FCC Proposes FM Channel Swaps to Clear Airwave Clutter
Published Date: 11/18/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FCC wants to update some FM radio channels in places like Alabama, California, and Texas to fix spacing and coverage problems. This affects radio stations and listeners in those areas by making sure signals don’t interfere with each other. If you have thoughts, you need to speak up by November 21, 2025, or reply by December 8, 2025—no money changes, just better radio waves!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
FM Channel Reassignments in Five Towns
The FCC proposes swapping vacant FM channels in five communities: Channel 277A for vacant 221A at Hamilton, AL; Channel 261B1 for vacant 261B at Coalinga, CA; Channel 289A for vacant 291A at Rocksprings, TX; Channel 261A for vacant 221A at Silverton, TX; and Channel 281C2 for vacant 260C2 at Spur, TX. The Commission says the vacant channels were not meeting the minimum distance separation rules, and it proposes these substitutions to bring the allotments into compliance.
Transmitter Site Restrictions Specified
For four of the proposed allotments the FCC sets specific transmitter site limits: Hamilton, AL — site restricted 7 km (4.4 miles) north at 34-11-50 NL, 88-01-37 WL; Rocksprings, TX — site restricted 12.1 km (7.5 miles) west at 29-59-52 NL, 100-20-10 WL; Silverton, TX — site restricted 11 km (6.8 miles) northwest at 34-33-34 NL, 101-21-13 WL; Spur, TX — site restricted 22.5 km (14 miles) east at 33-26-51 NL, 100-36-59 WL. Coalinga, CA has no site restriction at 36-8-23 NL, 120-21-37 WL.
Coalinga Coverage Noncompliance Addressed
The FCC found vacant Channel 261B at Coalinga, CA did not meet the city-grade coverage rules; it proposes allotting Channel 261B1 to Coalinga without a site restriction at reference coordinates 36-8-23 NL and 120-21-37 WL to address that issue. This is intended to resolve the city-grade coverage deficiency.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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