FCC Unanimously OKs Directional FM NPRM

The FCC unanimously approved an NPRM Monday seeking comment on allowing use of computer models to show FM directional antenna patterns for applications. The item had been set for Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting, and wasn’t expected to be controversial -- no outside parties submitted filings to docket 21-422. The final version appeared little changed from the draft. Allowing broadcasters to use computer simulations instead of the full-size and scale models currently required will save money, broadcast engineers told us. “The requirements can be quite expensive,” said du Treil Lundin President Bob du Treil. “We tentatively conclude that requiring" FM and low-power FM "applicants to provide physical measurements as the only means to verify directional antenna patterns is outdated,” the NPRM said. It stems from a June petition by Dielectric, Jampro Antennas, Shively Labs, Radio Frequency Systems and the Educational Media Foundation. Petitioners argued that computer models are cheaper and may have improved accuracy over the model method. AM and TV antennas already can use computer modeling to demonstrate their patterns for applications, and the current rule puts FM applicants “on an unequal footing with their AM and DTV counterparts,” the NPRM said. A deletion notice Tuesday removed the item from the meeting agenda.