FM and Low-Power FM radio stations receive approval for geographical targeting
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced updates to the rules for FM boosters in the United States, effective July 25, 2025. These changes allow FM broadcasters to originate programming on FM booster stations for up to three minutes per hour, providing an opportunity for localized content such as unique advertising or news breaks.
Under the new rules, FM broadcasters must notify the FCC using Form 336 and state Emergency Alert System (EAS) plan administrators before originating programming on boosters. The broadcasters must also certify that the FM booster minimizes interference to the primary station through synchronization or terrain shielding.
The updates aim to address concerns about self-interference, which arise because FM boosters retransmit the same signal on the same frequency to extend coverage within the primary station’s service area. If synchronization or terrain shielding is not properly implemented, the booster’s signal can interfere with the primary station’s signal, causing reception issues, especially in areas where booster and primary station coverage overlap.
The FCC has also set a 25-booster cap on the number of such boosters a single station may operate. Stations must use FCC Form 2100, Schedule 336 to notify the commission about the use of boosters for permanent content origination.
Primary stations adopting program-originating boosters must notify their State Emergency Communications Committees at least 30 days prior to employing a program-originating booster or implementing status changes. In cases where an FM station has moved locations or upgraded, a booster's interfering contour could overlap into the service contour of the existing station.
The new rule’s requirement for a certification that boosters minimize self-interference aims to address these concerns and ensure that boosters operate without degrading the primary station’s signal quality.
Notably, the commission has not adopted a single standard for synchronization, citing each circumstance as unique. REC Networks has urged the FCC to adopt a uniform synchronization standard between a booster and origin station.
The new pathway could potentially unlock a new local revenue source for stations. For instance, 93.5 KADD(FM) in Longdale, Nev., with five licensed boosters, including in St. George, Utah, is an early adopter of the geotargeting technology.
The Media Bureau's public notice on the booster origination effective date is available, as well as the commission's licensing process for a station to obtain a booster, which remains unchanged with the announcement. There is a 15-day period prior to the commencement of program origination on the boosters during which the Media Bureau can respond to any complaints from interested parties.
REC Networks has also expressed concern about program-originating boosters being used by FM stations that are designated monitoring assignments for EAS. The NAB has urged the FCC to ensure that these stations continue to fulfil their EAS responsibilities.
Geotargeting boosters will be subject to the same political advertising rules as their existing boosters. REC Networks has commented that FM boosters currently only provide protection on first-adjacent channels and should have a co-channel protection requirement.
The commission's decision to allow FM stations to apply for the use of "geotargeting" on U.S. FM boosters has been published in the Federal Register, starting from today. The FCC's updates to FM booster rules aim to strike a balance between local content and signal integrity, providing an exciting opportunity for FM broadcasters to engage with their communities in new ways.
- FM broadcasters can now leverage technology to originate programming on FM booster stations for up to three minutes per hour, using geotargeting technology as demonstrated by 93.5 KADD(FM) in Longdale, Nev.
- REC Networks has urged the FCC to adopt a uniform standard for synchronization between a booster and the origin station, citing each circumstance as unique.
- The NAB has urged the FCC to ensure that FM stations serving as designated monitoring assignments for the Emergency Alert System (EAS) continue to fulfill their EAS responsibilities when using program-originating boosters.
