In October 2013, the FCC has issued a new RF Exposure Worksheet in the instructions for the LPFM Form 318. Until we modify the software, these specifications are not supported in myLPFM. myLPFM will temporarily disabled the environmental functionality until we can modify the software to reflect this.
If your LPFM is on a tower that supports any non-excluded other RF sources including broadcast radio and TV, then the bottom of your antenna must be a minimum of 22 meters (72 feet) above the ground or roof line.
If your LPFM is on a tower without any other non-excluded RF sources, the lowest part of the antenna must be at least 6.5 meters (21 feet) above the ground or roof line. In addition, there must be a minimum of 6 meters (20 feet) between the radiation structure of the antenna and any nearby persons.
If a proposed station does not meet these minimum distance requirements, it may not be in compliance with the FCC's radio frequency exposure guidelines. In such cases, the applicant will need to perform an environmental evaluation for the proposed station and may have to submit an environmental assessment.
For more information see the OET Bulletin 65 and supplement A from the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology.
REC is looking further into these regulations to see if LPFM stations can use the RF exposure worksheets that FM broadcast stations and FM translators use.
