{"abstract":"This document amends our rules pertaining to the Broadcast Auxiliary Services (BAS) to permit BAS stations to introduce new technologies and create a more efficient BAS that can more readily adapt as the broadcast industry converts to the use of digital technology, such as digital television (DTV). We also make conforming amendments our rules pertaining to the Radio Broadcast Services, the Cable Television Relay Service (CARS), and to our rules pertaining to Fixed Microwave Services (FS). In many cases, the BAS, CARS, and FS share frequency bands and have technically and operationally similar stations, and our rule changes will permit these three services to operate under consistent regulatory guidelines.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION","name":"Federal Communications Commission","id":161,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/federal-communications-commission","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/161","parent_id":null,"slug":"federal-communications-commission"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2003/03/17/03-4176.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":1,"title":47},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":2,"title":47},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":73,"title":47},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":74,"title":47},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":78,"title":47},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":101,"title":47}],"citation":"68 FR 12744","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective April 16, 2003, except for Sec. Sec. 74.535 and 74.637 which became effective on October 30, 2002.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["ET Docket No. 01-75","FCC 02-298"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"03-4176","effective_on":"2003-04-16","end_page":12777,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2003/03/17/03-4176.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2003/03/17/03-4176/broadcast-auxiliary-service-rules","images":{"ER17MR03.002":{"large":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.002/ER17MR03.002_large.png","medium":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.002/ER17MR03.002_medium.png","original_size":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.002/ER17MR03.002_original_size.png"},"ER17MR03.001":{"large":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.001/ER17MR03.001_large.png","medium":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.001/ER17MR03.001_medium.png","original_size":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.001/ER17MR03.001_original_size.png"},"ER17MR03.000":{"large":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.000/ER17MR03.000_large.png","medium":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.000/ER17MR03.000_medium.png","original_size":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.000/ER17MR03.000_original_size.png"},"ER17MR03.004":{"large":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.004/ER17MR03.004_large.png","medium":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.004/ER17MR03.004_medium.png","original_size":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.004/ER17MR03.004_original_size.png"},"ER17MR03.003":{"large":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.003/ER17MR03.003_large.png","medium":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.003/ER17MR03.003_medium.png","original_size":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.003/ER17MR03.003_original_size.png"}},"images_metadata":{"ER17MR03.002":{"large":{"identifier":"ER17MR03.002","content_type":"image/png","size":68214,"width":823,"sha":"b5cc1b1ab752ff9ba428b7146bd49bb7","url":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.002/ER17MR03.002_large.png","height":1108},"medium":{"identifier":"ER17MR03.002","content_type":"image/png","size":38076,"width":560,"sha":"c5ac7d2a0bf58d175568f1891e159dbe","url":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.002/ER17MR03.002_medium.png","height":754},"original_size":{"identifier":"ER17MR03.002","content_type":"image/png","size":241968,"width":4226,"sha":"ab6337890e6b04af126e1f7e873444ee","url":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.002/ER17MR03.002_original_size.png","height":5691}},"ER17MR03.001":{"large":{"identifier":"ER17MR03.001","content_type":"image/png","size":74078,"width":823,"sha":"572f9026dae4ef312b598db3c44df13c","url":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.001/ER17MR03.001_large.png","height":1114},"medium":{"identifier":"ER17MR03.001","content_type":"image/png","size":41719,"width":560,"sha":"9394012797467ddff1a57a6352bea3ce","url":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.001/ER17MR03.001_medium.png","height":758},"original_size":{"identifier":"ER17MR03.001","content_type":"image/png","size":304532,"width":4221,"sha":"6d46af84075761014e1b85c0a44a3bae","url":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.001/ER17MR03.001_original_size.png","height":5714}},"ER17MR03.000":{"large":{"identifier":"ER17MR03.000","content_type":"image/png","size":74542,"width":823,"sha":"2f9ddaf0ac70f064f45074c492d90a99","url":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.000/ER17MR03.000_large.png","height":1120},"medium":{"identifier":"ER17MR03.000","content_type":"image/png","size":41295,"width":555,"sha":"23b66f8941e46d30ea59120644c1a5e5","url":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.000/ER17MR03.000_medium.png","height":755},"original_size":{"identifier":"ER17MR03.000","content_type":"image/png","size":289881,"width":4193,"sha":"364159716b9b78d4dd99a6bcff53a450","url":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.000/ER17MR03.000_original_size.png","height":5706}},"ER17MR03.004":{"large":{"identifier":"ER17MR03.004","content_type":"image/png","size":66330,"width":822,"sha":"1b5431926baee0129485a8cc9ef4f1f5","url":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.004/ER17MR03.004_large.png","height":1099},"medium":{"identifier":"ER17MR03.004","content_type":"image/png","size":36977,"width":565,"sha":"dadd2a9ffd8785e37d95285dc318b205","url":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.004/ER17MR03.004_medium.png","height":755},"original_size":{"identifier":"ER17MR03.004","content_type":"image/png","size":264410,"width":4268,"sha":"8efaf2d9cee432a9787fa53855fe9aff","url":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.004/ER17MR03.004_original_size.png","height":5703}},"ER17MR03.003":{"large":{"identifier":"ER17MR03.003","content_type":"image/png","size":60628,"width":823,"sha":"6b02697decb58b46c9215e8073e7e139","url":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.003/ER17MR03.003_large.png","height":1117},"medium":{"identifier":"ER17MR03.003","content_type":"image/png","size":33082,"width":556,"sha":"4eb69d7a1574a9ac79a98660c4cb845a","url":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.003/ER17MR03.003_medium.png","height":755},"original_size":{"identifier":"ER17MR03.003","content_type":"image/png","size":204331,"width":4202,"sha":"61c96d3cb7f55b65db1d1b37b1a47988","url":"https://img.federalregister.gov/ER17MR03.003/ER17MR03.003_original_size.png","height":5703}}},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/03-4176?publication_date=2003-03-17","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2003-03-17/03-4176/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":34,"page_views":{"count":1428,"last_updated":"2026-09-22 18:15:08 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2003-03-17/pdf/03-4176.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"2003-03-17","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2003/03/17/03-4176.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{},"regulation_id_numbers":[],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":null,"signing_date":null,"start_page":12744,"subtype":null,"title":"Broadcast Auxiliary Service Rules","toc_doc":"Broadcast auxiliary service rules","toc_subject":"Television broadcasting:","topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Cable television","Communications equipment","Radio","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Television"],"type":"Rule","volume":68}