NAB Opposes Original Content On FM Translators In a Friday afternoon filing with the FCC, the NAB argued against a proposal that would allow FM translator stations to originate programming. Currently, translator stations are licensed only to fill in gaps in full service stations' coverage areas, but a petition currently pending before the FCC proposes to amend that rule.
Noting that translators have been licensed only as a secondary service since 1970, the NAB says, "the balance between broadcast stations as a primary service and translators as a secondary service has ensured the viability of the overall broadcast system. A change in the program orientation rule would turn FM translators into radio stations. While we agree that promoting localism is a laudable goal, amending the FM translator rules is not the best approach to achieving that goal. The detriments of such a change would outweigh any benefits."
