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Report No. MM 97-11                              MASS MEDIA ACTION                     August 8, 1997


         COMMISSION AMENDS RULES GOVERNING PRE-1964 GRANDFATHERED 
                   SHORT-SPACED FM BROADCAST FACILITIES
                            (MM DOCKET 96-120)

        The  FCC has revised the rules specifying how certain grandfathered short-spaced FM stations
may improve operating facilities or relocate transmitter sites.  By this action, the FCC has streamlined
the rules to permit the utmost in flexibility while maintaining the technical integrity of the FM band.

        Pre-1964 Grandfathered stations are those stations that were short-spaced on November 16,
1964, when the new rules establishing minimum distance separations between stations became
effective, and have remained short-spaced since that time.

        The revised rules permit a co-channel or first-adjacent channel grandfathered short-spaced
station to modify its facilities if the applicant demonstrates:  (1)  there is no increase in either the total
predicted interference area (caused and received) or the associated population;  (2)  there is no increase
in interference caused by the proposal to any individual grandfathered short-spaced station (however,
interference areas may be shifted);  and, (3)  any area predicted to lose service as a result of
interference has adequate service remaining (5 or more AM and/or FM Stations).  In addition, any
applicant  proposing interference caused in any areas where interference is not currently caused must
serve a copy of the application with the licensee(s) of the affected short-spaced station(s).

        The revised rules also permit a grandfathered station that is short-spaced to a second-adjacent
channel or a third-adjacent channel station to change transmitter location or other station facilities
without regard to such short-spacing.  

        Finally, subject to the rules stated above for co-channel and first-adjacent channel
grandfathered stations, applicants previously required to obtain agreements to implement facility
improvements or modifications are no longer required to obtain such agreements.

        Action by the Commission August 4, 1997, by Report and Order (FCC 97-267).  Chairman
Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Ness, and Chong.

                                  - FCC -

News Media contact:  Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0500.
Mass Media Bureau contact:  Jim Bradshaw at (202) 418-2740 -or-  jbradsha@fcc.gov