Geo-Targeted FM Booster NPRM Comment Dates Sealed

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On April 18, the Media Bureau released a Public Notice seeking comment on recent filings concerning the use of FM boosters for geo-targeted content — an important step in bringing “addressable” advertising and content to radio listeners.


The Public Notice set deadlines for filing comments and reply comments at 30 and 45 days, respectively, after publication of the Public Notice in the Federal Register.

Such publication in the nation’s legislative journal of record has transpired.

The Public Notice was published in the Federal Register on Thursday (5/5).

Therefore, Comments must be submitted no later than June 6, and Reply Comments must be submitted no later than June 21.

Interested parties may file comments and reply comments by the dates listed above using ECFS or by submitting paper copies to the Commission’s Office of the Secretary.

The new filings are part of “recent developments” associated with GeoBroadcast Solutions and its experimental “ZoneCasting” technology. It led the Media Bureau to chime in on the materials.

The Commission on December 1, 2020, first released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the proceeding seeking comment on whether to modify the Commission’s rules governing the operation of FM booster stations in certain limited circumstances to allow for geo-targeted content. Since March 2021, when the comment period ended in the proceeding, GeoBroadcast Solutions sought, and the Bureau approved, experimental authority to test the technology at KSJO-FM 92.3 in San Jose and at WRBJ-FM in Jackson, Miss.

Thus, technical information from the tests is new and should be up for consideration, too.

The items are officially known as MB Docket No. 20-401 and MB Docket No. 17-105.