 Much internet chatter indicates we should expect to hear from the FCC on two major policy issues that are the result of years of work by Nexus Broadcast and supporters like you. The FCC will be releasing its final rules to preserve channels for community radio in urban areas, as well as new proposed rules that will shape the future of the Low Power FM (LPFM) radio service. Those new LPFM rules should be codified later this year at which time the FCC will be announce an application filing window, when groups can apply for new LPFM radio stations.
'Austin Airwaves Predicts 10,000 Applicants'
The Audio Division of the Federal Communications Commission confirmed to Austin Airwaves on January 20th that the Commission is “shooting for the Fall” for the opening of the highly-anticipated ‘window’ for applications for new Low Power FM (LPFM) educational radio stations. The previously-reliable government source asked not to be named. Another source outside the Commission, long familiar with the LPFM issue, stated she thought that the FCC wanted to get “the ‘process rolling’ before the presidential election."
Austin Airwaves predicts that nationwide there will be as many as ten thousand applications for the new LPFM licenses.
When asked if he felt this number was a good guestimate, the FCC source said, “We never know what a particular demand will be until we open a window. We have stopped conjecturing about how many applications there may be. It depends in part on supply and demand, availability of
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 We previously provided an overview of the Local Community Radio Act of 2010 (LCRA), and the rule changes that the law requires the FCC to make in response. Changes to the level of protection that LPFM stations must provide to full-service FM stations and FM translators were discussed, along with ambiguous language relating to the establishment of priority of LPFM stations in relation to pending FM translator applications are awaiting resolution through a rulemaking proceeding.
The Local Community Radio Act, signed by President Obama last year, repealed restrictions on low-power FM stations, or LPFMs. The law required the FCC to study whether additional community stations hurt large stations.
Recently The Commission concluded the economic impact study, indicating whether LPFM stations will economically impact full-service FM stations. While LPFM stations are noncommercial, the FCC noted, through the underwriting and sponsorship of programs, revenue that may have previously been directed to full-service FM stations in the market may be redirected to LPFM stations. The report released found LPFM radio stations do not impact the ratings or revenue of commercial stations. Surprisingly was the study indicated the LPFM stations may actually help the effected commercial stations overall revenue.
"Our final conclusion is that the analysis finds no statistically reliable evidence that LPFM stations have a consistent effect on the economic performance of full-service commercial FM stations,"
That is the conclusion of a
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The FCC is busy working on new low-power FM rules in light of December's Community Radio Act of 2010 that allows elimination of third-adjacent channel protections for full-power FMs to fit new LPFMs on the band.
Audio Division Chief Peter Doyle said, "We've done extensive market-by-market analysis" about where new low-power stations could be allocated. The protection changes will "provide meaningful opportunities for LPFMs" even in large markets, he told attendees of "The FCC And You" session at the NAB Show in Las Vegas.
Some parties argued the cap is ineffective to provide spectrum relief in the largest markets, and unnecessary in the smaller markets where's there's ample spectrum for both LPFMs and translators, Doyle said . He added that if the FCC agrees, "It means we'll have to go back to the drawing board and think about a translator processing policy that does a better job of ensuring that licenses will be available in the largest markets."
Asked after the session by Radio World when the LPFM rulemaking could be completed, Doyle said the item "is deep into the process" and he hopes its ready "in weeks, not months."
It sounds like the commission is rethinking its proposed FM translator cap for frozen translator applications, previously announced in anticipation of opening a new LPFM application window.
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“I have had over 10 years experience working with Leo. He has technical and regulatory competence as a leader in the LPFM Community. He assisted KGCA-LP obtain its CP. Leo has a passion for Community Broadcasting. He has focused on how to provide affordable services to broadcasters with limited resources. His dedication and efforts are known to the FCC and the LPFM community from the very beginning of LPFM broadcasting service. I recommend that anyone wanting to obtain an LPFM discuss their project with Leo. I am not aware of anyone with more commitment and expertise in LPFM..” February 27, 2011
Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, Good Value
Robert Kelley,
hired Leo as a Broadcast Consultant in 2001, and hired Leo more than once
“Leo At Nexus Broadcast can be a great asset to you if you are thinking of starting a new radio station. From LPFM Radio to full power commercial he can handle it all. Nexus is for a friendly, courteous, knowledgeable broadcast engineer , thanks Mike” March 3, 2011
Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, Good Value
Michael Brandt,
hired Leo as a Radio in 2010
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STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS LAUDING THE SIGNING OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY RADIO ACT
I have been waiting for this day for a long, long time! Enactment of the Local Community Radio Act gives local radio stations, grassroots media, and consumers nationwide genuine cause to celebrate. Thanks to this legislation, more than 160 million people underserved by local power FM will be able to reap the benefits of these stations. This means potentially many new opportunities for local and independent broadcasters to provide truly local and independent programming—and to be heard.
In this day of way-too-much media consolidation, stifling program homogenization, and the decimation of local news, new voices are critically important to sustaining America’s civic dialogue and citizen engagement.
It has taken real leadership to get this done. I would like especially to thank Reps. Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Lee Terry (R-NE) for sponsoring this Bill and working so effectively for its House passage. On the Senate side, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) offered bipartisan leadership on this issue. Of course the leadership of the House and Senate Commerce committees under Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) was also key to this successful outcome.
How fitting that, as we begin the new year, we can turn the page on years of waiting to celebrate a victory for independent media voices and consumers nationwide.
 FCC promises "swift action to open the dial."
On Tuesday, January 04, 2011, the President signed into law: H.R. 6533, the Local Community Radio Act of 2010, which modifies current restrictions on low-power FM radio stations. This will make room on the radio spectrum for thousands of smaller, community-based radio stations.
The provisions were in place to prevent interference, and largely isolated low-power FM stations to rural areas where airwaves were less congested Prior to this act, low-power radio stations were only allowed to occupy frequencies within four dial positions of a full power radio station, officially called fourth-adjacent frequencies. Community radio advocates such as the Prometheus Radio Project said that placed too much of a restriction on the spectrum, and that more frequencies could be opened without interference issues.
The new act allows low-power stations on third-adjacent frequencies, or within three frequencies of a full power station. The two sides reached a compromise over language, and on Dec. 17, the NAB sent a letter of support to members of the House Energy and Commerce committee.
The NAB also issued a statement in support of the measure Dec. 17 after the House passed its version of the act.
Director of strategic planning at Prometheus Radio,Danielle Chynoweth, said that she anticipates that the act will allow low-power FM stations to open in urban areas such as Washington, D.C., where the spectrum had been deemed too crowded under the old rules.
Next the FCC will need to open a rule making proceeding which would take aproximatly 60 days after which time a filing window would be announced! After more than ten years waiting many new LPFM radio stations across the country will now have an opportunity to file this year! Now is the time to act if you wish to apply for an LPFM station for your community in the upcoming window.
Today is just the start of the process to bring more community radio stations to the air. There is a lot of work yet to be done, not the least of which is on the part of the FCC, which will now determine the rules of the next application window. The Commission must resolve pending translator applications which could use up a lot of frequencies that otherwise are appropriate for LPFM stations under the provisions of this new law. Speculation is that the translator processing will be put on hold until after an LPFM window can be processed.
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 In the shadow of media coverage surrounding the historic vote to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the United States Senate quietly passed the Low Power Community Radio Act ( S. 592). The House of Representatives passed the Senate bill’s counterpart last year. A number of citizen organizations, non-profit organizations, churches, and colleges are just a few organizations that may be able to take advantage Low Power FM ( LPFM). LPFM is any station, which is licensed with the FCC, to transmit at a lower power than commercial radio stations. LPFM stations usually have a reach of just seven miles, but serve to highlight local communities, artists, and independent musicians.
In January of 2000, the FCC created the LPFM designation. The creation of these stations was immediately throttled by the passage of the Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act of 2000. At the bequest of large commercial broadcasters, Congress passed the Act, which prevented any LPFM station from being within “three clicks” of a commercial station.
So, if one station in Chicago is broadcasting at 90.1, and another at 91.3, no LPFM station could use any of the airwaves between the stations, because even if it was at 90.7 it would be within three clicks of each full powered station.
According to the Free Press, a non-profit media reform organization, the removal by the Low Power Community Radio Act of this “three click” restriction would allow hundreds, if not thousands of LPFM stations to benefit loca
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 Total LPFM's Granted: 1327
CP's Cancelled/Expired: 417
Licenses Cancelled/Expired: 56
Total LPFM's: 854
LPFM's On The Air: 830 out of 854
Click to join LPFM
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