Most Important -- You must have an available frequency!
You can only apply for a frequency (spot on the radio dial) that does not conflict with any existing stations in your geographic region. Finding a frequency will follow current FCC interference rules.
You must have a specific geographic place to put your transmitter and antenna -- your power and frequency allocation will be based on these geographic coordinates. The location should be as high an elevation as possible, and it needs access to electrical power and a place to put a shed for the transmitter if a building is not already there.
Once you have a transmitter site, you will need an engineer to help you do a ‘frequency search’ using the most up-to-date database from the FCC. This will determine your spot on the radio dial. This will cost some money. A preliminary check for frequency availability generally costs around $250, and the full engineering exhibit you would be required to submit to the FCC can cost $2000 -- $3000 to prepare. Substantial discounts from Nexus Broadcast, providing application preparation as low as $1,200 are available to members referred by groups such as Prometheus.
You might need an FCC attorney. You may think you are out in the sticks, but you may be in for a surprise when you file your application-- there is no limit or geographic restrictions on how many stations any single entity can own or where, so if you are in an area with any population, there will almost certainly be competition for the frequency. You may find yourself up against a school, the local community college, the Opera Society, a network of church stations, and another public radio station that is already on the air, and you will need good legal advice from someone knowledgeable about the workings of the FCC. [Note - This will cost some money, but there are a number of attorneys with long experience working as advocates for community radio stations who will be ready to help.]
You will need to demonstrate that you have access to enough funds to construct the station and operate it without revenue for 3 months. Depending on the size of the transmitter and other factors, you may need between $25,000 - $250,000 to actually build your station and get it going. But there is room for many different financing schemes, and if the past is any indication, it could take the FCC several years to process your application, giving you quite a lot of time to build. So in reality you will probably have plenty of time to raise the cash or organize appropriate financing.
Preparing an application will be demanding, requiring an investment in time, effort, and money.
But there is nothing mysterious about it, and the prize is -- a radio voice for your community!
Go for it!!!


