List of North American broadcast station classes

{{Short description|None}}
This is a '''list of broadcast station classes''' applicable in much of North America under international agreements between the United States, Canada and Mexico. [[Effective radiated power]] (ERP) and [[height above average terrain]] (HAAT) are listed unless otherwise noted.

All [[radio station|radio]] and [[television station]]s within {{convert|320|km|mi|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} of the [[Canada–United States border|US-Canada]] or [[Mexico–United States border|US-Mexico border]] must get approval by both the domestic and foreign agency. These agencies are [[Industry Canada]]/[[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) in Canada, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) in the US, and the [[Federal Telecommunications Institute]] (IFT) in Mexico.

== AM ==
[[File:AM Radio Channel Types.svg|frame|right|This diagram illustrates how the AM radio spectrum is classified in North America.
{{Legend|#06F|Clear-channel; classes A, B and D}}
{{Legend|#0C0|Regional; classes B and D}}
{{Legend|#FC0|Local; classes B and C}}]]

===Station class descriptions=== 
All domestic (United States) AM stations are classified as '''A''', '''B''', '''C''', or '''D'''.  
<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/am-clear-regional-local-channels#CLASSES | title = AM Station Classes, and Clear, Regional, and Local Channels | website = fcc.gov| date = 11 December 2015 | publisher = Federal Communications Commission | access-date = July 5, 2019 }}</ref>
* '''A''' (formerly '''I''') — [[clear-channel station]]s — 10&nbsp;kW to 50&nbsp;kW, 24 hours. 
**Class A stations are only protected within a {{convert|750|mi|km|0|abbr=off|adj=on|sp=us}} radius of the transmitter site. 
**The old Class I was divided into three: Class I-A, I-B and I-N. [[NARBA]] distinguished between Class I-A, which were true clear-channel stations that did not share their channel with another Class I station, and Class I-B, in which a station operated with 50&nbsp;kW at night but shared its channel with at least one other I-B station, requiring directional operation. This distinction was superseded by the [[Regional Agreement for the Medium Frequency Broadcasting Service in Region 2]] (Rio Agreement), which instituted the current class system.
**The former Class I-As are omnidirectional, with the exception of 870 WWL New Orleans and 1030 WBZ Boston, which use directional antennas to put a better signal over their largest population areas. 
**Most former Class I-Bs are directional at night, although a few are also directional during days. (A handful of I-Bs did not have to use directional antennas:  680 KNBR San Francisco, 810 WGY Schenectady, 850 KOA Denver, 940 XEQ Mexico City, 1070 KNX Los Angeles and 1070 CBA Moncton.  KNX and CBA were far enough apart that both could operate without using a directional antenna.  XEQ is far enough from Montreal that it did not need a directional antenna.  KNBR and KOA are the only Class Is on their frequency but share those frequencies with several Class II-Bs.)
**Former Class I-N stations exist only in Alaska, where they are too remote to interfere with other clear-channel stations in the contiguous 48 states. They are only held to Class B efficiency standards (although higher efficiency is acceptable).
**No new Class A stations are licensed in the conterminous United States, although the FCC states it may be possible to license additional Class A stations in Alaska.
* '''B''' (formerly '''II''' and '''III''') — regional stations — 250 W to 50&nbsp;kW, 24 hours. 
**Stations on the [[AM expanded band]], 1610&nbsp;kHz to 1700&nbsp;kHz, are limited to 10&nbsp;kW days and 1&nbsp;kW nights, non-directionally.
**Several expanded band stations operate DA-N or even DA-2 with up to 10&nbsp;kW during all hours, after providing proof that such operations will not cause co- or adjacent-channel interference. 
**If under 250 W at night, the antenna must be efficient enough to radiate more than 140.82 mV/m at 1&nbsp;km.
* '''C''' (formerly '''IV''') — local unlimited-time stations — 250 W to 1&nbsp;kW, 24 hours. 
**Class C stations that were licensed at 100 W are [[grandfather clause|grandfathered]]. 
**Rare Class Cs operate with directional arrays, such as [[KYPA]] and [[KHCB (AM)|KHCB]].
* '''D''' (formerly '''II-D''', '''II-S''', '''III-S''') — current and former [[daytimer]]s — Daytime 250 W to 50&nbsp;kW, nighttime under 250 W or off-air.
**[[Field strength]] is limited to 140 mV/m (millivolts per meter) at 1&nbsp;km. 
**No new class D stations are licensed, with the exception of Class B stations that are downgrading their nighttime operations to Class D (i.e., less than 250 W). The station's daytime operation is then also reclassified as Class D.
**If a Class D station is on the air at night, it is not protected from any co-channel interference.
* '''TIS'''/'''HAR''' — [[travelers' information station]]s / highway advisory radio stations — Up to 10 W transmitter output power. Stations within [[National Park Service|US national parks]] are licensed by [[National Telecommunications and Information Administration|NTIA]] and not the FCC.
* '''Unlicensed broadcasting''' — (see [[low-power broadcasting]]) — 100&nbsp;mW DC input to final amplifier with a {{convert|3|m|ft|0|abbr=off|adj=on|sp=us}} maximum length radiator, no license needed, may be measured at edge of campus for school stations and neighborhood broadcasters.

'''Notes:'''
* In the Western Hemisphere ([[ITU Region|ITU region 2]]), [[medium wave]] AM broadcasts are on channels spaced 10&nbsp;kHz apart from 530&nbsp;kHz to 1700&nbsp;kHz, with certain classes restricted to subsets of the available frequencies.
* With few exceptions, Class A stations can be found only on the frequencies of 540&nbsp;kHz, 640 to 780&nbsp;kHz, 800 to 900&nbsp;kHz, 940&nbsp;kHz, 990 to 1140&nbsp;kHz, 1160 to 1220&nbsp;kHz, and 1500 to 1580&nbsp;kHz. The exceptions are cited in relevant international treaties.
* While US and Canadian Class A stations are authorized to operate at a maximum of 50,000 watts day and night (and a minimum of 10,000 watts at night, if grandfathered), certain existing Mexican Class A stations, and certain new Cuban Class A stations are authorized to operate at a higher power. Certain Mexican Class A stations are authorized to operate at less than 50,000 watts at night, if grandfathered, but may operate at up to 100,000 watts during the day.
* Class B and D stations can be found on any frequencies from 540&nbsp;kHz to 1700&nbsp;kHz except where frequencies have been reserved for Class C stations.
* Class C stations can be found in the lower 48 US states on the frequencies of 1230&nbsp;kHz, 1240&nbsp;kHz, 1340&nbsp;kHz, 1400&nbsp;kHz, 1450&nbsp;kHz, and 1490&nbsp;kHz (commonly known as "graveyard" frequencies). Other countries may use other frequencies for their Class C stations.
* American territories in ITU region 3 with AM broadcasting stations ([[Guam]] and the [[Northern Mariana Islands]]) use the 9&nbsp;kHz spacing customary to the rest of the world. All stations are class B or lower. 
* Canada also defines Class CC ([[Carrier Current]], restricted to the premises) and LP.  (less than 100 watts)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://spectrum.ic.gc.ca/engineering/engdoc/baserad.zip |title=Industry Canada Broadcasting Database |access-date=2011-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207042211/http://spectrum.ic.gc.ca/engineering/engdoc/baserad.zip |archive-date=2013-12-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* TIS stations can be found on any frequency from 530&nbsp;kHz to 1700&nbsp;kHz in the US, but may only carry non-commercial messages without music. There is a network of TISs on 1710 in New Jersey.
* [[Low-power AM]] stations located on a school campus are allowed to be more powerful, so long as their signal strength does not exceed roughly 14 to 45 µV/m (microvolts per meter) (depending on frequency) at a distance of 30&nbsp;meters (98.4&nbsp;ft) from campus.

====Former system====
AM station classes were previously assigned [[Roman numerals]] from I to IV in the US, with subclasses indicated by a letter suffix. Current class A is equivalent to the old class I; class B is the old classes II and III, with class D being the II-D, II-S, and III-S subclasses; and class C is the old class IV.

The following conversion table compares the old AM station classes with the new AM station classes:

:{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Old Domestic Station Class
! New Domestic Station Class
|-
| I
| A
|-
| II
| B
|-
| III
| B
|-
| IV
| C
|-
| II-S
| D
|-
| III-S
| D
|-
| II-D<br />(Daytime Only)
| D
|}

=== AM station classes and clear channels listed by frequency ===
{{See also|North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement|Regional Agreement for the Medium Frequency Broadcasting Service in Region 2}}

The following chart lists frequencies on the [[Satellite feeds|broadcast company]] band, and which classes broadcast on these frequencies; [[List of broadcast station classes|Class A]] and [[List of broadcast station classes|Class B]], 10,000 watt and higher (full-time) stations in North America which broadcast on [[clear-channel station]] frequencies are also shown.

By international agreement, Class A stations must be 10,000 watts and above, with a 50,000 watt maximum for the US and Canada, but no maximum for other governments in the region. Mexico, for example, typically runs 150,000 to 500,000 watts, but some stations are [[Grandfather clause|grandfathered]] at 10,000 to 20,000 watts at night; by treaty, these sub-50,000 watt Mexican stations may operate with a maximum of 100,000 watts during the daytime.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldradio.com/archives/stations/ccs.htm|title=Clear Channel Stations|website=www.oldradio.com}}</ref>

Because the AM broadcast band developed before technology suitable for [[directional antenna]]s, there are numerous exceptions, such as the US use of 800 (kHz) and 900 non-directionally in Alaska, limited to 5&nbsp;kW at night; and 1050 and 1220, directionally, in the [[continental US]], and without time limits; each of these being assigned to specific cities (and each of these being Mexican Class I-A clear channels). In return for these limits on US stations, Mexico accepted limits on 830 and 1030 in Mexico City, non-directionally, restricted to 5&nbsp;kW at night (both of these being US Class I-A clear channels).

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! [[Channel (broadcasting)|Channel]]<br />Type
! [[Frequency]]<br />([[kilohertz|kHz]])
! Available<br />Classes
! Assignment<br />Old class designation in ()
|-
| &mdash;
| [[530 AM|530]]
| &mdash;
| In the US, reserved for low power<br />[[AM broadcasting|AM]] [[Travelers' Information Stations]]
|-
| Clear
| [[540 AM|540]]
| A, B, D
| [[CBK (AM)|CBK]] [[Watrous, Saskatchewan]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[CBT (AM)|CBT]] [[Grand Falls-Windsor]], Newfoundland and Labrador: Class A (I-B)<br />[[XEWA-AM|XEWA]] [[San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[WFLF (AM)|WFLF]] [[Pine Hills, Florida]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Regional
| [[550 AM|550]]
| (A), B, D
| [[CMBV (AM)|CMBV]] Wajay, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 500&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a regional channel
|-
| Regional
| [[560 AM|560]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[570 AM|570]]
| (A), B, D
| [[CMEA (AM)|CMEA]] Santa Clara, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 30&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a regional channel
|-
| Regional
| [[580 AM|580]]
| (A), B, D
| [[CMAA (AM)|CMAA]] Pinar del Rio, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 30&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a regional channel<br />[[KMJ (AM)|KMJ]] [[Fresno, California]] Class B (III-A) 50&nbsp;kW all hours; directional all hours
|-
| Regional
| [[590 AM|590]]
| (A), B, D
| [[CMCA (AM)|CMCA]] San Antonio Vegas, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 150&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a regional channel
|-
| Regional
| [[600 AM|600]]
| (A), B, D
| [[CMKA (AM)|CMKA]] San German, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 150&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a regional channel
|-
| Regional
| [[610 AM|610]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[620 AM|620]]
| (A), B, D
| [[CMDA (AM)|CMDA]] Colon, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 30&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a regional channel
|-
| Regional
| [[630 AM|630]]
| (A), B, D
| [[CMHA (AM)|CMHA]] Camaguey, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 30&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a regional channel
|-
| Clear
| [[640 AM|640]]
| A, B, D
| [[KFI (AM)|KFI]] Los Angeles, California: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KYUK (AM)|KYUK]] [[Bethel, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)<br />[[CBN (AM)|CBN]] [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador]]: Class A (I-B) NARBA grant: 10&nbsp;kW non-directional all hours
|-
| Clear
| [[650 AM|650]]
| A, B, D
| [[WSM (AM)|WSM]] [[Nashville, Tennessee]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KENI]] [[Anchorage, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)
|-
| Clear
| [[660 AM|660]]
| A, B, D
| [[WFAN (AM)|WFAN]] New York City: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KFAR]] [[Fairbanks, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)<br />[[KTNN]] [[Window Rock, Arizona]]: Class B (II-B)<br />[[CMDC (AM)|CMDC]] Colon, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 30&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a US clear channel
|-
| Clear
| [[670 AM|670]]
| A, B, D
| [[WSCR]] Chicago, Illinois: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KDLG (AM)|KDLG]] [[Dillingham, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)<br />[[KBOI (AM)|KBOI]] [[Boise, Idaho]]: Class B (II-A)<br />[[CMBC (AM)|CMBC]] Arroyo Arena, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 50&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a US clear channel
|-
| Clear
| [[680 AM|680]]
| A, B, D
| [[KNBR (AM)|KNBR]] [[San Francisco, California]]: Class A (I-B) ND-U<br />[[KBRW (AM)|KBRW]] [[Barrow, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)<br />[[WRKO]] [[Boston, Massachusetts]]: Class B (II-B)<br />[[WCBM]] [[Baltimore, Maryland]]: Class B (II-B)<br />[[WPTF]] [[Raleigh, North Carolina]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[690 AM|690]]
| A, B, D
| [[CKGM]] [[Montreal]], Quebec: Class A (I-A)<br />[[CBU (AM)|CBU]] [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]]: Class B (II-B)<br />[[XEWW-AM|XEWW]] [[Tijuana]], Baja California: Class A (I-B) NARBA grant: 50&nbsp;kW, directional all hours; currently 77&nbsp;kW days, 50&nbsp;kW nights, directional all hours<br />[[WOKV-FM|WOKV]] [[Jacksonville, Florida]]: Class B (II-B)<br />[[CMEC (AM)|CMEC]] Santa Clara, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 50&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a Canadian clear channel
|-
| Clear
| [[700 AM|700]]
| A, B, D
| [[WLW]] [[Cincinnati, Ohio]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KBYR (AM)|KBYR]] [[Anchorage, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)
|-
| Clear
| [[710 AM|710]]
| A, B, D
| [[WOR (AM)|WOR]] New York City: Class A (I-B)<br />[[KIRO (AM)|KIRO]] [[Seattle, Washington]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[KSPN (AM)|KSPN]] Los Angeles, California: Class B (II-B)<br />[[WAQI]] [[Miami, Florida]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[720 AM|720]]
| A, B, D
| [[WGN (AM)|WGN]] Chicago, Illinois: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KOTZ]] [[Kotzebue, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)<br />[[KDWN]] [[Las Vegas, Nevada]]: Class B (II-A)
|-
| Clear
| [[730 AM|730]]
| A, B, D
| [[CKAC]] [[Montreal]], Quebec: Class A (II-B) ("Rio" grant: promotion to Class A)<br />[[XEX-AM|XEX]] [[Mexico City]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[CMHC (AM)|CMHC]] Camaguey, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 30&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a Mexican clear channel
|-
| Clear
| [[740 AM|740]]
| A, B, D
| [[CFZM]] Toronto, Ontario: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KCBS (AM)|KCBS]] [[San Francisco]], California: Class B (II-B) Formerly KQW [[San Jose, California]]<br />[[WYGM]] [[Orlando, Florida]]: Class B (II-B)<br />[[KRMG (AM)|KRMG]] [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]]: Class B (II-B)<br />[[KTRH]] [[Houston, Texas]]: Class B (II-B)<br />[[CMAC (AM)|CMAC]] Pinar del Rio, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 30&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a Canadian clear channel
|-
| Clear
| [[750 AM|750]]
| A, B, D
| [[WSB (AM)|WSB]] [[Atlanta, Georgia]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KFQD]] [[Anchorage, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)<br />[[CBG (AM)|CBGY]] [[Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador]]: Class A (I-B) (New station; Grandfathered at 10&nbsp;kW)<br />[[KMMJ]] [[Grand Island, Nebraska]]: Class B (II-B)<br />[[KXTG]] [[Portland, Oregon]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[760 AM|760]]
| A, B, D
| [[WJR (AM)|WJR]] [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KGB (AM)|KGB]] [[San Diego, California]]: Class B (II-B)<br />[[CMKC (AM)|CMKC]] Cacocun, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 75&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a US clear channel
|-
| Clear
| [[770 AM|770]]
| A, B, D
| [[WABC (AM)|WABC]] New York City: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KKOB (AM)|KKOB]] [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]]: Class B (II-A)<br />[[KCHU]] [[Valdez, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)<br />[[KTTH]] [[Seattle, Washington]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[780 AM|780]]
| A, B, D
| [[WBBM (AM)|WBBM]] Chicago, Illinois: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KNOM]] [[Nome, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)<br />[[KKOH]] [[Reno, Nevada]]: Class B (II-A)
|-
| Regional
| [[790 AM|790]]
| (A), B, D
| [[CMAC (AM)|CMAC]] Guanabacoba, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 30&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a regional channel
|-
| Clear
| [[800 AM|800]]
| A, B, D
| [[XEROK-AM|XEROK]] [[Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[CKLW]] [[Windsor, Ontario]]: Class B (II-B)<br />[[CMEB (AM)|CMEB]] Santa Clara, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 30&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a Mexican clear channel
|-
| Clear
| [[810 AM|810]]
| A, B, D
| [[KGO (AM)|KGO]] [[San Francisco, California]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[WGY (AM)|WGY]] [[Schenectady, New York]]: Class A (I-B) ND-U, but KGO was the originally assigned dominant station<br />[[WHB]] [[Kansas City, Missouri]]: Class B (II-B)<br />[[WKVM]] [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[820 AM|820]]
| A, B, D
| [[WBAP (AM)|WBAP]] [[Fort Worth, Texas]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KCBF]] [[Fairbanks, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)
|-
| Clear
| [[830 AM|830]]
| A, B, D
| [[WCCO (AM)|WCCO]] [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KLAA (AM)|KLAA]] [[Orange, California]]: Class B (II-B)<br />[[XEITE-AM|XEITE]] Mexico City, Mexico: Class B (II-B) NARBA grant: 5&nbsp;kW all hours; present operation 10&nbsp;kW days, 5&nbsp;kW nights
|-
| Clear
| [[840 AM|840]]
| A, B, D
| [[WHAS (AM)|WHAS]] [[Louisville, Kentucky]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KXNT (AM)|KXNT]] [[North Las Vegas, Nevada]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[850 AM|850]]
| A, B, D
| [[KOA (AM)|KOA]] [[Denver, Colorado]]: Class A (I-B) ND-U<br />[[KICY (AM)|KICY]] [[Nome, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)<br />[[WEEI (AM)|WEEI]] [[Boston, Massachusetts]]: Class B (II-B)<br />[[WTAR]] [[Norfolk, Virginia]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[860 AM|860]]
| A, B, D
| [[CJBC (AM)|CJBC]] Toronto, Ontario: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KTRB]] [[San Francisco, California]]: Class B (II-B) Presently operating at 7.5&nbsp;kW nights<br />[[CMDB (AM)|CMDB]] Colon, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 30&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a Canadian clear channel
|-
| Clear
| [[870 AM|870]]
| A, B, D
| [[WWL (AM)|WWL]] [[New Orleans, Louisiana]]: Class A (I-A)
|-
| Clear
| [[880 AM|880]]
| A, B, D
| [[WCBS (AM)|WCBS]] New York City: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KRVN (AM)|KRVN]] [[Lexington, Nebraska]]: Class B (II-A)<br />[[CMAB (AM)|CMAB]] Pinar del Rio, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 30&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a US clear channel
|-
| Clear
| [[890 AM|890]]
| A, B, D
| [[WLS (AM)|WLS]] Chicago, Illinois: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KBBI]] [[Homer, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)<br />[[KDXU]] [[St. George, Utah]]: Class B (II-A)<br />[[CMHB (AM)|CMHB]] Camaguey, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 30&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a US clear channel
|-
| Clear
| [[900 AM|900]]
| A, B, D
| [[XEW-AM|XEW]] [[Mexico City]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[CKBI (AM)|CKBI]] [[Prince Albert, Saskatchewan]]: Class A (II-B)<br />[[CMKB (AM)|CMKB]] Cacocun, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 200&nbsp;kW days, 50&nbsp;kW nights; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a Mexican clear channel
|-
| Regional
| [[910 AM|910]]
| (A), B, D
| [[CMAC (AM)|CMAC]] Guanabacoba, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 75&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a regional channel
|-
| Regional
| [[920 AM|920]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[930 AM|930]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Clear
| [[940 AM|940]]
| A, B, D
| [[CINW]] [[Montreal]], Quebec: Class A (I-B)<br />[[XEQ-AM|XEQ]] [[Mexico City]]: Class A (I-B) ND-U<br />[[KFIG]] [[Fresno, California]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Regional
| [[950 AM|950]]
| B, D
| [[KJR (AM)|KJR]] [[Seattle, Washington]] Class B (II-B) 50&nbsp;kW all hours; directional all hours<br />[[WWJ (AM)|WWJ]] [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]]: Class B (II-B) 50&nbsp;kW all hours; directional all hours
|-
| Regional
| [[960 AM|960]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[970 AM|970]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[980 AM|980]]
| A (only [[CKNW]]), B, D
| [[CKNW]] [[New Westminster]], [[British Columbia]]: Class A
|-
| Clear
| [[990 AM|990]]
| A, B, D
| [[CBW (AM)|CBW]] [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[CBY (radio station)|CBY]] [[Corner Brook]], Newfoundland and Labrador: Class A (I-B)<br />[[WTLN (AM)|WTLN]] [[Orlando, Florida]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[1000 AM|1000]]
| A, B, D
| [[WMVP]] [[Chicago, Illinois]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[KNWN (AM)|KNWN]] [[Seattle, Washington]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[XEOY-AM|XEOY]] Mexico City, Mexico: Class A (I-B) NARBA grant: 10&nbsp;kW all hours; present operation 50&nbsp;kW days, 10&nbsp;kW nights
|-
| Clear
| [[1010 AM|1010]]
| A, B, D
| [[CBR (AM)|CBR]] [[Calgary]], Alberta: Class A (I-A)<br />[[CFRB]] Toronto, Ontario: Class A (II-B) (Class II-B promoted to Class A)<br />[[WINS (AM)|WINS]] New York City: Class B (II-B)<br />[[CMBX (AM)|CMBX]] Wajay, Cuba: Class A "Rio" grant: 500&nbsp;kW all hours; special grant of a Cuban Class A on a Canadian clear channel
|-
| Clear
| [[1020 AM|1020]]
| A, B, D
| [[KDKA (AM)|KDKA]] [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KVNT]] [[Eagle River, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)<br />[[KCKN]] [[Roswell, New Mexico]]: Class B (II-A)<br />[[KTNQ]] Los Angeles, California: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[1030 AM|1030]]
| A, B, D
| [[WBZ (AM)|WBZ]] [[Boston, Massachusetts]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KTWO (AM)|KTWO]] [[Casper, Wyoming]]: Class B (II-A)<br />[[XEQR-AM|XEQR]] Mexico City, Mexico: Class B (II-B) NARBA grant: 5&nbsp;kW all hours; present operation 50&nbsp;kW days, 5&nbsp;kW nights
|-
| Clear
| [[1040 AM|1040]]
| A, B, D
| [[WHO (AM)|WHO]] [[Des Moines, Iowa]]: Class A (I-A)
|-
| Clear
| [[1050 AM|1050]]
| A, B, D
| [[CHUM (AM)|CHUM]] [[Toronto]], Ontario: Class B (II-B)<br />[[XEG-AM|XEG]] [[Monterrey, Nuevo León]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[WEPN (AM)|WEPN]] [[New York City]]: Class B (II-B) NARBA grant: 50&nbsp;kW all hours, directional all hours; present operation: same
|-
| Clear
| [[1060 AM|1060]]
| A, B, D
| [[KYW (AM)|KYW]] [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[XEEP-AM|XEEP]] [[Mexico City]]: Class A (I-B) NARBA grant: 20&nbsp;kW all hours; present operation 50&nbsp;kW days, 20&nbsp;kW nights
|-
| Clear
| [[1070 AM|1070]]
| A, B, D
| [[KNX (AM)|KNX]] Los Angeles, California: Class A (I-B) ND-U<br />[[CBA (AM)|CBA]] [[Moncton]], New Brunswick: Class A (I-B) ND-U (Silent)
|-
| Clear
| [[1080 AM|1080]]
| A, B, D
| [[WTIC (AM)|WTIC]] [[Hartford, Connecticut]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[KRLD (AM)|KRLD]] [[Dallas, Texas]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[KOAN (AM)|KOAN]] [[Anchorage, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)<br />[[KFXX (AM)|KFXX]] [[Portland, Oregon]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[1090 AM|1090]]
| A, B, D
| [[KAAY]] [[Little Rock, Arkansas]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[WBAL (AM)|WBAL]] [[Baltimore, Maryland]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[XEPRS-AM|XEPRS]] [[Rosarito Beach]], Baja California: Class A (I-B)<br />[[KPTR (AM)|KPTR]] [[Seattle, Washington]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[1100 AM|1100]]
| A, B, D
| [[WTAM]] [[Cleveland, Ohio]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KNZZ]] [[Grand Junction, Colorado]]: Class B (II-A)<br />[[KFAX]] [[San Francisco, California]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[1110 AM|1110]]
| A, B, D
| [[WBT (AM)|WBT]] [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[KFAB]] [[Omaha, Nebraska]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[KWVE (AM)|KWVE]] [[Pasadena, California]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[1120 AM|1120]]
| A, B, D
| [[KMOX (AM)|KMOX]] [[St. Louis, Missouri]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KPNW (AM)|KPNW]] [[Eugene, Oregon]]: Class B (II-A)
|-
| Clear
| [[1130 AM|1130]]
| A, B, D
| [[KWKH]] [[Shreveport, Louisiana]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[WBBR]] New York City: Class A (I-B)<br />[[CKWX]] Vancouver, British Columbia: Class A (I-B)<br />[[KTLK (AM)|KTLK]] [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[1140 AM|1140]]
| A, B, D
| [[WRVA (AM)|WRVA]] [[Richmond, Virginia]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[XEMR-AM|XEMR]] [[Apodaca]], Nuevo León: Class A (I-B)<br />[[KHTK]] [[Sacramento, California]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Regional
| [[1150 AM|1150]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Clear
| [[1160 AM|1160]]
| A, B, D
| [[KSL (AM)|KSL]] [[Salt Lake City]], Utah: Class A (I-A)<br />[[WYLL]] Chicago, Illinois: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[1170 AM|1170]]
| A, B, D
| [[KTSB (AM)|KTSB]] [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[WWVA (AM)|WWVA]] [[Wheeling, West Virginia]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[KJNP (AM)|KJNP]] [[North Pole, Alaska]]: Class A (I-N)
|-
| Clear
| [[1180 AM|1180]]
| A, B, D
| [[WHAM (AM)|WHAM]] [[Rochester, New York]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KOFI]] [[Kalispell, Montana]]: Class B (II-A)
|-
| Clear
| [[1190 AM|1190]]
| A, B, D
| [[KEX (AM)|KEX]] [[Portland, Oregon]]: Class A (I-B)<br /> [[WOWO (AM)|WOWO]] [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]]: Class B (I-B) Former I-B downgraded to Class B by licensee's request; 9.8&nbsp;kW nights<br />[[WLIB]] [[New York City]]: Class B (II-B) 10&nbsp;kW days, 30&nbsp;kW nights<br />[[XEWK-AM]] [[Guadalajara, Jalisco]], Mexico: Class A (I-B) NARBA grant: 10&nbsp;kW all hours; present operation 50&nbsp;kW days, 10&nbsp;kW nights
|-
| Clear
| [[1200 AM|1200]]
| A, B, D
| [[WOAI (AM)|WOAI]] [[San Antonio, Texas]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[WMUZ (AM)|WMUZ]] [[Taylor, Michigan]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[1210 AM|1210]]
| A, B, D
| [[WPHT]] [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KGYN]] [[Guymon, Oklahoma]]: Class B (II-A)
|-
| Clear
| [[1220 AM|1220]]
| A, B, D
| [[XEB-AM|XEB]] [[Mexico City]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[WHKW]] [[Cleveland, Ohio]]: Class B (II-B) NARBA grant: 50&nbsp;kW all hours, directional all hours; present operation: same
|-
| Regional
| [[1230 AM|1230]]
| B
| Stations in [[Alaska]], [[Hawaii]], [[Puerto Rico]], and the [[United States Virgin Islands]]
|-
| Local
| [[1230 AM|1230]]
| C
| Stations in conterminous 48 states
|-
| Regional
| [[1240 AM|1240]]
| B
| Stations in [[Alaska]], [[Hawaii]], [[Puerto Rico]], and the [[United States Virgin Islands]]
|-
| Local
| 1240
| C
| Stations in conterminous 48 states
|-
| Regional
| [[1250 AM|1250]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1260 AM|1260]]
| A (only [[CFRN (AM)|CFRN]]), B, D
| [[CFRN (AM)|CFRN]] [[Edmonton]], Alberta: Class A (III-B) Class III-B promoted to Class A, but operating on a Class III frequency
|-
| Regional
| [[1270 AM|1270]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1280 AM|1280]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1290 AM|1290]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1300 AM|1300]]
| B, D
|
|- 
| Regional
| [[1310 AM|1310]]
| B, D
| 
|-
| Regional
| [[1320 AM|1320]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1330 AM|1330]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1340 AM|1340]]
| B
| Stations in [[Alaska]], [[Hawaii]], [[Puerto Rico]], and the [[United States Virgin Islands]]
|-
| Local
| 1340
| C
| Stations in conterminous 48 states
|-
| Regional
| [[1350 AM|1350]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1360 AM|1360]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1370 AM|1370]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1380 AM|1380]]
| B, D
| [[KRKO]] [[Everett, Washington]] Class B (III-A) 50&nbsp;kW all hours; directional nights
|-
| Regional
| [[1390 AM|1390]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1400 AM|1400]]
| B
| Stations in [[Alaska]], [[Hawaii]], [[Puerto Rico]], and the [[United States Virgin Islands]]
|-
| Local
| 1400
| C
| Stations in conterminous 48 states
|-
| Regional
| [[1410 AM|1410]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1420 AM|1420]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1430 AM|1430]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1440 AM|1440]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1450 AM|1450]]
| B
| Stations in [[Alaska]], [[Hawaii]], [[Puerto Rico]], and the [[United States Virgin Islands]]
|-
| Local
| 1450
| C
| Stations in conterminous 48 states
|-
| Regional
| [[1460 AM|1460]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1470 AM|1470]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1480 AM|1480]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1490 AM|1490]]
| B
| Stations in [[Alaska]], [[Hawaii]], [[Puerto Rico]], and the [[United States Virgin Islands]]
|-
| Local
| 1490
| C
| Stations in conterminous 48 states
|-
| Clear
| [[1500 AM|1500]]
| A, B, D
| [[WFED]] Washington, D.C.: Class A (I-B)<br />[[KSTP (AM)|KSTP]] [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]]: Class A (I-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[1510 AM|1510]]
| A, B, D
| [[WLAC]] [[Nashville, Tennessee]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[WMEX (AM)|WMEX]] [[Boston, Massachusetts]]: Class B (II-B) downgraded to 10&nbsp;kW days, 100 watts nights, non-directional at all times<br />[[KGA]] [[Spokane, Washington]]: Class B (I-B) Former I-B downgraded to Class B by licensee's request; 15&nbsp;kW nights
|-
| Clear
| [[1520 AM|1520]]
| A, B, D
| [[WWKB]] [[Buffalo, New York]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[KOKC (AM)|KOKC]] [[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[KGDD (AM)|KGDD]] [[Oregon City, Oregon]]: Class B (II-B)<br />[[KKXA]] [[Snohomish, Washington]] Class B (II-B) 50&nbsp;kW all hours; directional all hours
|-
| Clear
| [[1530 AM|1530]]
| A, B, D
| [[KFBK (AM)|KFBK]] [[Sacramento, California]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[WCKY (AM)|WCKY]] [[Cincinnati, Ohio]]: Class A (I-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[1540 AM|1540]]
| A, B, D
| [[KXEL]] [[Waterloo, Iowa]]: Class A (I-B)<br />[[ZNS-1]] [[Nassau, Bahamas]]: Class A (I-A)<br />[[KMPC]] Los Angeles, California: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[1550 AM|1550]]
| A, B, D
| [[XERUV-AM|XERUV]] [[Xalapa]], Veracruz: Class A (I-B) NARBA grant: 10&nbsp;kW non-directional<br />[[CBEF]] [[Windsor, Ontario]]: Class A (I-B) NARBA grant: 10&nbsp;kW directional all hours<br />[[KKOV]] [[Vancouver, Washington]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Clear
| 1560
| A, B, D
| [[KNZR (AM)|KNZR]] [[Bakersfield, California]]: Class A (I-B) Only US Class A grandfathered at 10&nbsp;kW nights, increased daytime power to 25&nbsp;kW<br />[[WFME (AM)|WFME]] New York City: Class A (I-B)
|-
| Clear
| [[1570 AM|1570]]
| A, B, D
| [[XERF-AM|XERF]] [[Ciudad Acuña]], Coahuila: Class A (I-A) NARBA grant: 250&nbsp;kW, now operating at 100&nbsp;kW
|-
| Clear
| [[1580 AM|1580]]
| A, B, D
| [[CKDO]] [[Oshawa, Ontario]]: Class A (I-A) operating at 10&nbsp;kW<br />[[KBLA]] [[Santa Monica, California]]: Class B (II-B)
|-
| Regional
| [[1590 AM|1590]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional
| [[1600 AM|1600]]
| B, D
|
|-
| Regional (Expanded)
| [[1610 AM|1610]]
| 
|  In the US, used solely by low power<br />[[AM broadcasting|AM]] [[Travelers' Information Stations]].
|-
| Regional (Expanded)
| [[1620 AM|1620]]
| B
|
|-
| Regional (Expanded)
| [[1630 AM|1630]]
| B
|
|-
| Regional (Expanded)
| [[1640 AM|1640]]
| B
|
|-
| Regional (Expanded)
| [[1650 AM|1650]]
| B
|
|-
| Regional (Expanded)
| [[1660 AM|1660]]
| B
|
|-
| Regional (Expanded)
| [[1670 AM|1670]]
| B
|
|-
| Regional (Expanded)
| [[1680 AM|1680]]
| B
|
|-
| Regional (Expanded)
| [[1690 AM|1690]]
| B
|
|-
| Regional (Expanded)
| [[1700 AM|1700]]
| B
|
|}

== FM ==
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/fm-station-classes|title=FM Broadcast Station Classes and Service Contours|date=11 December 2015|website=fcc.gov}}</ref>

===Station class description===
{{Confusing section|date=October 2010}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Class
!Effective Radiated Power (ERP, calculated using transmitter power and antenna HAAT)
!Antenna Height Above Average Terrain (HAAT)
!Reference distance
|-
|'''C'''
|100&nbsp;kW (or higher for grandfathered stations)
|{{convert|300|to|600|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|91.8|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
|'''C0'''
|100&nbsp;kW
|{{convert|300|to|450|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|83.4|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
|'''C1'''
|up to 100&nbsp;kW
|under {{convert|300|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|83.4|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
|'''C2'''
|up to 50&nbsp;kW
|up to {{convert|150|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|52.2|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
|'''C3'''
|up to 25&nbsp;kW
|up to {{convert|100|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|39.1|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
|''C4 (US rulemaking)''
|up to 12&nbsp;kW
|up to {{convert|100|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|33.3|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
|'''B'''
|up to 50&nbsp;kW
|up to {{convert|150|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|65.1|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
|'''B1'''
|up to 25&nbsp;kW
|up to {{convert|100|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|44.7|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
|'''A'''
|100&nbsp;W to 6&nbsp;kW (3&nbsp;kW in Mexico)
|up to {{convert|100|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|28.3|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} ({{convert|24|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} in Mexico)
|-
|'''A1''' (Canada)[https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf01153.html]
|50&nbsp;W to 250&nbsp;W
|up to {{convert|100|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|18|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
|-
|'''AA''' (Mexico)<ref>[http://www.ift.org.mx/sites/default/files/dofpift170316102_1.pdf IFT: Disposición Técnica IFT-002-2016 "Especificaciones y requerimientos para la instalación y operación de las estaciones de radiodifusión sonora en frecuencia modulada en la banda de 88 a 108 MHz"] is the current document that defines FM station classes and operating parameters in Mexico.</ref>
|up to 6&nbsp;kW (the former limit for A)
|up to {{convert|100|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|28|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
|-
|'''D'''
|up to 250&nbsp;W ERP except US non-[[broadcast translator|translators]] to 10W [[transmitter power output|TPO]]<br />up to 50&nbsp;W (Mexico)
|unlimited<br />up to {{convert|45|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} (Mexico)
|unspecified<br />{{convert|5|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} (Mexico)
|-
|'''L1''' (US, also '''LP100''')
|50&nbsp;W to 100&nbsp;W
|up to {{convert|30|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|5.6|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
|'''L2''' (US, also '''LP10''')
|1&nbsp;W to 10&nbsp;W
|up to {{convert|30|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|{{convert|3.2|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
|'''LP''' (Canada)
|10-50&nbsp;W
|
|
|-
|'''VLP''' (Canada)
|up to 10&nbsp;W
|
|
|-
|''unlicensed''
|[[signal strength]] of 250&nbsp;µV/m (US), 100&nbsp;µV/m (Canada)
|unspecified
|measured at {{convert|3|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} (US), {{convert|30|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} (Canada)
|}

'''Notes:'''
* Canada protects all radio stations out to a [[signal strength]] of 0.5[[mV/m]] (54dBu), whereas only commercial B stations in the US are. Commercial B1 in the US is 0.7mV/m (57dBu), and all other stations are 1.0mV/m (60dBu). [[Reserved band|Noncommercial-band]] stations (88.1 to 91.9) are not afforded this protection, and are treated as C3 and C2 even when they are B1 or B. C3 and C2 may also be reported internationally as B1 and B, respectively.
* Class C0 is for former C stations, demoted at request of another station which needs the downgrade to accommodate its own facilities.
* In practice, many stations are above the maximum HAAT for a particular class, and correspondingly must downgrade their power to remain below the reference distance. Conversely, they may ''not'' increase power if they are ''below'' maximum HAAT.
* All class D (including L1 and L2 [[LPFM]] and translator) stations are secondary in the US, and can be bumped or forced off-air completely, even if they are not just a repeater and are the only station a licensee has.
* The United States is divided into regions that have different restrictions for FM stations. Zone I (much of the [[US Northeast]] and [[Midwest]]) and I-A (most of [[California]], plus [[Puerto Rico]]) is limited to classes B and B1, while Zone II (everything else) has only the C classes. All areas have the same classes for A and D.
* Power and height restrictions were put in place in 1962. A number of previously existing stations were [[grandfather clause|grandfathered]] in, such as [[KRUZ (FM)|KRUZ]] in [[Santa Barbara, California]], and [[WLFP (FM)|WLFP]] in [[Memphis, Tennessee]].

The following table lists the various classes of FM stations, the reference facilities for each station class, and the protected and city grade contours for each station class:<ref>{{cite web |title=FM Broadcast Station Classes and Service Contours |url=https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/fm-station-classes |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301145227/https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/fm-station-classes |archive-date=1 March 2016 |website=FCC |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=28 October 2018 |date=11 December 2015}} See [[Talk:List of North American broadcast station classes#FM Broadcast Station Classes and Service Contours|Talk page]].</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! FM&nbsp;station<br />class
! Reference<br />(maximum)<br />facilities for <br />station class<br />([[Effective radiated power|ERP]] / [[Height above average terrain|HAAT]])
! FM<br />protected<br />or primary<br />service<br />contour
! Distance to<br />protected or<br />primary<br />service<br />contour
! Distance to 70<br />dBu city-grade<br />or principal<br />community<br />coverage<br />contour
|-
| Class A
| 6&nbsp;kW<br />{{convert|100|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| 60 dBu (1.0mV/m)
| {{convert|28.3|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|16.2|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
| Class B1
| 25&nbsp;kW<br />{{convert|100|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| 57 dBu (0.7mV/m)
| {{convert|44.7|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|23.2|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
| Class B
| 50&nbsp;kW<br />{{convert|150|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| 54 dBu (0.5mV/m)
| {{convert|65.1|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|32.6|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
| Class C3
| 25&nbsp;kW<br />{{convert|100|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| 60 dBu (1.0mV/m)
| {{convert|39.1|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|23.2|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
| Class C2
| 50&nbsp;kW<br />{{convert|150|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| 60 dBu (1.0mV/m)
| {{convert|52.2|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|32.6|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
| Class C1
| 100&nbsp;kW<br />{{convert|299|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| 60 dBu (1.0mV/m)
| {{convert|72.3|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|50.0|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
| Class C0
| 100&nbsp;kW<br />{{convert|450|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| 60 dBu (1.0mV/m)
| {{convert|83.4|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|59.0|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|-
| Class C
| 100&nbsp;kW<br />{{convert|600|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| 60 dBu (1.0mV/m)
| {{convert|91.8|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|67.7|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
|}

Historically, there were local "Class A" frequencies (like AM radio's class C stations) to which only class A stations would be allocated & the other frequencies could not have a class A. According to the 1982 FCC rules & regulations, those frequencies were: 92.1, 92.7, 93.5, 94.3, 95.3, 95.9, 96.7, 97.7, 98.3, 99.3, 100.1, 100.9, 101.7, 102.3, 103.1, 103.9, 104.9, 105.5, 106.3 & 107.1. Stations on those twenty frequencies were limited to having equivalent signals no greater that 3KW at {{convert|300|ft|m|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} above average terrain.

=== FM zones ===
[[Image:US FM broadcast zones.png|thumb|right|300px|FM broadcast zones in the US]]
The US is divided into three zones for FM broadcasting: I, I-A and II. The zone where a station is located may limit the choices of broadcast class available to a given FM station.

'''Zone&nbsp;I''' in the US includes all of [[Connecticut]], the [[District of Columbia]], [[Delaware]], [[Illinois]], [[Indiana]], [[Massachusetts]], [[Maryland]], [[New Jersey]], [[Ohio]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[Rhode Island]], and [[West Virginia]]. It also includes the areas south of [[latitude]] 43.5°N in [[Michigan]], [[New Hampshire]], New York, and [[Vermont]]; as well as coastal [[Maine]], southeastern [[Wisconsin]], and northern and eastern [[Virginia]].

'''Zone&nbsp;I-A''' includes [[California]] south of 40°N, as well as [[Puerto Rico]] and the [[US Virgin Islands]].

'''Zone&nbsp;II''' includes the remainder of the [[continental US]], plus [[Alaska]] and [[Hawaii]].

In Zones I and I-A, there are no Class C, C0, or C1 stations.  However, there are a few Class B stations with [[grandfather clause|grandfathered]] power limits in excess of 50 KW, such as [[WETA (FM)|WETA]] (licensed for Washington DC in zone&nbsp;I, at a power of 75&nbsp;kW ERP), [[WNCI]] ([[Columbus, Ohio]] in zone&nbsp;I, at 175&nbsp;kW ERP), [[KPFK]] (Los Angeles in zone&nbsp;I-A, at 110 KW ERP), and the most extreme example being [[WBCT]] ([[Grand Rapids, Michigan]], in zone&nbsp;I, at 320 &nbsp;kW ERP).

== TV ==
{{Confusing section|date=April 2011}}
{{Incomplete list|date=August 2008}}

=== Full-power stations in the US ===
* VHF low (2-6): 100&nbsp;kW video analog at {{convert|1,000|ft|m|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} in Zone I and {{convert|2,000|ft|m|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} in Zone II and Zone III above average terrain; 10&nbsp;kW in Zone I and 45&nbsp;kW in Zone II and Zone III digital at {{convert|1,000|ft|m|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} above average terrain
* VHF high (7-13): 316&nbsp;kW video analog at {{convert|1,000|ft|m|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} in Zone I and {{convert|2,000|ft|m|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} in Zone II and Zone III above average terrain; 30&nbsp;kW in Zone I and 160&nbsp;kW in Zone II and Zone III digital at {{convert|1,000|ft|m|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} above average terrain
* UHF (14-36): {{convert|5|MW|kW|abbr=on}} video analog at {{convert|2,000|ft|m|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} above average terrain; {{convert|1|MW|kW|abbr=on}} digital at {{convert|2,000|ft|m|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} above average terrain

'''Notes:'''

All full-power analog television station transmissions in the US were terminated at midnight [[Eastern Daylight Time]] on June 12, 2009.<ref>[http://www.dtvtransition.org/ A New Era in Television Broadcasting] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123122408/http://www.dtvtransition.org/ |date=2007-11-23 }} - DTVTransition.org</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/Horizons/2009/0204/congress-delays-dtv-switch|title=Congress delays DTV switch|date=4 February 2009|journal=Christian Science Monitor}}</ref>  Many broadcasters replaced their analog signal with their digital [[ATSC]] signal on the same transmission channel at that time.

* All US digital stations received a -DT suffix during the analog-to-digital transition.  At analog shutdown, the FCC assigned to each digital station the call sign its associated analog station had used.  (with a -TV suffix if the analog station had this suffix, without the -TV suffix if the analog station didn't have it).  Stations could optionally choose to keep the -DT suffix.<ref>http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1253A1.txt - FCC DA-09-1253</ref>  Most stations did not keep the -DT suffix.<ref>http://licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/sta_sear.htm Searching for the -DT suffix returns only 91 stations; -TV returns 903, searching for TV stations with no suffix at all returns 1,827.  Searches conducted 29 Jan 2011.</ref>
* For US analog stations, the -TV suffix was required if there was a radio station with the same three- or four-letter callsign.  Stations not required to use the -TV suffix may optionally request it if desired.
* Analog audio power was limited to 22% of video.<ref>http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2009/octqtr/47cfr73.1560.htm - FCC regulation 73.1560(c)(2)</ref>

=== Full-power stations in Canada ===
* Class A: UHF, 10&nbsp;kW video/{{convert|100|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} [[EHAAT]]
* Class B: UHF, 100&nbsp;kW video/{{convert|150|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} [[EHAAT]]
* Class C: UHF, {{convert|1|MW|kW|abbr=on}} video/{{convert|300|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} [[EHAAT]] (?)
* Class D: UHF, more than {{convert|1|MW|kW|abbr=on}}/{{convert|300|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} [[EHAAT]]
* Class R: VHF, 100&nbsp;kW low-band (channels 2–6), 325&nbsp;kW high-band.  (channels 7-13)
* Class S: VHF, more than 100&nbsp;kW low-band/325&nbsp;kW high-band.

Notes:
* Official definitions of these classes are difficult to locate.  The values above are inferred from the [https://web.archive.org/web/20131207042211/http://spectrum.ic.gc.ca/engineering/engdoc/baserad.zip Industry Canada database].  There is some ambiguity about the difference between Classes C and D.
* Power-level limitations are not firmly enforced in Canada, and [[Industry Canada]] has been known to license stations for power levels much higher than the generally accepted limits.  For example, [[CFRN-TV]] in [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]] operated on Channel 3 at over 600&nbsp;kW but was not subject to international co-ordination due to its location {{convert|500|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north of the border.
* In Canada, the callsigns of all private TV stations have the -TV suffix.  Most [[CBC Television]] and [[Ici Radio-Canada Télé]] TV callsigns end in the letter T and have no suffix.  A few Radio-Canada stations, purchased by the CBC from private owners, retain the old -TV callsigns.
* Canadian digital stations all receive the -DT suffix.  (this includes CBC and Radio-Canada stations)  The [https://web.archive.org/web/20131207042211/http://spectrum.ic.gc.ca/engineering/engdoc/baserad.zip Industry Canada database] shows -PT suffixes for the channel allotments for permanent post-transition digital operation but when licences are issued for these permanent digital stations, -DT callsigns are used.

=== Low-power TV (US) ===
{{Confusing section|date=April 2011}}
[[LPTV]] (secondary) (suffix: -LP, or a sequential-numbered callsign in format W##XX with no suffix for analog or with -D suffix for digital, or -LD for low-power digital stations):
* VHF: 3&nbsp;kW analog video; 3&nbsp;kW digital 
* UHF: 150&nbsp;kW analog video; 15&nbsp;kW digital
* Experimental
* Unlicensed: not allowed except for [[medical]] [[telemetry]], and certain [[wireless microphone]]s

The LPTV (low-power television) service was created in 1982 by the FCC to allocate channels for smaller, local stations, and community channels, such as [[Public-access television|public access]] stations.  LPTV stations that meet additional requirements such as children's "[[E/I]]" core programming and [[Emergency Alert System]] broadcasting capabilities can qualify for a [[Class A television service|Class A (-CA)]] license.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/lptv.html|title=Low Power Television (LPTV) Service|date=17 May 2011|website=fcc.gov}}</ref>

[[Broadcast translator]]s, [[Broadcast translator#Boosters and distributed transmission|boosters]], and other [[LPTV|LPTV stations]] are considered secondary to full-power stations, unless they have upgraded to class A. Class A is still considered LPTV with respect to stations in Canada and Mexico.

==== Class A television (US) ====
{{main|Class A television service}}
{{Confusing section|date=April 2011}}

'''Class-A''' stations (US) (suffix: -CA or -CD for digital class A):
* VHF: 3&nbsp;kW analog video; 3&nbsp;kW digital
* UHF: 150&nbsp;kW analog video; 15&nbsp;kW digital

The class-A television class is a variant of LPTV created in 2000 by the FCC to allocate and protect some low-power affiliates. Class-A stations are still low-power, but are protected from [[RF interference]] and from having to change channel should a full-service station request that channel.<ref>http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/Orders/2001/fcc01123.txt {{Bare URL plain text|date=March 2022}}</ref>

Additionally, class-A stations, LPTV stations, and translators are the only stations currently authorized to broadcast both analog and digital signals, unlike full-power stations which must broadcast a digital signal only.

=== Low-power TV (Canada) ===
In Canada, there is no formal transmission power below which a television transmitter is considered broadcasting at low power. Industry Canada considers that a low power digital television undertaking "shall not normally extend a distance of 20 km in any direction from the antenna site," based on the determined noise-limited bounding contour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/vwapj/bpr10-i1.pdf/$FILE/bpr10-i1.pdf|title=Part 10: Application and Procedures and Rules for Digital Television (DTV) Undertakings|website=ic.gc.ca}}</ref>

=== Mexico ===
All digital television stations in Mexico have '''-TDT''' callsign suffixes. Analog stations, which existed until December 31, 2016, had '''-TV''' callsign suffixes.

The equivalent of low power or translator service in Mexico is the ''equipo complementario de zona de sombra'', which is intended only to fill in gaps between a station's expected and actual service area caused by terrain; a station of this type shares the callsign of another station. In analog, these services often were broadcast on the same or adjacent channels to their parent station, except in certain areas with tight packing of television stations (such as central Mexico). In digital, these services usually operate on the same RF channel as their parent station, except for those with conflicting full-power applications ([[XHBS-TDT]] Cd. Obregón, Son., channel 30 instead of 25), in certain other cases where it is technically not feasible ([[XHAW-TDT]] Guadalupe, NL, channel 26 instead of 25) or to make way for eventual repacking on upper UHF ([[XHPNW-TDT]] has four shadows on 33, its post-repacking channel, instead of 39).

''Equipos complementarios'' can relay their parent station, or a station that carries 75% or more of the same programming as its parent station.<ref>[http://www.ift.org.mx/sites/default/files/2016-12-30dof-diariooficialdelafederacion.pdf IFT: Disposición Técnica IFT-013-2016 "Especificaciones y requerimientos mínimos para la instalación y operación de estaciones de televisión, equipos auxiliares y equipos complementarios"], which became effective on January 1, 2017, provides the guidelines for the operation of digital television stations and their shadows.</ref>

Stations of either type may have unusually low or high effective radiated powers. [[XHSMI-TDT]] in Oaxaca is licensed for two watts in digital. The highest-powered shadows are [[XEQ-TDT]] Toluca and [[XHBS-TDT]] Ciudad Obregón, both at 200&nbsp;kW.

=== FCC service table ===
The United States [[Federal Communications Commission]] lists the following services on their website for television broadcasting:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Broadcast class
! Service
! Suffixes used or call sign examples
|-
| Television [[table of allotments|allotment]] (analog)
| TA
| An allocation of a frequency to a [[city of license]] for which no corresponding call sign or license has been assigned. FCC placeholder for possible future construction permits or frequencies allocated to non-US broadcast use. No call sign, identifier is a date (yymmdd) followed by a sequential two-letter value in the US FCC database.
|-
| Full-service TV (analog)
| TV
| '''-TV''' or '''none''' (such as "[[KRON-TV]]" and "[[KTLA]]") Since the shutdown of all full power analog stations in June 2009, used only for historical records.
|-
| Class A (analog)
| CA
| '''-CA''', or a translator-style call sign (such as "[[KTFB-CA]]")
|-
| Low-power station (analog) or translator
| LP
| '''-LP''', or a translator-style call sign (such as "[[KDMD-LP]]" and "[[K13IO]]" with the 2 digits denoting the channel of operation)
|-
| TV [[Broadcast translator#Boosters and distributed transmission|boosters]]
| TB
| Rare. These use the parent station's call sign plus a sequential number, such as [[WSTE|WSTE1]], [[WSTE|WSTE2]], [[WSTE|WSTE3]]. Nameplates for on-channel [[repeater]]s bear the parent station's call sign, followed by "booster".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr;sid=;rgn=div5;view=text;node=47%3A4.0.1.1.3;idno=47;cc=ecfr#47:4.0.1.1.3.7.3.12|title=US CFR 47 Part 74G - 74.733 UHF translator signal boosters.|website=gpoaccess.gov|access-date=2008-07-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305205415/http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr;sid=;rgn=div5;view=text;node=47:4.0.1.1.3;idno=47;cc=ecfr#47:4.0.1.1.3.7.3.12|archive-date=2012-03-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> See [[distributed transmission]].  If the station is digital, and has on-channel boosters, they would typically be named [[WSTE|WSTE-DT1]], [[WSTE|WSTE-DT2]], [[WSTE|WSTE-DT3]] and so on.
|-
| TV auxiliary (analog backup) service
| TS
| no specific suffix (uses same call sign as main transmitter)
|-
| NTSC (analog) petition for a channel change
| NN
| no specific suffix; uses same call sign as the station which made a request for a number/channel change (for NTSC/analog stations, and low-power repeaters, such as those registered as TX).
|-
| Digital Television<br />(full power)
| DT
| '''-DT''', '''-TV''' or '''none''' (such as [[KGLA-DT]], [[WSKY-TV]] or [[KOHD]]). Some stations formerly used '''-HD''', but this has become obsolete (though it may sometimes still be seen identifying the station's main subchannel in a [[Program and System Information Protocol|PSIP]] listing). The -DT suffix, optional for digital-only stations, was used primarily to distinguish a DTV transmission from an analog signal of the same broadcast (or is seen identifying the main subchannel of a station on a PSIP display); likewise, -TV is optional except if the eponymous radio stations exist. A similar suffix '''-DTV''', is used on all television stations in [[Japan]].
|-
| Digital Class-A
| CD
| '''-CD''' (such as "[[WDNI-CD]]" and "[[WYYW-CD]]") Some stations briefly used '''-DC''' as well (this has since become obsolete). A scant few still use translator-style call signs with the '''-D''' suffix (such as "[[KBMT-LD|K36ID-D]]").
|-
| Digital Low-power
| LD
| '''-LD''' or translator-style calls with '''-D''' suffix (such as "[[WBND-LD]]" and "[[W25AA-D]]"), occasionally no suffix (uses same call sign as main transmitter). Some stations briefly used '''-DL''' as well (this has since become obsolete).  Some full-powered stations (such as [[WOIO]], [[WXMI]] and [[WLS-TV]]) have been granted approval for fill-in translators within their broadcast market to better cover outlying towns or heavily urbanied areas, particularly by stations with a VHF digital signal.  These are technically -LD stations, but have the same call-sign as their parent station (such as WLS-TV or WOIO, and ''not'' as WLS-LD or WOIO-LD, though they could be considered as such for ease of differentiating the low-power repeater from its parent), similar to a Distributed Transmission System (but on different frequencies).
|-
| Digital [[special temporary authority]] (STA)
| DS
| no specific suffix; uses same call sign as station making a request for permission from the FCC to use a channel, power level or transmitter location not permanently allocated for one particular station. Temporary assignments retain, unmodified, the call sign of the corresponding permanent allocation; this includes translator-style calls (a format, such as W[[Channel 55 (disambiguation)|55]]<nowiki>ZZ</nowiki>-D, based on RF channel number plus a sequential identifier) even on those temporarily moving to another frequency.

|-
|  Digital Television [[distributed transmission system]] (multiple transmitter sites) 
| DD
| no specific suffix (uses same call sign as main transmitter); this is usually requested for a [[single-frequency network]] and to tailor coverage area to the needs of the viewers in the station's service area (such as covering towns and farmland, and not mountainous terrain or the ocean)
|-
| Digital auxiliary (backup) service
| DX<br />(not to be confused with [[DXing]])
| no specific suffix (uses same call sign as main transmitter)
|-
| Digital [[rulemaking]] petition
| DR
| no specific suffix; uses same call sign as station making this request to add or modify a digital channel allocation
|-
| Land mobile use of a TV channel (TV RF channels 14-20 only)
| LM
| As "LM" is used in the FCC database to indicate reallocation of an entire channel, but not to identify individual users transmitting in that spectrum, a 6&nbsp;MHz LM allocation does not itself carry a TV-style call sign. The spectrum of TV channels 14-20 is called "T-band" in LMR use.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?state=&call=&arn=&city=&chan=&cha2=69&serv=LM&type=0&facid=&list=1&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&size=9|title=TV Query Results -- Video Division (FCC) USA|website=www.fcc.gov}}</ref> Repeaters that operate in such an allocation use a 3&nbsp;MHz offset instead of 5&nbsp;MHz as normally used in the 450-470&nbsp;MHz range.
|-
| [[ATSC#ATSC 3.0|ATSC 3.0 Futurecast]] Experimental Broadcasts
| EX
| Used for officially licensed experimental [[4K resolution|4K]]/[[2160p]] [[Ultra HDTV]] broadcast stations, such as [[WRAL-TV]]'s UHDTV simulcast, WRAL-EX.
|-
|}

== See also ==
* [[Call signs in North America]] - How call signs and classes are used in North America
* [[ITU prefix]] - How callsigns and classes are used worldwide
* [[Low-power broadcasting]]
* [[Class A television service]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/am-clear-regional-local-channels FCC AM classes]
* [https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/fm-station-classes FCC FM classes]
* [http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/lptv.html FCC LPTV Facts]
* [http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/Orders/2001/fcc01123.txt FCC Class-A TV Information]

{{Telecommunications}}

[[Category:Broadcast engineering]]
[[Category:Classification systems by subject|Broadcast station classes, North America]]