Mexico. The Plenary of the Federal Institute of Telecommunications, IFT, resolved the Agreement by which it approves and issues the Guidelines through which the Criteria for the Change of Frequencies of Sound Broadcasting Stations that operate in the Amplitude Modulated to Frequency Modulated band are established.
Based on Technical Provision IFT-002-2016 "Specifications and Requirements for the Installation and Operation of Sound Broadcasting Stations in Frequency Modulated in the Band from 88 MHz to 108 MHz", the Institute determined to establish a separation between adjacent carrier frequencies of at least 400 kHz, provided that their operation was guaranteed in accordance with the established parameters.
This led to a greater number of frequencies in this band, from which the Institute carried out an analysis to identify the availability of spectrum, taking into account the applicable technical provisions and the bilateral agreements that Mexico has concluded with other countries.
Based on the above, 69 frequencies available in FM were identified for the localities that were not subject to the frequency change under the 2008 Agreement, of which 22 are reserved to operate radio stations for community and indigenous use in order to comply with the mandate of the Law.
Therefore, for the process of changing frequencies, 47 FM frequencies are available, distributed in locations in the states of Guanajuato, Jalisco, State of Mexico, Baja California, Nuevo León, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Puebla and Mexico City.
The guidelines establish objective and transparent criteria to carry out the migration of the largest number of stations from AM to FM; In addition, the procedure and requirements that must be met by those broadcasting concessionaires of the AM band to request the change of frequency to the FM band are indicated.
With the approval and issuance of these Guidelines, the IFT takes an important step in the mandate to migrate as many sound broadcasting stations as possible operating in the AM to FM band, which gives certainty to participants in the radio market, strengthens the conditions of competition and guarantees continuity in the provision of services.
