Westwood One is continuing to urge all major commercial broadcast radio stations to register their existing C Band downlinks with the FCC before the Commission evaluates the 3.7-4.2 Ghz C Band for additional mobile broadband data services. These potential services could create interference to programming that thousands of stations receive by satellite. The deadline for registration is now October 17, 2018.
Typically, registration requires a Frequency Coordination Study ($1,500) plus a $435 filing fee. During the 90-day window, the FCC waived the first fee and only the $435 filing fee applies. It is possible the FCC will later charge the $1,500 study fee. Westwood One’s satellite provider, SES, has set aside a pool of funding to reimburse those broadcasters for whom the $435 registration fee is a hardship. This reimbursement is subject to the terms set by SES for earth stations registered between July 25, 2018 and October 17, 2018 in the continental United States. For questions, contact SES directly at [email protected] or by phone (609) 987-4300.
“The FCC has stated that in order to receive any interference consideration, your station must be registered,” said Eric Wiler, Westwood One’s SVP Technology and Operations. “With SES making a fund available to assist broadcasters, the expense hardship can be removed.”
Stations may register using FCC Form 312, by completing a hard copy of the form, completing it online at http://licensing.fcc.gov/myibfs, or engaging a third party for assistance. Satellite Engineering Group is a third-party resource and can be reached at (913) 375-1114.
For more info contact [email protected].
It’s very important that stations make this a high priority, otherwise they can find themselves not being notified and by the time they do find out, it’s too late.