Can a new FM come on the air fulltime early before CP's expiration date?

I'm helping out a new non-comm FM by doing IDs,V.O.s and liners. They tell me they have been doing on air testing for a few hours daily since June, their CP was granted ealy this year (in March) the tower is up as of June and the CP doesn't expire until September of 2012. This is on a non-comm frequency. Is this possible if the station is fully constructed and operational?

I also do V.O. work for another station that came on the air back during Memorial Day weekend just a day or two before the CP expiration date.

From what I've always heard, the goal is to construct and be on the air BEFORE the C.P. expires.
Hence, the EXPIRATION date.
It's like a coupon, if you don't use it, you lose it, or else you have to file for extensions and extra work.

I'd be impressed a non-comm made it this far along, early even. ;D

If they are at the point of being operational, why wouldn't they go ahead and apply for their license to cover?

Alan McCall said:

If they are at the point of being operational, why wouldn't they go ahead and apply for their license to cover?

Click to expand...

Not ready to meet minimum operating schedule requirements?

(come to think of it, that doesn't apply to non-coms...)

1. If the CP specified a directional antenna (and many new NCE stations are designed that way), then a supplemental filing is needed before they can begin "program tests." This filing demonstrates the antenna was installed properly as proposed by the c.p.

2. Otherwise, the station should file for a "license to cover" (the c.p.) as soon as possible to avoid being caught by the expiration of the construction permit. They can continue with "program tests" after that if they are not ready to begin regular programming, the application for the license simply certifies the transmitter plant has been built as proposed by the construction permit application.

The short answer is YES! If you've built out your facilities according to the parameters set forth in your construction permit, have all proofs done and documented, and met any other special conditions, you may file for your license to cover the CP. Once your station license is issued by the FCC, the CP is considerer cancelled and yor are a licensed, operating facility. This can happen at any time of the workweek, and the minute the FCC Broadcast Bureau issues the license to cover and you get notification, you are home free!

The moment you get e-mail (used to be telegraphic) notification from the FCC or your communications attorney firm informing you of the license issuance, note that it'll take a few days for the actual certificate to arrive. Until then, IMMEDIATELY POST the temporary notification at the transmitter control point and in your Public File. Keep the CP in your station files for future reference, and commence fully-licensed operations with all responsibilities therin.