FCC Rejects Prometheus Recon Petition on FM Translator Siting, With Clyburn Recused
The FCC rejected a reconsideration petition and stay request by Prometheus Radio Project against an order relaxing siting rules for FM translators (see 1705310054), said an order Tuesday. The petition was denied 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel concurring and…
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Commissioner Mignon Clyburn not participating. Clyburn remains at the FCC after announcing she was leaving, and has voted some items on circulation though she skipped voting in the May monthly meeting (see 1805180042). Prometheus argued the FCC didn’t properly give notice that it would eliminate the 40-mile limit on translator siting, and that it ignored potential consequences for low-power FM. The FCC said Tuesday the order gave notice the FCC could change the limit and that comments in the proceeding show many broadcasters expected such a change. Prometheus didn’t provide sufficient evidence that LPFMs would be threatened by the new translator citing rules, the FCC said. The agency said the public interest benefits of the rule change “were significant and that nothing in the record, including Prometheus’s February Ex Parte, demonstrated harm to LPFM stations that would outweigh these benefits.”