Is my station obligated to adhere to point pledges like those related to local programming and main studio requirements?

Yes, your station may be subject to point pledges that relate to specific requirements such as local programming and main studio obligations. These pledges usually apply to LPFM stations that were part of a mutually exclusive (competing) application process and were granted their construction permits based on certain criteria, including points awarded by the FCC. The points system helps determine which applicant is granted the construction permit in cases where there is competition for a limited number of available frequencies. The specific obligations tied to these point pledges depend on the circumstances of your station’s application and grant.

If your station was involved in a mutually exclusive (MX) situation and your application’s status was not resolved until the end or close to the end of the MX settlement window for your state. If your application’s points were instrumental in determining the outcome of the group, then you may be bound by the pledge. This could apply if you were the sole applicant with the highest score in your MX group and were granted the channel as the only tentative selectee. Another scenario could be if you entered into a voluntary time-share agreement with some members of your MX group, but not all, meaning it wasn’t a universal agreement. Additionally, if your group defaulted to involuntary time sharing as declared by the FCC, you might also be subject to the pledge.