FCC Suspends Recently Recalculated Presunrise and Postsunset Authorizations for AM Stations
As we reported yesterday, the Media Bureau has discovered an "unanticipated computer problem" that resulted in erroneous power levels for certain of the recalculated authorizations that were recently announced for AM stations with Presunrise (PSRA) and Postsunset (PSSA) Service Authorizations. As a result of Congress' revision of the effective period for Daylight Savings Time (DST), the FCC had sought to revise its AM station Presunrise and Postsunset Service Authorizations, however, the computer glitch apparently resulted in power levels that were quite unexpected. It is understood that the glitch resulted from the overprotection of foreign AM stations. Accordingly, the Media Bureau has now suspended the use of the recalculated PSRAs and PSSAs until it is able to correct the computer error and recalculate the correct power levels. A copy of the Bureau's Public Notice announcing the suspension is available here.
Therefore, stations currently operating with PSRAs and PSSAs should use the April DST "Advanced" powers and time periods shown on their current PSRAs and PSSAs for their presunrise and postsunset operations for the period between March 11 through March 31, 2007. A subsequent Public Notice will be released by the FCC once the glitch has been fixed and the proper parameters calculated.