) from any FM
   Channel 253 allotment or assignment are not met:

       Minimum Distance Separation from FM Channel 253 (98.5 MHz)
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                                                             TV Zones II
                   Fm Class                      TV Zone I    & III
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.............................................           17           22
B1............................................           19           23
B.............................................           22           26
C3............................................           19           23
C2............................................           22           26
C1............................................           29           33
C.............................................           36           41
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   (Secs. 4, 5, 303, 48 Stat., as amended, 1066, 1068, 1082 (47 U.S.C. 154,
   155, 303))

   [ 28 FR 13660 , Dec. 14, 1963, as amended at  37 FR 25842 , Dec. 5, 1972;  44 FR 65765 , Nov. 15, 1979;  47 FR 35990 , Aug. 18, 1982;  50 FR 23698 , June 5, 1985;
    51 FR 44070 , Dec. 8, 1986;  54 FR 14964 , Apr. 14, 1989;  54 FR 16368 , Apr. 24,
   1989;  54 FR 35340 , Aug. 25, 1989]