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LP-250: 250-watt LPFM
LPFM stations are limited to 100 watts. A petition at the FCC asks for a second class of LPFM at up to 250 watts. Here is where it stands, and how much farther your station would reach.
Where the petition stands
A petition, not a rule yet
The FCC has asked for comments but has not proposed a rule. Until it does, and then adopts one, LPFM stations stay at 100 watts.
| Docket | RM-11909 |
|---|---|
| Asks for | Amendment of Parts 73 and 74 of the Commission's Rules to create a second class of service for Low Power FM broadcast stations |
| Filed by | REC Networks, May 28, 2020 |
| Put out for comment | May 21, 2021 |
| FCC proposal (NPRM) | None yet |
| Filings so far | 207, the latest on June 17, 2025 |
Latest filings
| Filed by | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Common Frequency, Inc. | Notice of exparte | June 17, 2025 |
| REC Networks | Reply to comments | April 29, 2025 |
| REC Networks | Comment | April 14, 2025 |
| REC Networks | Reply to comments | August 20, 2024 |
| Common Frequency, Inc. | Comment | July 23, 2024 |
| REC Networks | Comment | July 19, 2024 |
| REC Networks | Comment | March 11, 2024 |
| REC Networks | Notice of exparte | November 7, 2023 |
| REC Networks | Notice of exparte | June 26, 2023 |
| REC Networks | Notice of exparte | September 14, 2022 |
| REC Networks | Notice of exparte | October 22, 2021 |
| Las Vegas Public Radio Inc. | Comment | July 13, 2021 |
Every filing: RM-11909 in Docket Filings.
What LP-250 proposes
REC Networks' "Simple 250" petition asks for a second LPFM class alongside today's 100-watt stations, kept as simple to use as LP-100. In short:
- 250 watts at 30 meters antenna height, for a service contour of about 7.1 km (4.4 miles), up from 5.6 km. Taller antennas get less power for the same reach, as LP-100 works today.
- No contour study needed to upgrade. Stations would qualify by distance to other stations, with a separate spacing table for LP-250 and the 20 km buffer to full-power stations kept.
- Moving between LP-100 and LP-250 would be a minor change, with an opening window so every station gets a fair first chance to upgrade.
- REC's own studies estimate about 39% of LPFM stations could upgrade on their channel outright and another 17% with a second-adjacent waiver showing; most are rural and small-town stations.
Summary of REC Networks' petition; for the full proposal and REC's upgrade reports, see REC's LP-250 page.
What would LP-250 do for you?
Enter your LPFM's call sign, or its power and antenna height, and compare its coverage today with what the LP-250 proposal would allow from the same antenna.
Support LP-250
- File a comment with the FCC. Go to ECFS Express, enter RM-11909 as the proceeding, and say why your community needs it: who you'd reach beyond 3.5 miles, and what 100 watts holds your station back from. The comment period has ended, but supporting comments are still accepted.
- Tell your Representative and Senators you support the petition. LPFM upgrades help rural and small-town radio, and that support crosses party lines.
Ready when the rules change
Nexus Broadcast does LPFM engineering and FCC filings, from a better antenna today to an upgrade application when the FCC allows one.
Petition status from the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System, refreshed hourly. Proposal summary from REC Networks. Not a product of the FCC.