§  73.1350   Transmission system operation.

   (a) Each licensee is responsible for maintaining and operating its
   broadcast station in a manner which complies with the technical rules
   set forth elsewhere in this part and in accordance with the terms of
   the station authorization.

   (b) The licensee must designate a chief operator in accordance with
   § 73.1870. The licensee may designate one or more technically competent
   persons to adjust the transmitter operating parameters for compliance
   with the technical rules and the station authorization.

   (1) Persons so authorized by the licensee may make such adjustments
   directly at the transmitter site or by using control equipment at an
   off-site location.

   (2) The transmitter control personnel must have the capability to turn
   the transmitter off at all times. If the personnel are at a remote
   location, the control system must provide this capability continuously
   or must include an alternate method of acquiring control that can
   satisfy the requirement of paragraph (e) of this section that operation
   be terminated within three minutes.

   (c) The licensee must establish monitoring procedures and schedules for
   the station and the indicating instruments employed must comply with
   § 73.1215.

   (1) Monitoring procedures and schedules must enable the licensee to
   determine compliance with § 73.1560 regarding operating power and AM
   station mode of operation, § 73.1570 regarding modulation levels, and,
   where applicable, § 73.1213 regarding antenna tower lighting, and § 73.69
   regarding the parameters of an AM directional antenna system.

   (2) Monitoring equipment must be periodically calibrated so as to
   provide reliable indications of transmitter operating parameters with a
   known degree of accuracy. Errors inherent in monitoring equipment and
   the calibration procedure must be taken into account when adjusting
   operating parameters to ensure that the limits imposed by the technical
   rules and the station authorization are not exceeded.

   (d) In the event that a broadcast station is operating in a manner that
   is not in compliance with the applicable technical rules set forth
   elsewhere in this part or the terms of the station authorization, and
   the condition is not listed in paragraph (e) or (f) of this section,
   broadcast operation must be terminated within three hours unless
   antenna input power is reduced sufficiently to eliminate any excess
   radiation. Examples of conditions that require termination of operation
   within three hours include excessive power, excessive modulation or the
   emission of spurious signals that do not result in harmful
   interference.

   (e) If a broadcast station is operating in a manner that poses a threat
   to life or property or that is likely to significantly disrupt the
   operation of other stations, immediate corrective action is required.
   In such cases, operation must be terminated within three minutes unless
   antenna input power is reduced sufficiently to eliminate any excess
   radiation. Examples of conditions that require immediate corrective
   action include the emission of spurious signals that cause harmful
   interference, any mode of operation not specified by the station
   license for the pertinent time of day, or operation substantially at
   variance from the authorized radiation pattern.

   (f) If a broadcast station is operating in a manner that is not in
   compliance with one of the following technical rules, operation may
   continue if the station complies with relevant alternative provisions
   in the specified rule section.

   (1) AM directional antenna system tolerances, see § 73.62;

   (2) AM directional antenna monitoring points, see § 73.158;

   (3) TV visual waveform, see § 73.691(b);

   (4) Reduced power operation, see § 73.1560(d);

   (5) Reduced modulation level, see § 73.1570(a);

   (6) Emergency antennas, see § 73.1680.

   (g) The transmission system must be maintained and inspected in
   accordance with § 73.1580.

   (h) Whenever a transmission system control point is established at a
   location other than the main studio or transmitter, a letter of
   notification of that location must be sent to the FCC in Washington,
   DC, Attention: Audio Division (radio) or Video Division (television),
   Media Bureau, within 3 days of the initial use of that point. The
   letter should include a list of all control points in use, for clarity.
   This notification is not required if responsible station personnel can
   be contacted at the transmitter or studio site during hours of
   operation.

   (i) The licensee must ensure that the station is operated in compliance
   with Part 11 of this chapter, the rules governing the Emergency Alert
   System (EAS).

   [ 60 FR 55481 , Nov. 1, 1995, as amended at  63 FR 33877 , June 22, 1998;
    67 FR 13232 , Mar. 21, 2002;  72 FR 44423 , Aug. 8, 2007]