Information about Translators
Translators Translated
The FCC introduced translators in the 1970’s as a way to fill in the signals of local stations whose coverage area was limited by unique terrain. The setup was simple: a transmitter connected to a receiver tuned to the local station, rebroadcasting whatever that station was playing (translators are not allowed to originate their own programming). Because translators were low power, no more than 250 watts, the frequency restrictions were much less rigorous than those applied to ordinary stations: in some cases translators may even operate on first adjacent channels. Though translators are technically almost identical to LPFM transmitters, the FCC applied different, tougher adjacency rules when creating LPFM. LPFM and translators compete for the same spaces on the radio dial.
An Anti-Local Loophole
In 1990, the FCC eliminated the rule requiring translators to retransmit local stations only, so that non-commercial broadcasters were allowed to send their signals to distant translators over satellite feeds. Some broadcasters have used this loophole in the FCC’s rules to create networks based on one or two full power stations linked to dozens of translators via satellite. For example, American Family Radio uses a single full power station in Tupelo, Mississippi to reach 28 states via a network of 170 translators fed by satellite. A petition now before the FCC would allow commercial stations to do the same. A tool intended to help local stations fully reach their communities has become another way of concentrating and homogenizing radio.
Translator Invasion
Luckily for community radio, until very recently the FCC held off on issuing new translator applications, recognizing that authorizing new translators could take the channels available for LPFM. With the first round of LPFM applications complete, the FCC opened a new translator application window in the March of 2003. In an unprecedented increase over previous filing windows, broadcasters filed over 13,000 translator applications. Suspiciously, more than half of these applications were from 15 organizations, and two corporations with the same address were responsible for over 4,000. This wave of new translator applications is potentially devastating for LPFM; if all the translator applications are granted, just a handful of LPFM stations will be available in most markets. In March 2005, MAP filed an emergency petition before the FCC to freeze pending translator applications, and requested an investigation into the application process.
Translator Fraud
The FCC has long opposed the sale of “naked” construction permits, but evidence indicates that some applicants are turning their free translator permits into instant cash, reselling them at enormous profits. MAP and its partners REC Networks and the Prometheus Radio Project uncovered a massive scheme involving two dummy corporations based in Idaho. Edgewater Broadcasting and Radio Assist Ministry, Inc were responsible for 4,220 translator applications, almost a third of the overall total, despite having no previous broadcasting interests. They apparently had no intention of actually building translators, thus far they’ve sold just a fraction of their successful applications for a profit of over $800,000.
2005 Rulemaking and Request for Comments
In 2005, the FCC responded to the demands of MAP and its allies, freezing the translator application process. The FCC also made a number of small changes that gave existing LPFM stations some much needed flexibility. MAP’s most recent comments to the FCC urge the Commission to:
- protect LPFM from encroachment by full power stations
- prohibit multiple and non-local ownership of LPFM stations
- place ownership limits on translators and review translator application for speculative filing