FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
445 TWELFTH STREET SW
WASHINGTON DC 20554
MEDIA BUREAU
AUDIO DIVISION
APPLICATION STATUS: (202) 418-2730
WWW.FCC.GOV/media/radio/audio-division

ENGINEER: Dale Bickel
TELEPHONE: (202) 418-2706
FACSIMILE: (202) 418-1410
E-MAIL: dale.bickel@fcc.gov

September 14, 2016
Maricopa County Community College District
2323 W. 14th Street
Tempe, AZ 85281
Re:

KJZZ (FM), Phoenix, AZ
Maricopa County Community College District
Facility Identification Number: 40095
Special Temporary Authority
BSTA-20160907AFG

Dear Licensee:
This is in reference to the request filed September 7, 2016, on behalf of Maricopa County
Community College District (“MCCCD”). MCCCD explains that the licensed tower has severe
structural deficiencies and must be replaced. MCCCD requests Special Temporary Authority to
operate KJZZ through a shared antenna with KBAQ on a nearby structure in order to maintain
station operations.
STA requests which involve a change in transmitter site must include four critical elements: (1)
Loss of the licensed site must be beyond the licensee's control; (2) STA facilities must continue
to provide service1 to the licensed community; (3) STA facilities must maintain, as closely as
practicable, the licensed service area2 without extending it; (4) STA facilities cannot involve the
construction of towers intended for permanent use by the station requesting the STA.
Our review concludes that the proposed STA facilities will be acceptable. Accordingly, the
request for STA IS HEREBY GRANTED. Station KJZZ may operate with the parameters and
shared antenna requested in the STA request, provided that MCCCD then makes spectrum
measurements to ensure that the shared antenna operation is in compliance with the spurious
emissions requirements of Secrion 73.317 of the Commission’s rules. MCCCD must use
whatever means are necessary to protect workers and the public from radiofrequency exposure in
excess of the Commission's exposure guidelines. See 47 CFR § 1.1310.
This authority expires on March 13, 2017.

1

For AM - 5 mV/m; for commercial FM - 3.16 mV/m; for noncommercial educational FM - 1.0 mV/m.

2

For AM - 0.5 mV/m contour; for FM - 1.0 mV/m contour.

----------------

STA Advisory: Section 309(f) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, authorizes the
Commission to grant STA in cases of "extraordinary circumstances requiring temporary
authorizations in the public interest and when delay in the institution of the temporary operations
would seriously prejudice the public interest." However, Section 309(f) is not a means by which
a licensee/permittee may circumvent established processing procedures which require the filing
of an application, nor is it a means by which a broadcaster may enhance his facility or make
operation more convenient for the broadcaster. Stations operating with less than licensed
facilities under temporary authorities can be viewed as receiving the benefit of a larger protection
area than that in which they are currently providing service.
Accordingly, Special Temporary Authorities by nature are to be temporary and are not intended
for extended use. Licensees of stations operating under temporary authorities are reminded that
timely restoration of permanent facilities is the responsibility of the licensee and should be
undertaken expeditiously. Any request for extension of special temporary authorities carries an
increased burden with each subsequent request.
Therefore, requests for extension of STA will be granted only where the licensee can show that
one or more of the following criteria have been met:
• Restoration of licensed facilities is complete and testing is underway;
• Substantial progress has been made during the most recent STA period toward
restoration of licensed operation; or
• No progress has been made during the most recent STA period for reasons clearly
beyond the licensee's control, and the licensee has taken all possible steps to
expeditiously resolve the problem.
Sincerely,

Dale Bickel
Senior Engineer
Audio Division
Media Bureau
cc: Ernest T. Sanchez (via e-mail only)

2