In US broadcasting, service contour (or protected contour) refers to the area in which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) predicts and allows coverage.
The FCC calculates FM and TV contours based on effective radiated power (ERP) in a given direction, the radial height above average terrain (HAAT) in a given direction, the FCC's propagation curves, and the station's class. AM contours are based on the standard ground wave field strength pattern, the frequency, and the ground conductivity in the area. While the FCC makes FM and TV service contour data available, there is no AM data published by the FCC (as of January 2007).
Other articles related to "service, services, service contour":
... the remainder used for stereo, RBDS, paging, radio reading service, rental to other customers, or as a transmitter/studio link for in-house telemetry ... also have the option to discontinue existing subcarrier services (usually at 92 kHz and 67 kHz) in order to carry extended HD Radio, though such services can be restored ... for the broadcasters and all of the receivers that use the discontinued services ...
... translators (those that exist within the primary service contour of the primary station) ... that translator or booster exists within the primary service contour of the parent station (they can only fill in where terrain blocks the signal) ... Translators outside of a primary station's service contour cannot be owned by the primary station, nor can they receive any financial support from the primary station ...
Famous quotes containing the words contour and/or service:
“The living language is like a cowpath: it is the creation of the cows themselves, who, having created it, follow it or depart from it according to their whims or their needs. From daily use, the path undergoes change. A cow is under no obligation to stay in the narrow path she helped make, following the contour of the land, but she often profits by staying with it and she would be handicapped if she didn’t know where it was or where it led to.”
—E.B. (Elwyn Brooks)
“Finally, your lengthy service ended,
Lay your weariness beneath my laurel tree.”
—Horace [Quintus Horatius Flaccus] (65–8)