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intercollegiate Broadcasting System
Washington, DC
Gentlemen: HAY 20 1958
The FM Study Group of the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System is
attempting to determine the extent of interest in a new form of
FM broadcasting by college radio groups.
The FM Study Group of IBS has been organized to examine the
relative benefits to college radio of FM operation of various forns.
Modes of operation presently in use by colleges and universities include:
1. Non-commercial Educational FM
&. Low Power (10 watts or less operating power)
b. Regular Power (250 watts or more rated power) —
2 Commercial FM with suiteble time waivers
(250 watts or more rated power)
in addition, the FM Study Group is preparing a proposal for rule-making
by the FCC to establish a new low power Commercial FM mode. This
is described on the following page.
Low Power Commercial FM as described has been considered by IRS
in answer to a need expressed in the past by several college groups.
qt is designed to provide limited radiation comercial broadcasting
for increased coverage to college audiences » without incurring the
additionsl programming responsibilities of regular Comercial FM
with its somevbat grcater audience In order to provide ‘commercial
advertising benefits beyond the scope of low power Non-commercial
Educational PM, suitable technical and programming requirements
have been inclu¢
ure “th
NEL
a
We aré @nviting you as a representative college group to indicate
the extent of interest in this field he nature of the information that
we seek at this time is an indication of relative benefit as it would
appear to a college radio group. in general with practical operating
experience We do not presently require an indication of whether your group
in particular expects to be able to use such a mode of operation ._—
when it becomes available. However, we would appreciate receiving such
information if it were supplied (question 2 below)
It may be recognized that this work is en attempt to plan, for. the -
future, possibly the very near future Tt goes without, saying that
= 2.
the extent of benefit from such a mode of operation, whatever detailed
form it may take, will be proportional to the extent of present planning.
That planning can only be as good as the information supplied from
groups with practical operating experience
We therefore ask you to invest 1 minute 30 seconds of your time
in the future of college radio by reading the next page and completéng
and mailing the enclosed question sheet.
Respect Yours ,
Ki 2
Director, FM Study Group, J5S
LOW POWER COMMERCIAL FN
(As described in a Proposal for Rule-making to be
presented shortly by IBS before the FCC)
fhe service to be offered would consist of Commercial FM broadcasting
at low power levels by non-profit educational groups Some more
important features of this service are described as follows.
Such a form of license would specifically be granted only to a
group directly associated with a duly accredited educational institution,
which group would operate financially on a non-profit basis Program service
would be primarily directed toward the college community, including
the student body, staff, and nearby alumi of the institution
fhe transmitter power output would be ten watts or less Carrier
frequencies available for assignment would include all Class A channels
in the commercial FM band (from 92.1 to 107 1 mc.)
The FCC's Standards of Good Engineering Practice covering this form
of transmission would be those presently applying to all classes of
Commercial FM broadcast stations, except to the extent specified below
Periodic monitor of the transmitter frequency would be required, but
such equipment need not be part of the installation Also, som suitable
modulation indicator would be required The audio frequency range,
distortion, carrier hum, and noise level would be specified only to
the same extent as present low power Non-commercial Educational FM
requirements. Carrier frequency tolerance would also be the same as
for present low power Educational Fit.
Operating time would be specified eas 25 hours per week minimm,
with exceptions of the summer vacation and other major vacation periods,
to be specified on the station license |
Operator requérenents would specify that at least one first or
second class commercial rediotelephone license holder must be in
actual charge of the transmitter, to turn it on or off and to make
adjustments or repairs. In all other respects, the station could be
operated by persons halding almost any commercial radiotelephone license