FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   News Media  Contact:
March 30, 1999                          David Fiske at (202) 418-0500.


Report No. MM 99-2                        MASS MEDIA ACTION                          

             FCC STREAMLINES RADIO TECHNICAL RULES
                       (MM DOCKET 98-93)
                                
     The FCC has streamlined its radio technical rules to facilitate service improvements by
commercial AM and FM, noncommercial educational FM (NCE FM), and FM translator stations. 
The new procedures will make application processing in these services simpler, faster and more
efficient.

     In a Report and Order released today, the Commission took the following actions: 

     * It modified its rules to extend first come/first served processing to applications for minor
changes to AM, NCE FM, and FM translator facilities.  

     * It expanded the definition of "minor change" in these services to conform more closely
to the commercial FM definition, which includes all changes except changes in community of
license and certain changes in frequency.  

     * It amended the contingent application rule to permit the filing of up to four related and
simultaneously filed FM station minor change construction permit applications.  

     These modifications were proposed as part of a broad-based initiative, undertaken in
conjunction with the Commission's 1998 biennial regulatory review, to streamline broadcast
technical rules and regulations.  This Report and Order will bring substantial conformity to the
processing and treatment of applications in the aural services.  

     Under the first come/first served processing system now used for commercial FM
broadcast station minor change applications, the filing of a first acceptable application "cuts off"
the filing rights of subsequent, conflicting applicants.  Under previous rules, however, minor
change applications for AM, NCE FM, and FM translator stations remained subject to mutually
exclusive proposals until the staff disposed of the applications.  First come/first served processing
provides greater certainty for applicants and permits staff to review applications more efficiently.


     With today's action, most technical modifications in the AM, NCE-FM, and FM translator
services will be classified as minor changes.  These include most proposed changes in power,
antenna height, and/or antenna location. They also include adjacent channel changes and for FM
translators only, channel changes to intermediate frequencies (IF).  In addition, AM stations will
be able to propose changes in authorized hours of operation, including the addition of nighttime
service, by filing minor change applications.  NCE FM and FM translator station applications
proposing antenna location changes must continue to provide 1 mV/m service to some portion of
their authorized service areas in order to be classified as minor changes.  This provision is
designed to ensure that applications that propose to abandon present service areas would be
properly processed as major changes.  Amendments to applications also will be classified as minor
in accordance with these standards.  The expanded minor change definition will provide relief
from the current new/major change commercial application freeze for many applications formerly
classified as major changes.

     The revised contingent application rule eliminates the need to undertake related facility
improvements through a series of risky and sometimes infeasible application and construction
cycles.  The new procedure provides FM broadcasters with an additional tool to improve service
to listeners.     

     Action by the Commission March 23, 1999, by First Report and Order (FCC 99-55). 
Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell, and Tristani.

                             -FCC-

     Mass Media Bureau contact: William Scher at (202) 418-2754 or Peter Doyle (202) 418-
2789.