GroundRules
← Search the law
Federal regulations · Through 2026-08-25 · Newer source version available

47 CFR 73.609: Zones.

Read at publisher ↗
Where this section sits in the code
  1. Title 47—Telecommunication
  2. CHAPTER I—FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
  3. SUBCHAPTER C—BROADCAST RADIO SERVICES
  4. PART 73—RADIO BROADCAST SERVICES
  5. Subpart E—Television Broadcast Stations

(a) For the purpose of allotment and assignment, the United States is divided into three zones as follows:

(1) Zone I consists of that portion of the United States located within the confines of the following lines drawn on the U.S. Albers Equal Area Projection Map (based on standard parallels 29 1/2° and 45 1/2°; North American datum): Beginning at the most easterly point on the State boundary line between North Carolina and Virginia; thence in a straight line to a point on the Virginia-West Virginia boundary line located at north latitude 37°49′ and west longitude 80°12′30″; thence westerly along the southern boundary lines of the States of West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois to a point at the junction of the Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri State boundary lines; thence northerly along the western boundary line of the State of Illinois to a point at the junction of the Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin State boundary lines; thence easterly along the northern State boundary line of Illinois to the 90th meridian; thence north along this meridian to the 43.5° parallel; thence east along this parallel to the United States-Canada border; thence southerly and following that border until it again intersects the 43.5° parallel; thence east along this parallel to the 71st meridian; thence in a straight line to the intersection of the 69th meridian and the 45th parallel; thence east along the 45th parallel to the Atlantic Ocean. When any of the above lines pass through a city, the city shall be considered to be located in Zone I. (See Figure 1 of § 73.699.)

(2) Zone II consists of that portion of the United States which is not located in either Zone I or Zone III, and Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaiian Islands and the Virgin Islands.

(3) Zone III consists of that portion of the United States located south of a line, drawn on the United States Albers Equal Area Projection Map (based on standard parallels 29.50 and 45.50 North American datum), beginning at a point on the east coast of Georgia and the 31st parallel and ending at the United States-Mexican border, consisting of arcs drawn with a 241.4 kilometer (150 mile) radius to the north from the following specified points:

North latitude West longitude

(a) 29°40′00″ 83°24′00″

(b) 30°07′00″ 84°12′00″

(c) 30°31′00″ 86°30′00″

(d) 30°48′00″ 87°58′30″

(e) 30°00′00″ 90°38′30″

(f) 30°04′30″ 93°19′00″

(g) 29°46′00″ 95°05′00″

(h) 28°43′00″ 96°39′30″

(i) 27°52′30″ 97°32′00″

When any of the above arcs pass through a city, the city shall be considered to be located in Zone II. (See Figure 2 of § 73.699.)

Collected 2026-08-27T02:26:28Z. Source file · JSON

Browse this collection