Want to chime in on MB Docket No. 21-422?
You have more time to do so, as the Media Bureau has just extended the comment and reply comment deadlines for its FM Directional Antenna Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).
The FCC on November 15 released a NPRM setting out its proposed rule changes allowing verification of FM and LPFM directional antennas by computer modeling. On November 30,the Media Bureau announced a comment filing deadline of December 30 and a reply comment filing deadline of January 14, 2022.
On Friday, the NAB requested an extension of the comment and reply comment filing deadlines until January 20 and February 4, 2022, respectively.
The Media Bureau has obliged, and here’s why.
The NAB stated that, in the Joint Petition for Rulemaking on which the NPRM was based, the Joint Petitioners included a technical exhibit comparing the results of computer modeling using one commercial software product with the physical measurements taken from an FM directional antenna mounted on one particular type of tower. The NAB believes that the record would “significantly benefit from additional technical information involving common tower structures and other commercial software products.”
However, while the NAB states it has reached out to broadcasters, consulting engineers, and antenna manufacturers to provide such technical data for the record, it points out that the end-of-year holiday season and upcoming federal holidays means that many potential commenters will be on vacation, or their offices will be closed or dealing with year-end business matters.
The Media Bureau agreed with this assessment of the industry as Christmas approaches.
