2301.10—Applications resulting from catastrophic damage or emergency situations.
(a)
An application may be filed with a request for a waiver of the closing date, as provided in § 2301.26, when an eligible broadcast applicant suffers catastrophic damage to the basic equipment essential to its continued operation as a result of a natural or manmade disaster, or as the result of complete equipment failure, and is in dire need of assistance in funding replacement of the damaged equipment. This section is limited to equipment essential to a station's continued operation such as transmitters, tower, antennas, STL's or similar equipment which, if the equipment failed, would result in a complete loss of service to the community.
(b)
The request for a waiver must set forth the circumstances that prompt the request and be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation.
(c)
A waiver will be granted only if it is determined that the applicant either carried adequate insurance or had acceptable self-insurance coverage.
(d)
Applicants claiming complete failure of equipment must document the circumstances of the equipment failure and demonstrate that the equipment has been maintained in accordance with standard broadcast engineering practices.
(e)
Applications filed and accepted pursuant to this section must contain all of the information required by the Agency application materials and must be submitted in the number of copies specified by the Agency.
(f)
The application will be subject to the same evaluation and selection process followed for applications received in the normal application cycle, although the Administrator may establish a special timetable for evaluation and selection to permit an appropriately timely decision.