A holiday weekend made things even slower for LPFM, especially considering that the vast majority of applications have been processed. That means applicants are gathering resources, building stations and going on the air.

One station that received some press this past week is WAYO-LP in Rochester, NY, which recently started broadcasting online and is crowd-funding to build its on-air signal, according to the Democrat & Chronicle. The article features a slideshow highlighting the station’s diverse programming line-up, including African and Caribbean music on “East of the Sun, West of the Moon,” and a show about the business and sustainability of the arts.

In a fun bit of news, a real WKRP is going on the air, only not in Cincinnati, and not on the AM dial, like the station on the classic sitcom. WKRP-LP received its official license, and therefore approval for its call letters, on Nov 30.

It took two years, one month and nine days, but we got it. #WKRP #LPFM pic.twitter.com/HA8yDqA2zW

— 101.9 WKRP (@WKRPRadio) December 1, 2015

The station will serve Raleigh, NC at 101.9 FM, though DJ Johnny Fever and Venus Fly Trap are not currently on the schedule.

Finally, Radio World reports on the dismissal of a LPFM application from Libertad en Cristo in Huntington Station, NY. REC Networks filed an objection against the group’s application because of its association with the infamous Cesar Guel, but then the group’s application failed to become a tentative selectee within its MX group of five stations.

But then Libertad en Cristo filed an amendment to move its transmitter site, which was accepted for filing by the FCC. However, that change was contested, too, by another group, which noted that the proposed site was in a state park, where permission has not be obtained, and that it would be too far away from the group’s headquarters. The Commission therefore dismissed the application.

The post LPFM Watch: A Real WKRP to Hit the Airwaves (but not in Cincinnati) appeared first on Radio Survivor.

Over the past few weeks, one construction permit was issued for a new low power FM (LPFM) radio station. Ministerio Cielos de Gloria in Brownsville, Texas was granted its permit after several groups (including REC Networks, Prometheus Radio Project and Common Frequency) withdrew their objections and petitions to deny. Initially, these groups protested the application, arguing that it seemed to violate multiple ownership rules since it was prepared by serial filer Antonio Cesar Guel and he appeared to be a party to the application.

Upon further investigation, the groups found that this was likely a local candidate and withdrew their objections. In her letter withdrawing REC Networks’ informal objection, Michelle Bradley writes,

Based on information provided to REC Networks (‘REC’) by the applicant as well as information obtained through additional investigation by REC related to the above captioned application, we have determined that this organization is valid and that the parties to the application have consented to the filing of the application. REC is satisfied with the information gathered in this process and therefore we no longer have an objection to the grant of this specific application.

Although there were protests and an FCC investigation into many of Guel’s applications, more than a dozen have resulted in construction permits. As REC Networks has pointed out, some of the applications were filed on behalf of legitimate organizations and have been awarded. You can follow the progress of all of the Guel applications on the REC Networks site.

Other LPFM News

Providence, Rhode Island to Get New LPFM

RI Future reports that three non-profits in Providence, Rhode Island are collaborating on a new low power FM station. The station, dubbed APB Radio will include programming from AS220, Brown Student Radio (BSR) and Providence Community Radio (PCR), with a “staggered and complex” schedule, according to RI Future. AS220 plans to utilize 50% of the airtime.

Profiling Soon-to-Be-LPFM Lumpen Radio in Chicago

Chicago Magazine writes of the flurry of LPFM stations in Chicago, profiling the streaming, but soon-to-be terrestrial station, Lumpen Radio. According to the piece, “At any given moment, WLPN’s volunteer DJs are broadcasting German techno, gospel, a talk show about magic, and any number of live events at Marszewskis’s bar or gallery (live-lit event Story Club South Side and comedy showcase The Comedy Butcher among them). Says programming director Logan Bay, ‘Chicago has such a history of musicians, crate-diggers, and nerds that it [needs] a place for them to roost—to call up all the other weirdos and say, “Hey, you already do this. Let’s amplify it.”‘

From Literary Talk to Speed Metal on New LPFM in Sun Prairie

A piece in the Capital Times profiles new LPFM station Sun Prairie Community Radio in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. The station currently has a range of shows including programs focused on “speed metal (‘The Nihilism Hour’) to discussions with Wisconsin authors (‘Writing in Wisconsin’),” according to the article.

Creighton Community Radio Station Airs Rock, Christian Talk, and Features Elementary School Hosts

The post LPFM Watch: New LPFM for Brownsville, Plus the Diversity of LPFM Radio in Chicago, Wisconsin, and Nebraska appeared first on Radio Survivor.

One new low-power FM stations was added to the rolls this week, with a construction permit awarded to Generation Vision in Brownsville, TX.

Prometheus Radio Project was awarded a $35,000 Prototype Fund grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The grant intends to provide early-stage funding for projects that foster civic engagement and give communities access to important information.

Prometheus’ project is to create “LPFM Radio Impact Maps” using software that would allow low-power stations to know better the propagation pattern of their signals, along with understanding the demographics of the people living in that area.

Engineering director Paul Bame told Philly.com that, “We want to assure the success of low-powered radio stations by measuring their signal reach and potential audience, to help the broadcasters develop appropriate programming, tap into volunteers and attract underwriters. We’re also looking to pinpoint signal interference issues with adjacent commercial stations.”

The post LPFM Watch: Prometheus Wins Grant to Create ‘Impact Maps’ appeared first on Radio Survivor.

As we reported earlier this week, the FCC just released its report and order about the revitalization of AM and its recommendations have implications for low power FM (LPFM) radio stations. One of the policy changes involves expanding the reach of AM stations through FM translators. This would lead to the opening up of an application window for AM license holders to move an existing translator station (up to 250 miles) and would additionally open up another application window for construction permits for new FM translators.

This could mean some competition for LPFM stations and could also make it less likely that there will be another application window for new LPFM licenses. Michelle Bradley of REC Networks breaks down the suggested changes, calling it “good and bad news for LPFM.” As far as good news, she argues that,

Since this will be a closed opportunity where the window is limited to AM applicants only and limited to only one translator per AM facility, we will not see the same land rush we experienced in 2003 with the Great Translator Invasion.  This means that there still may be some wiggle room after the windows for your station to be able to grow to LP-250 if the FCC ever accepts either our proposal in RM-11749 or our “Plan B” proposal in comments for RM-11753.”

As far as bad news, Bradley states that “there are no plans for a filing window for new translators for LPFM stations at this time” and that “…LPFM stations will have less flexibility for moves.”

LPFM Launches from Volunteer Fire Department

In other LPFM news, we learned of a few more stations hitting the air, including one run by a volunteer fire department in Simsbury, Connecticut. The Hartford Courant writes about WSIM-LP, which not only airs emergency messages, but will also feature firefighter DJs from the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Department. According to the Courant, “The idea for the radio station was born from the October 2011 snowstorm, when the fire department was unable to communicate important messages to people stuck in their homes, Fire Marshal Kevin Kowalski said.”

KZSO-LP Getting Bumped by Commercial Broadcaster

The Nugget Newspaper reports that LPFM station KZSO-LP in Sisters, Oregon is being forced off its spot on the dial by a full power station. According to the article, “The local low-power community radio station…lost its frequency to a commercial radio station based out of Sunriver. Michael Richards, general manager of KZSO…explained: ‘The bottom line is that commercial stations trump the low-power FM license.'” KZSO shut down its FM broadcast after its signal was overpowered by the commercial broadcaster and for the time being it plans to continue streaming online. Its Facebook page points out that it is being asked to move frequencies from 94.9 FM to 106.5 FM.

KOWS on the Move in Sebastopol

Existing California LPFM station KOWS-LP is moving from Occidental to Sebastopol, according to the North Bay Bohemian. According to the article, “The community station has been broadcasting for eight years and serves both as quirky cultural redoubt and as the area’s go-to emergency broadcast system. It has become a destination of sorts for touring bands working the San Francisco to Portland thoroughfare…”

The post LPFM Watch: AM Revitalization and LPFM, Firefighter DJs, and more news appeared first on Radio Survivor.

One more low-power FM construction permit was issued this week, to the Northside Baptist Church of Charlotte, NC, which will broadcast on 93.1 FM.

In other LPFM news, C-Ville reports on a new hip-hop low-power station that went on the air October 5 in Charlottesville, VA. According to the article WVAI 101.3 FM Jamz will maintain a no-indecency rule 24-hours a day, even though indecent programming is permitted during the safe harbor time of 10 PM to 6 AM. One of the station’s organizers, Damani Harrison, says the policy is intended to support “the positive energy that’s around the (local) scene.”

As I get ready to publish this post the GoFundMe campaign to help Common Frequency co-founder Todd Urick with mounting medical bills is within $100 of the $15,000 goal. Learn more about Todd and his medical condition in a post Matthew wrote earlier this week. Todd has given so much to community radio, especially LPFM, let’s put his campaign over the top.

The post LPFM Watch: 1 New Construction Permit; Hip-Hop LPFM Comes to Charlottesville appeared first on Radio Survivor.

I was pleased to see evidence of the growth of low power FM (LPFM) in the FCC’s latest quarterly update about the number of licensed broadcast stations in the United States. By the end of September, 2015, there were 1,364 licensed LPFM stations, which was 215 more than at the end of June, 2015.

Earlier this week Matthew wrote about a new low power FM (LPFM) station in Minneapolis that is devoted to the Somali community. It was interesting to hear that it’s the first Somali-oriented FM radio station in the United States. It’s a great example of the wide array of LPFM stations that are taking to the airwaves.

A station-to-be in Streator, Illinois is seeking grants in order to restore a historic theater and get a new LPFM station up and running. According to The Times, “Here and Again — a local nonprofit organization — has applied for a $500,000 grant to create a community radio station and acquire and restore the Majestic Theatre in Streator.”

The station’s studio will be located in Ottawa, Illinois and it will broadcast from 94.5 FM. I find it interesting that the license holder, Here and Again, has an overarching arts mission. According to its website, the group is focused on “Opening doors with education to new opportunities in radio, film, photography, music, theatre production, magic, entrepreneurship, finance, dance, fitness, health, and the fine arts.”

Also, Radio World reports on the latest batch of call signs changes released by the FCC, which includes “…about 30 new low-power FMs among stations receiving first-time call signs. The FCC database currently has 1,352 licensed LPFMs, as that service continues to expand.”

The post LPFM Watch: New LPFM has interest in Historic Preservation and the Arts appeared first on Radio Survivor.

The first LPFM construction permit issued in seven weeks was awarded to Centro de Vida, Inc. in West Palm Beach, FL. This applicant had been in a two-party MX group competing for 98.3 FM. Centro de Vida was able to affect a change in transmitter site sufficient to move its signal out of the same area as the other applicant in the group, clearing the way to become a “singleton” applicant, and therefore eligible for the CP.

At this point the future much of the awarding of construction permits will hang on the ability for MX groups of competing applicants to be resolved, often by means of finding ways to move transmitter sites or reaching timeshare agreements.

In other news, the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan has a nice story about low-power station KDKO-LP in Lake Andes, SD, which is a project of the Native American Community Board. The station recently provided the first-ever live coverage of the annual Yankton Sioux Tribe inauguration, and covers issues of importance to the local Native American community, like the Keystone XL pipeline.

The post LPFM Watch: First New LPFM Authorized in 7 Weeks appeared first on Radio Survivor.

This week Radio World published an article about new LPFM grantees who are turning in their construction permits to the FCC because of any number of problems that interfere with getting a station on air. Funding–or the lack of it–seems to be a primary reason for many groups to throw in the towel.

Of course it’s a shame if any group with a construction permit for a new low-power station has to give up on its quest for a station. It’s all the more regrettable because there are a myriad of ways to avoid this. The most significant of these is to apply for an extension from the FCC, which can be an 18-month lifeline giving a group more time to assemble the necessary resources.

Looking at it more globally, when an LPFM grantee turns in a construction permit, that frequency doesn’t get reassigned to another applicant. There is no queue for LPFM licenses. Instead that frequency simply goes unused–at least for the moment.

While it could come up for assignment in a future low-power licensing window–that has not been scheduled and may never come–the more likely scenario is that the frequency will get snapped up for an FM translator. That translator could be for a public or community station, although large Christian broadcasters are very well organized and funded to snarf up translators to link them up to massive satellite networks. If the frequency is north of 92 MHz then the translator could be for a commercial station.

Therefore, one could make the argument that it’s important for community radio, as a whole, for as many LPFMs to hold on to their construction permits as possible. In order for this to happen, grantees have to be able to send up a signal flare when they’re coming close to defaulting… and there has to be help available to see that flare.

I can’t guarantee that this help is there. Yet, I do know that LPFM advocates exist and know each other. I also know that we in community radio are stronger together than we are split apart. In terms of pure numbers, there are more creative ideas amongst 3 dozen people than amongst 2 or 3.

So let this be my strong encouragement to LPFM applicants to send up that signal flare if your ability to complete your station seems in danger. If you’re on Facebook there’s an LPFM Solidarity group that you can request to join. There are also a number of support and advocacy groups who may be able to assist, or direct you to help. Or, you can send us at Radio Survivor an email. I can’t guarantee that we can directly assist. But because information is power, we may be able at least to advise on next steps and connect you to someone who may be of additional help.

Despite the alarm bells sounded by some, I don’t think LPFM faces any sort of massive crisis of stations turning in construction permits or going under. Still, I want any group feeling the pinch to have somewhere to turn and for community radio to be in the position to extend some mutual aid. That’s what community means.

The post LPFM Watch: Putting the ‘Community’ in Community Radio appeared first on Radio Survivor.

It’s been nearly two years since the application window opened for new low power FM (LPFM) licenses and the FCC is still working through a few of the more complicated groups of competing applications. Yesterday, the FCC released a memorandum and order (PDF) in regards to the group of mutually exclusive applications in Baltimore, Maryland.

In September, 2014, the FCC tentatively selected five Baltimore groups as a time-share, based on points awarded by the FCC: Center for Emerging Media, Benedictine Society of Baltimore City, United Workers Association, Johns Hopkins University, and St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Congregation. A group whose application wasn’t selected, Loyola University (which runs an online student radio station, WLOY, which I visited last year), filed a Petition to Deny, arguing that it should have been awarded an additional point for diversity (because, even though a member of its board of trustees holds interest in two radio stations, she agreed to recuse herself from decisions related to the new LPFM) and also arguing that Johns Hopkins should have received one less point (because the school asked to add the additional point for diversity of ownership after filing its initial application).

According to the FCC order, “Subsequently, BSB, St. Joseph’s, and JHU amended their respective applications to file a time-share agreement in which they aggregated their points awarded them in the September Public Notice for a total of 15 points.”

Yesterday’s order denied Loyola’s Petition to Deny, stating, “We find that the Commission correctly denied Loyola a diversity of ownership point.” However, the order did find that Johns Hopkins should not have been awarded a diversity point. According to the order, “We agree that the September Public Notice erred in awarding JHU a point under the diversity of ownership criterion. As Loyola notes, the Rules and the Instructions clearly state that post-window amendments will not be accepted if they result in additional points being claimed. Accordingly, we deduct this point from the JHU Application’s total, leaving it with four points.”

As a result of yesterday’s decision, there’s a new group of tied tentative selectees in Baltimore: Center for Emerging Media, Benedictine Society of Baltimore City, and United Workers Association. These groups have now been given the opportunity to come up with a time-share agreement. Once they agree to a time-share, it’s likely that both Loyola University and Johns Hopkins University will have their applications dismissed. St. Joseph’s previously filed an amendment to move to a different frequency and its application was accepted.

As a college radio proponent, it saddens me that two college radio stations seem to be on the losing end of this tentative decision. Even though student-run radio stations were allowed to apply for new LPFM licenses, even if their schools held licenses for non-student stations; these groups still lost out on diversity of ownership points and subsequently are losing the chance to have a new LPFM when faced with competitors with no other radio interests.

We will keep on eyes on this in case there are further filings or legal actions.

LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.

The post LPFM Watch: FCC Makes Decision on Group of Competing Applicants in Baltimore appeared first on Radio Survivor.

No new low-power FM construction permits this week, due primarily to the FCC taking its database systems offline for maintenance over the Labor Day holiday.

However, we do have two bits of good news to report from the LPFM world.

WXNA in Nashville, TN is a new station spearheaded by some former DJs and supporters of Vanderbilt University’s former college station, WRVU. According to The Tennessean WXNA surpassed its Kickstarter goal of $50,000 this week, putting the station on its way to broadcasting on 101.5 FM to Nashville’s Germantown, downtown and East Nashville neighborhoods.

The Chicago Independent Radio Project (a/k/a CHIRP) announced that its new low-power station will launch on October 7 at 1 PM Central Time. Broadcasting online since January 2010, CHIRP will be Chicago’s first truly independent community radio station on the FM dial.

According to Crain’s Chicago Business, CHIRP gets 65,000 “tune-ins” a month online and has built a team of 250 volunteers.

The post LPFM Watch: Nashville Station Beats Fundraising Goal; CHIRP Hits the Airwaves in October appeared first on Radio Survivor.

There have been no new low-power FM construction permits issued since August 20. The unprocessed applications that remain are ones that require additional review or are part of sticky MX groups of competing applications, such as the 18 applicants for 101.5 FM in Los Angeles and four applicants battling it out over 102.5 FM in San Francisco.

However, don’t expect any additional motion from the FCC for the next week. The Commission shut down online database systems yesterday for maintenance over the Labor Day holiday. They’re scheduled to be back up on September 9.

Grassroots Radio Conference To Be Hosted by Upstate NY LPFM

This year’s Grassroots Radio Conference will be hosted by a new LPFM station that has been on the air only about a month. WLPP-LP is holding the conference on September 24 through 27 in Palenville, NY, about ten miles north of Woodstock.

The GRC is an opportunity for community radio broadcasters and supporters to come together for skill-sharing and spirited discussion. With so many LPFM stations going on the air in the next year or so, several workshops will be dedicated to building a station and getting it on the air.

WLPP is the second LPFM station to host the GRC. WRFU-LP in Urbana, IL hosted the conference in 2012.

You can learn more about this year’s GRC when I talk with the organizers of on next week’s edition of the Radio Survivor Podcast.

The post LPFM Watch: New LPFM To Host Grassroots Radio Conference appeared first on Radio Survivor.

A few weeks ago we reported on complaints being made by a commercial radio group against Tampa, Florida-area low power FM (LPFM) station WVVF-LP in reference to its choice in programming. The Beasley Media Group (BMG), which operates a 50,000 watt commercial radio station in the area (WYUU), argued that Hispanic Arts of Tampa (WVVF) is airing programming that is a departure from what was promised in its application, is using branding which is similar to Spanish commercial stations, and is promoting itself as an “alternative” to local commercial stations.

WVVF responded to the FCC, asking for the complaint to be dismissed. In its letter, WVVF writes,

It cannot be emphasized enough that WVVF-LP is a start-up, non-commercial, low power FM station on a shoe-string budget trying to carve out a niche in a tiny corner of a major radio market. The station is just starting out and has been on the air for approximately one month. Certainly, all of the promised programming elements are not offered, yet.”

Additionally, WVVF points out that it seems strange that a commercial radio group with a 50,000 watt station would even be worried about a small, 100 watt LPFM station, saying,

WVVF-LP is not some scratchy, unprofessional, hobby radio station as BMG probably hoped it would be. WVVF-LP is seriously trying, very hard, to engage the local Latino community in making this LP station a community success. Engaged communities do not happen, overnight. It just doesn’t make logical sense that a “blow-torch” radio station such as WYUU, owned by a major, publicly-traded media corporation, would be concerned about a tiny little low-power FM station. Nevertheless, BMG solicits the FCC’s assistance in silencing WVVF-LP because BMG is worried that, if WVVF-LP is successful in its on-going community radio station project, it could do some damage to WYUU’s ratings. HAT struggles to find a better example of an abuse of the Commission’s processes.”

Further, WVVF states that BMG, through its complaint to the FCC, “seeks to eliminate competition” and is asking the FCC to dismiss the complaint, arguing that, “BMG has, with full intent, attempted to manipulate the Commission’s processes to gain the benefit of eliminating competition and draining the limited resources of a competitor through the filing of its baseless Complaint.”

New LPFM in New Orleans Focusing on AIDS information

The Progressive wrote a really nice feature about New Orleans-based LPFM WHIV-LP this week. The station has been on the air since December, 2014. One program on the station, Proof Positive, is a talk show all about HIV. According to the piece, “Proof Positive… touches on issues ranging from AIDS in Africa, to HIV in the trans community, to the Affordable Care Act’s impact on treatment for Louisianans.” The hope is that the station, and even its call letters, will help to de-stigmatize HIV.

LPFM Fundraisers at WXNA and WXOX

Many LPFMs are in the thick of fundraising in order to generate enough money so that they can begin broadcasting terrestrially. A few Kickstarters caught our eye this week, including campaigns from WXNA in Nashville, Tennessee and ARTxFM (aka WXOX) in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Nashville Scene reported on WXNA’s Kickstarter efforts, saying,

A group of former WRVU DJs and friends were recently granted a low-power FM license and construction permit. And earlier this month, the group launched a Kickstarter campaign to turn its ambitious plans into a reality. WXNA has already raised nearly $30,000 toward its $50,000 goal. To attract even more support, the campaign has added some way-cool new rewards, including letterpress posters from Hatch Show Print and hand-picked LPs from Infinity Cat Records. Music lovers would do well to visit the Kickstarter page and watch the entertaining testimonial videos. The campaign runs through Sept. 9.”

Another station with connections to WRVU, WXOX in Louisville, Kentucky, is speeding towards its FM launch and is running a Crowdrise campaign in the hopes of reaching its $50,000 goal. Interestingly, various members of the station have their own fundraising goals, which can be seen on the Crowdrise page.

LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.

The post LPFM Watch: Hispanic Arts of Tampa Responds to Complaint Filed Against its LPFM + More News appeared first on Radio Survivor.

Happy National Radio Day! It’s been exciting to see all of the radio love today, especially from folks affiliated with new low power FM (LPFM) radio stations. I’m particularly sad that I can’t be in Seattle today for its National Radio Day celebration. The city has been a hotbed of LPFM activity (see this great Seattle Times piece) and rumor has it that at least one attendee at the event today with be wearing a stylish radio tower fascinator in her hair.

Although there haven’t been many new construction permits granted for LPFM stations in the past few weeks, there was grant today, perhaps in honor of National Radio Day? Congratulations to Mt. Hood View Broadcasting, Inc. in The Dalles, Oregon, which will be broadcasting over 97.7 FM. According to its application, one of the group’s main objectives is “to provide religious instruction and moral teaching” and its “programming will include family development, child rearing and education, health information and religion.”

Also this week, Radio Survivor has had quite a bit of LPFM coverage. Hopefully you caught the new podcast episode, as we discuss both LPFM and National Radio Day. Matthew gave a great overview of Wisconsin’s LPFM “Broadcasting Craze” and in a post script post, he profiles WXRW in Milwaukee.

How are you celebrating National Radio Day?

LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.

The post LPFM Watch: Community Radio Celebrates National Radio Day Today appeared first on Radio Survivor.

A slow week here in August for low-power FM, with no new construction permits approved in the last week. There was no other LPFM action from the FCC, with no applications canceled or denied, either.

Here are some recent stories of note:

• Radio World published a thorough overview of REC Networks’ proposal to the FCC to increase the maximum power of LPFM to 250 watts (the current limit is 100 watts).
• In its most recent newsletter, Prometheus Radio Project reports having recently participated in three “barnraisings” to build and put two new LPFM community radio stations on the air, and rebuild one more. These stations are:
  • Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Ownes Valley, KOGI-LP – Big Pine, California
  • Ohm Radio 96.3 FM WOHM-LP – Charleston, South Carolina
  • Prometheus also helped to build a new studio for Sagal Radio in Clarkston, Georgia, which broadcasts online and on 1420 AM on weekends, after a fire destroyed their previous studio last year.
• The Commons Online reports that WOOL-LP in Bellows Falls, VT is celebrating it first decade on the air this Saturday, August 15, with a block party. Congratulations to WOOL!

  The post LPFM Watch: Report on 250 Watt Proposal; Prometheus Barnraisings appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/08/lpfm-watch-report-on-250-watt-proposal-prometheus-barnraisings/feed/ 0 33096 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/08/lpfm-watch-commercial-station-group-attacks-tampa-lpfm/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/08/lpfm-watch-commercial-station-group-attacks-tampa-lpfm/#respond Fri, 07 Aug 2015 02:12:47 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=33012 Just one LPFM construction permit was issued by the FCC in the past week, to the Community Advocacy Coalition of Ventura County, in Oxnard, California. As construction permits issued 18 months ago are expiring some of the other low-power radio action pertains to extensions for stations that are not yet on the air. For instance, […]

  The post LPFM Watch: Commercial Station Group Attacks Tampa LPFM appeared first on Radio Survivor.

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  Just one LPFM construction permit was issued by the FCC in the past week, to the Community Advocacy Coalition of Ventura County, in Oxnard, California. As construction permits issued 18 months ago are expiring some of the other low-power radio action pertains to extensions for stations that are not yet on the air. For instance, in Portland, Oregon five different groups recently had their extensions approved for another 18 months.

  A Tampa, Florida area commercial radio broadcaster is targeting a LPFM station for allegedly not broadcasting an “educational program,” requesting that the FCC suspend the low-power station’s license. According to a complaint filed with the Commission, Beasley Media Group expresses concern that WVVF-LP is broadcasting “Latin Classic Hits” and “Adult Tropical” formats which deviate from what was proposed in its license application, which included programming like live poetry and short story reading, a local history show, and interviews with local citizens. It should be noted that the licensee also proposed music programming.

  Furthermore, Beasley complains that WVVF has “adopted the on-air moniker ‘Viva FM,’ mimicking the type of branding employed by other commercial Spanish popular music formatted stations in the United States… (and) in local television interviews representatives of WVVF-LP have promoted the station as an ‘alternative’ to Tampa’s existing Spanish-language commercial stations.”

  That last point is pretty much the crux of Beasley’s objection, that WVVF is posing unwanted competition to its own Tampa-area stations. Beasley

  LPFM engineering and advocacy group REC Networks released a statement “admonishing” Beasley. REC argues,

  "Regardless of the content the station ends up programming, the First Amendment precludes the FCC from taking action on entertainment format. The Commission only has the authority to take action on unprotected forms of speech such as commercial content and indecent material outside the designated safe-harbor hours.

  Indeed, the Commission is loathe to get involved in issues related to programming that fall outside of the constraints noted by REC. While many LPFM applicants do detail their proposed programming, groups are not beholden to these, and there is no history of the FCC taking action against stations that fail to air the exact programming cited in their applications.

  The fact that a commercial radio group with stations broadcasting with tens or hundreds of times the power is threatened by a relatively puny 100-watt LPFM likely indicates that there is room for innovation in serving a still-underserved audience in the Tampa area.

  The post LPFM Watch: Commercial Station Group Attacks Tampa LPFM appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/08/lpfm-watch-commercial-station-group-attacks-tampa-lpfm/feed/ 0 33012 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/07/lpfm-watch-pirate-roots-expiring-construction-permits-and-a-proposal-to-change-lpfm-rules/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/07/lpfm-watch-pirate-roots-expiring-construction-permits-and-a-proposal-to-change-lpfm-rules/#respond Thu, 30 Jul 2015 12:00:25 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=32818 It’s fascinating to learn more about the roots of low power FM and earlier this week, Brian Fauteux published his interview with author Christina Dunbar-Hester, whose book, Low Power to the People: Pirates, Protest, and Politics in FM Radio Activism, looks into the history of low power radio. Dunbar-Hester recounts the important role that activists […]

  The post LPFM Watch: Pirate Roots, Expiring Construction Permits, and a Proposal to Change LPFM Rules appeared first on Radio Survivor.

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  It’s fascinating to learn more about the roots of low power FM and earlier this week, Brian Fauteux published his interview with author Christina Dunbar-Hester, whose book, Low Power to the People: Pirates, Protest, and Politics in FM Radio Activism, looks into the history of low power radio. Dunbar-Hester recounts the important role that activists and microradio advocates played in allowing for the development of LPFM, saying,

  It’s obviously impossible to know how many of them there were, but there may have been around 1000 microradio stations in the mid-1990s. Two people with memorable stories, who were inspirational to other microradio broadcasters, were Mbanna Kantako in Springfield, IL in the late 1980s, and Stephen Dunifer in Berkeley, CA, in the 1990s. Dunifer had a high-profile court battle with the FCC when he refused to stop broadcasting, and the 9^th Circuit upheld his right to continue for a time. The members of Prometheus Radio Project in Philadelphia, who are the subject of my book, were inspired by the microbroadcasters to fight for legal access to the airwaves.”

  Choosing Podcasting and Low Power AM Over LPFM

  On the Radio Survivor Podcast this week, there’s an interesting interview with the folks behind Bainbridge Community Broadcasting. The group applied for a LPFM license under the sponsorship of another non-profit, but after closer inspection, they realized that LPFM may not be the best option for them due to the geography of Bainbridge Island. After withdrawing its application, the group decided to pursue municipal low power AM and podcasting instead. Listen to the interview starting at around the 24 minute mark to hear more about why they passed up on LPFM and what their specific plans are for low power AM broadcasting (which is available through its city-run emergency channel) and podcasting.

  Petition for Rule Making Requests Changes to LPFM Service

  Not everyone in the LPFM community has the same philosophy about the role that LPFM stations should play in the broader radio landscape. It’s not surprising, as LPFM stations are wildly diverse, with a variety of missions and audiences. We’ve seen some proposals coming through the FCC, arguing for various changes to the LPFM service.

  Radio World reports on Low Power FM Advocacy Group Executive Director Dave Solomon’s proposal (submitted to the FCC this week) to “reclassify low-power FM as a primary service, give a power increase, allow licenses to be sold at profit under certain circumstances and implement other regulatory changes.” Additionally, the proposal calls for LPFM stations to be able to increase power to 250 watts, be sold for a profit after three years, and be allowed to air commercials. In a response on REC Networks, Michelle Bradley writes, “As demonstrated over the past few months on social media, the LPFM.AG petition has struck some chords both within the LPFM community as well as the full-power community especially over the ability for LPFM stations to air commercials. REC hopes that we can have a civil discussion on the issues now that they are in the open. We need to be open to all ideas and allow them to have their due process.”

  More Construction Permits Issued, While Some are Due to Expire

  In low power FM (LPFM) news this week, we see another construction permit granted, this time to Iglesia Sanando Las Heridas in Renton, Washington. As we mentioned last week, the initial round of LPFM construction permits (issued in January, 2014) are beginning to expire, so it’s important for permit holders to either get on the air or request an extension from the FCC. See the expiring construction permits list compiled by REC Networks to ensure that your paperwork is in order.

  Former Pirate Denied Request for LPFM

  Folks who have engaged in unlawful unlicensed broadcasting are precluded from being able to run LPFM stations. In a way it’s a shame, as some former pirates would actually be good stewards of new non-commercial radio stations, and as we mentioned above, some pirate radio broadcasters were actually strong advocates for the development of a legal low power FM service.

  We first reported in March that an applicant in Pinellas Florida, WKMJ Radio Live the People station, had its LPFM application dismissed because the FCC “…found that Kervenson Joseph, the chief executive officer and a board member of WKMJ, had previously engaged in the unlicensed operation of a radio station…”

  Following that dismissal, the group filed a Petition for Reconsideration, citing alleged procedural errors. In denying the Petition for Reconsideration, the FCC writes, “…the Commission’s own records confirm that Joseph engaged in unlicensed operation of a radio station. On December 19, 2013, the Commission’s Enforcement Bureau served a Notice of Unlicensed Operation on Joseph.”

  LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.

  The post LPFM Watch: Pirate Roots, Expiring Construction Permits, and a Proposal to Change LPFM Rules appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/07/lpfm-watch-pirate-roots-expiring-construction-permits-and-a-proposal-to-change-lpfm-rules/feed/ 0 32818 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/07/lpfm-watch-university-of-wisconsin-la-crosse-cancels-permit-wtsq-launch-more-news/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/07/lpfm-watch-university-of-wisconsin-la-crosse-cancels-permit-wtsq-launch-more-news/#respond Thu, 23 Jul 2015 17:31:50 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=32638 This week a handful of low power FM (LPFM) construction permits were issued. It’s been a slow few months, so four grants on one day is a bit unusual. Two grants were in Texas and went to Iglesia Jesucristo es mi Refugio de Mexia TX, Inc. (Mexia, TX) and 94.9 Media Foundation, Inc. (Harlingen, TX). […]

  The post LPFM Watch: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Cancels Permit, WTSQ Launch & More News appeared first on Radio Survivor.

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  This week a handful of low power FM (LPFM) construction permits were issued. It’s been a slow few months, so four grants on one day is a bit unusual. Two grants were in Texas and went to Iglesia Jesucristo es mi Refugio de Mexia TX, Inc. (Mexia, TX) and 94.9 Media Foundation, Inc. (Harlingen, TX). The other two grantees are part of a four member mutually exclusive (MX) group of competing applicants for 104.7 FM in the Orange County area in California (see more below).

  Additionally, an applicant that had its application approved and then rescinded on July 15 (Iglecia de Jesucristo, Israel, Inc. in Watsonville, CA), amended its application and had the construction permit issued once again on July 20th. This application was originally called into question by REC Networks, as part of its investigation into the 245 applications prepared by Antonio Cesar Guel. REC Networks withdrew its informal objection against Iglecia de Jesucristo, Israel, Inc. on June 15, 2015, stating, “…we have determined that this organization is valid and that the parties to the application have consented to the filing of the application…”

  Some LPFM Action in Orange County, California

  The FCC granted construction permits to Latino Center for Prevention and Action in Health & Welfare and to Centro Cultural de Mexico en el Condado de Orange. Both applicants are in Santa Ana, California.

  As Michelle Bradley of REC Networks points out, a license holder of two co-channel stations at 104.7 FM (LC Media) filed a Petition to Deny arguing that, “…when an LPFM station seeks a waiver of the second adjacent channel spacing, that they are required by the Local Community Radio Act (LCRA) to protect all radio stations.  LC Media claims that due to the geography of Orange County and based on Longley/Rice studies, the proposed LPFM stations in Orange County will cause interference to the listeners to the two full power stations.”

  The FCC dismissed the Petition to Deny and according to REC Networks, “…the FCC states that the interpretation of the LCRA is that the provision in Section 3 that states that an LPFM station under a second adjacent channel waiver must not cause interference to any radio service is limited to those radio services on second adjacent channels and does not extend new protections to co-channel or first-adjacent channel.”

  First LPFM Construction Permits from 2013 Application Window Expire

  Remember when the first batch of construction permits were issued for the latest round of LPFM stations back in January, 2014? Michelle Bradley of REC Networks scoured the FCC database and found that five of the initial 144 permits issued more than 18 months ago have expired. The five expiring permits include Warrick County School System (Boonville, IN), Washington College (Chestertown, MD), Iglesia Lutherana Amigos de Cristo (Sedalia, MO), Dickson County Schools (Dickson, TN), and Baird Broadcasting Club (Baird, TX). Bradley writes, “LPFM permittees may request a one time extension of their construction permit for another 18-month period.” See a full list of construction permits that are about to expire. If your station is on this list and you need an extension, be sure to file the paperwork so that you don’t lose out on your opportunity to get on the air in the future!

  Dismissed Applications in California and Texas

  A few applications were dismissed this week, including Calvary Chapel Huntington Beach D/B/A Refuge Calvary Chapel (Huntington Beach, CA), New Hope Family Worship Center (Corona, CA), and La Palabra Viviente Ministries (San Juan, TX).

  University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Surrenders LPFM Construction Permit

  A year ago we wrote about some confusion at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse regarding its application for a new LPFM. Well, on July 14, 2015, the construction permit was dismissed, following a July 13, 2015 letter to the FCC from University of Wisconsin’s Board of Regents. The letter states, “…we hereby surrender for cancellation the…original construction permit for a new low power FM station at La Crosse, Wisconsin…” It’s sad to hear this, as I’m always a champion for more college radio LPFMs.

  WTSQ “the Status Quo” Launches in Charleston, West Virginia

  As more LPFMs launch, press continues to roll in about their plans. A Radio Survivor reader alerted us to the launch of WTSQ-LP 88.1 FM “the Status Quo” in Charleston, West Virginia. See more in this short WTSQ video and read about the launch on the WCHS website

  LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.

  The post LPFM Watch: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Cancels Permit, WTSQ Launch & More News appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/07/lpfm-watch-university-of-wisconsin-la-crosse-cancels-permit-wtsq-launch-more-news/feed/ 0 32638 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/07/lpfm-news-first-new-construction-permits-of-july-issued/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/07/lpfm-news-first-new-construction-permits-of-july-issued/#respond Thu, 16 Jul 2015 10:01:02 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=32618 The first low-power FM construction permits of the month were issued in the last week–three of them, to be precise. Two are in Florida, and one in California. That brings the grand total to 1,871 LPFM applications approved from the 2013 licensing window. One grantee had its request to cancel its construction permit finalized by […]

  The post LPFM News: First New Construction Permits of July Issued appeared first on Radio Survivor.

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  The first low-power FM construction permits of the month were issued in the last week–three of them, to be precise. Two are in Florida, and one in California. That brings the grand total to 1,871 LPFM applications approved from the 2013 licensing window.

  One grantee had its request to cancel its construction permit finalized by the FCC this week. Due to “organizational changes” the Evangel Cahtderal of Spartanburg, SC said that it will not be building its station, originally planned for 104.5 FM.

  With so many new community radio stations going on the air, it’s tough to keep up with all the local press coverage. However, recently there have been a few notable pieces about new stations going on the air:

  • For Free Press, communications professor Christina Dunbar-Hester and New York Media Alliance president Steve Pierce write, “A Low Power FM Station in New York Will Soon Join Hundreds Springing Up Across the Nation.” They conclude, “On its 15th anniversary, LPFM is a success story. While consolidated, corporate radio still dominates the landscape, WOOC and others will deliver programming centered on local news, local public affairs, local music, local culture and just plain fun.”

  • Pacifica Network Affiliates Coordinator Ursula Ruedenberg writes, “New Pacifica Affiliate WLPP Brings Low Power to the People.” According to Ruedenberg, “The station’s call letters define its intent: Low Power to the People, and the station’s website asks listeners to ‘help us to achieve the kind of radio station that America’s First Artists’ Colony needs and deserves!’”

  • In Radio World, Mike Starling contributes the third installment of a series charting the building and launch of his Cambridge, MD station: “Ready for Liftoff: WHCP Hits the Airwaves.” He writes, “Thanks to an active board, dozens of volunteers, donations, good luck and modern technology you can check us out at 101.5 FM on the way to the beach or via online streaming come July 4.”

  • Louisville (KY) Business First reports, “Community radio station ARTxFM prepares for fall launch on the FM dial.” Station GM Sharon Scott tells reporter Rachel Aretakis, “Our mission is to serve the Louisville community and artists worldwide.”

  The post LPFM News: First New Construction Permits of July Issued appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/07/lpfm-news-first-new-construction-permits-of-july-issued/feed/ 0 32618 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/07/lpfm-watch-lpfms-up-12-in-q2-of-2015-kzap-returns-as-lpfm/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/07/lpfm-watch-lpfms-up-12-in-q2-of-2015-kzap-returns-as-lpfm/#respond Thu, 09 Jul 2015 22:07:33 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=32520 No new low-power FM construction permits were issued this past week, which, of course, had a holiday weekend probably slowing down the works. However, the FCC did release its quarterly count of broadcast stations in the US. Not surprisingly–especially if you keep up with LPFM Watch–the radio service with the biggest increase in the second […]

  The post LPFM Watch: LPFMs up 12% in Q2 of 2015; KZAP Returns as LPFM appeared first on Radio Survivor.

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  No new low-power FM construction permits were issued this past week, which, of course, had a holiday weekend probably slowing down the works. However, the FCC did release its quarterly count of broadcast stations in the US. Not surprisingly–especially if you keep up with LPFM Watch–the radio service with the biggest increase in the second quarter is low-power FM.

  There are now 1,149 licensed LPFM stations, which is 120 more than at the end of March–an increase of almost 12%. Keep in mind that these are fully-licensed stations, which means that they not only received construction permits, but have begun broadcasting and should be on the air full-time now.

  From Classic Freeform FM to LPFM

  

  KZAP was a beloved FM rock radio station in Sacramento, California. It started out as a true freeform station in 1968, becoming more of a standard album-oriented rock station in the mid–1970s. The station quit playing rock music in January 1992, with the frequency flipping to country music and later changing the call letters to KNCI.

  The spirit of KZAP has now returned to the Sacramento airwaves in the form of new LPFM KZHP-LP at 93.3 FM. According to a recent article in the Sacramento Bee the new station is backed by former KZAP DJs and other supporters. Also returning is KZAP’s iconic smiling cat mascot.

  The station’s website, at K-ZAP.org, says it “reflects what we believe the original KZAP would have evolved into had it not gone off the air in 1992. We are a station living in the here-and-now, featuring lots of great, new music from artists new and not-so-new, as well as 50 years of rock, blues, and more.”

  The post LPFM Watch: LPFMs up 12% in Q2 of 2015; KZAP Returns as LPFM appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/07/lpfm-watch-lpfms-up-12-in-q2-of-2015-kzap-returns-as-lpfm/feed/ 0 32520 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/07/lpfm-watch-the-six-segments-of-lpfm-more-community-radio-in-seattle/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/07/lpfm-watch-the-six-segments-of-lpfm-more-community-radio-in-seattle/#respond Thu, 02 Jul 2015 16:40:44 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=32297 I just noticed a great piece on REC Networks, “The Six Segments of LPFM,” which outlines the wide array of groups that hold licenses for low power FM (LFPM) radio stations. As we’ve been following the growth of LPFM, particularly after the 2013 application window, I have been interested to learn more about stations in […]

  The post LPFM Watch: The Six Segments of LPFM + More Community Radio in Seattle appeared first on Radio Survivor.

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  I just noticed a great piece on REC Networks, “The Six Segments of LPFM,” which outlines the wide array of groups that hold licenses for low power FM (LFPM) radio stations. As we’ve been following the growth of LPFM, particularly after the 2013 application window, I have been interested to learn more about stations in each of the categories that REC mentions.

  According to REC, “The question is always raised, why is there no single organization that represents LPFM…This is mainly because no group, not even REC, Prometheus Radio Project or Common Frequency as well as national organizations like the NRB or the Catholic Radio Association can fully represent all sectors of the LPFM service.” REC explains that “the diversity of organization types that use the LPFM service is vast,” and outlines six different segments:

  1. Community Radio (typically run by a board, with many community volunteers)

  2. Government/Public Safety (including public access stations, traveler information, weather, etc.)

  3. Micro Broadcast (often music-oriented and spearheaded by an individual)

  4. Cause-based (mostly existing non-profits)

  5. Faith-based Organizations (a big segment, largely made up of Christian groups)

  6. Secular Educational (for example, high school and college radio)

  It’s quite helpful to read about all of the different segments of LPFM. See the REC Networks site to get more details about each of the six categories.

  Two Construction Permits Granted this Week

  After a slow couple of weeks, a few more construction permits were granted for new low power FM (LPFM) radio stations. This week’s grantees include Eucharistic Society, Inc. (Laredo, Texas), which plans to air a Catholic Talk format and Fulcrum Community Communications (Seattle, Washington), which will run a community radio station in North Seattle. Laredo Educational Radio, Inc. (Laredo, Texas) had its application dismissed.

  Fulcrum Community Communications has quite an eclectic schedule of proposed programming for its 107.3 FM channel in North Seattle. According to paperwork filed with its FCC application, the station plans to air talk shows for different cultural groups, including programming in Scandinavian, African, Asian, Spanish and French languages. Additionally, the group has already done outreach to local schools and arts organizations (including School of Rock and Seattle Teen Music) and hopes to “eventually originate programming at a number of local schools, and upload finished pieces directly to [its] programming server as a kind of ‘crowd sourcing.'”

  Horizon Christian Fellowship’s License Cancelled for KHHS-LP

  A few weeks back, Horizon Christian Fellowship of San Diego, California, had its low power FM license for KHHS-LP cancelled. A June 19 letter sent by Horizon Christian Fellowship’s attorney requests cancellation of the license. The letter states, “The station has been silent pursuant to FCC Special Temporary Authority since June 25, 2014 and will not return to on-air operation before the 12-month off air deadline.”

  Back in November, 2013, Christopher Carmichael files an informal objection against KHHS-LP’s application to move frequencies. Carmichael writes, “KHHS-LP has applied to make a minor change from 107.5 FM to 103.3 FM. The LPFM has not been on air, nor has indicated they would ever be on air. In the spirit of LPFM, the commission wanted to make community stations and HORIZON CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP has not done this. Additionally, during this LPFM filing period, it could block potential license for LPFMs in the San Diego area for 103.3 FM; and is second adjacent to full-power KEGY at 103.7 FM.”

  Syracuse Community Radio Divests Full Power License to go LPFM
  

  Syracuse Community Radio just filed paperwork in order to assign its WXXE 90.5 FM license in Fenner, New York to the State University of New York. The sale price is $7,500 and SUNY’s NPR-affiliated station WRVO plans to utilize the frequency. Syracuse Community Radio holds a construction permit for new LPFM station in the area and must divest the WXXE license. It’s hoped that this will lead to a better signal in the area.

  LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.

  The post LPFM Watch: The Six Segments of LPFM + More Community Radio in Seattle appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/07/lpfm-watch-the-six-segments-of-lpfm-more-community-radio-in-seattle/feed/ 0 32297 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/06/lpfm-watch-big-competition-in-la-still-unresolved-the-250-watt-battle/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/06/lpfm-watch-big-competition-in-la-still-unresolved-the-250-watt-battle/#respond Thu, 25 Jun 2015 15:01:20 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=32287 No new construction permits for low-power FM stations were issued this week, as the FCC tackles the remaining 7% of applications left to be processed. Amongst those are several MX groups of applicants competing for a single frequency. Southern California is home to two of these groups, with the one in Los Angeles being particularly […]

  The post LPFM Watch: Big Competition in LA Still Unresolved; The 250 Watt Battle appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]>

  No new construction permits for low-power FM stations were issued this week, as the FCC tackles the remaining 7% of applications left to be processed. Amongst those are several MX groups of applicants competing for a single frequency.

  Southern California is home to two of these groups, with the one in Los Angeles being particularly messy. There are 18(!) applicants still vying for 101.5 FM. 16 of them have allied themselves into three groups each pooling their members’ points together in the hopes of beating the others and then sharing the frequency. The largest group has seven disparate applicants like Ballet Folkloric Ollin, Prism Church of Los Angeles and The Emperor’s Circle of Shen Yun. The other two groups have four and five applicants. Not surprisingly, the largest applicant group leads the other two by ten points (35 vs 25), though a successful or listenable seven-way time-share is difficult to imagine.

  It’s not just the size of the full MX group that is delaying a final decision, but the fact that the Media Bureau has to pick through objections filed against 14 of the applicants. Going by that measure, the group of four may have an advantage, simply because there are none filed against any of those applicants: Englewood High School, The Church in Anaheim, Historic Downtown Los Angeles Business Improvement District and Long Beach Community Television. Now, this is only an advantage if any of the objections against their competitors are found to merit disqualification or a reduction in points sufficient to give the group of four the edge.

  So, with only the most difficult situations left for the FCC to resolve, most likely we can expect only a trickle of new construction permits from here on out.

  Reply Comments Open for 250 Watt Proposal

  As Jennifer reported last week, the comment window closed for the proposal to let LPFM stations have the opportunity to increase maximum power from 100 watts to 250 watts. Now a 30-day window to submit reply comments is open. This is an opportunity for interested parties to refute, argue or concur with the comments that have already been filed.

  In last week’s Radio Survivor Bulletin e-mail I gave an overview of the comments coming from parties with strong interests in translator stations, which are technically eligible for the same spots on the dial as LPFMs. My findings were a tad surprising.

  As a bonus I’m including this story here. Please subscribe to the Bulletin (it’s free!) so you don’t miss out on any of this kind of news and analysis.

  LPFMs vs. Translators: The Battle of 250 Watts

  June 15 was the deadline to file comments with the FCC on REC Networks’ proposal that the FCC offer an opportunity for low-power FM stations upgrade power to as high as 250 watts, conditions permitting. A total of 505 comments were filed, more than 100 of them coming in on the last day.

  Not surprisingly the country’s largest broadcast lobby, the National Association of Broadcasters, weighed in against the proposal. NAB argues the proposal is “premature,” since apparently even more time is needed to test the long-debunked theory that LPFMs pose an interference threat to full-power stations. The more material argument is that NAB wants more room left for new translator repeater stations, especially for AM stations that have “waited patiently” for their chance at the spectrum land-grab.

  Translators and LPFMs have been at odds for the last decade, since they are both classes of low-powered stations. However, until the Local Community Radio Act of 2011, translators were more privileged than LPFMs, permitted to be placed closer to other stations the dial, despite howls from the NAB that such close spacing for LPFMs–now permitted–would erupt in sonic chaos on the dial. Translators also have a 250 watt limit–the same REC now proposes for LPFMs. But because of their similarities translators and LPFMs vie for the same spaces on the dials, hence the NAB’s displeasure.

  So, as I looked through comments I was particularly keen to see if there are other translator supporters in opposition. While I cannot claim to have made an exhaustive search of all 505 comments, I was pleasantly surprised to find nuanced positions coming from groups with strong interests in translators. They seem to be generally OK with rulemaking proceeding being opened, even if they have some concerns.

  Most prominent amongst these groups is the National Translator Association, which advocates on behalf of both radio and television translator stations. Yet, the group’s support for a rulemaking proceeding is unequivocal: “The National Translator Association stands firmly in support of the within entitled petition as filed by REC Networks. The petition raises a significant number of valid points that should be developed in the context of a Rulemaking proceeding and its public record,” says the NTA’s comments.

  This doesn’t necessarily mean the group wholeheartedly supports the entire REC petition, so much as the NTA wants to have all the issues raised and heard. Fair ’nuff. Even so, the group does slip in the hope that a window for translator applications is opened if a successful 250-watt rulemaking also brings about another LPFM licensing window.

  The Educational Media Foundation is an enormous operator of translator stations, which uses them to broadcast its Christian music networks K-LOVE and Air1. While not a booster of the REC proposal, the group writes that it, “conceptually has no problems with LPFM stations operating with 250 watts, or with providing these stations with second-adjacent channel protections.”

  However, “such changes should be made only in the context of a broader review of the protections afforded to LPFM stations and, more importantly, the protections to existing full-power and translator stations that LPFM stations themselves are required to provide.” So, EMF doesn’t so much oppose a rulemaking based on the REC petition, as it does ask for a thorough review that would subject higher power LPFMs to the same standards, with regard to interference complaints, that translators are held to.

  EMF also expresses the concern that a LPFM power increase is a slippery slope. If stations don’t find reception problems are abated by going to 250 watts, “will REC or some other proponent be back at the FCC in a few years asking for additional power?”

  Finally, there are some pretty scathing complaints about LPFM contained in the comments submitted by Nunzio A. Sergi, owner of Summit Media Broadcasting of West Virginia. Sergi has a bone to pick with LPFM operators in his state, which he alleges are operating at power levels in excess of what they are licensed for, or are acting as de facto networks. In one case, he claims that a “LPFM operator has different members of his immediate family and friends as licensees of FM translators and at least one of the FM translators runs the LPFM station programming into another county in the middle of a metro.”

  Sergi goes on to argue that the difference between a commercial operator and a LPFM operator is that the commercial one “is invested in their operations, they follow the FCC regulations for fear of losing their huge investment, while a LPFM operator has nothing to lose(.)” Thus, he concludes that, “Whatever little FM spectrum is left today, needs to be allocated to helping AM stations survive, not for LPFM service.”

  To be fair, if Sergi’s allegations of LPFM rules violations are true, those stations ought to be investigated. Still, he clearly paints with a very broad brush. Similar instances of translator and full-power stations being out of spec, or bending the rules, can also be easily found, too.

  However, besides the NAB’s more staid and studied objections, Sergi’s were the most strenuous I found. I am also pleasantly surprised that there was no pile of comments from NPR and other public radio groups dragging out the interference dead horse once again, nor pushing for more translator space. Since there are relatively few AM stations in the public radio world, I guess that fight isn’t a high priority. Either that, or the public radio establishment would rather wait to see if the FCC actually opens a proceeding.

  That, of course, would be the next step if the Commission is, on balance, convinced by the vast majority of 250-watt supporters on record. If a rulemaking proceeding is opened, then there will be another wave of comments, followed by reply comments, and plenty of political maneuvering, too. So, don’t hold your breath, but don’t give up hope, either.

  The post LPFM Watch: Big Competition in LA Still Unresolved; The 250 Watt Battle appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/06/lpfm-watch-big-competition-in-la-still-unresolved-the-250-watt-battle/feed/ 0 32287 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/06/lpfm-watch-nab-opposes-recs-250-watt-lpfm-proposal-kmrd-launch-and-more-news/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/06/lpfm-watch-nab-opposes-recs-250-watt-lpfm-proposal-kmrd-launch-and-more-news/#respond Thu, 18 Jun 2015 13:00:12 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=32125 With not too many remaining pending low power FM (LPFM) applications, we are starting to see very few construction permit grants at this point. The only new construction permit granted this week was to St. Joseph’s, Sykesville, Roman Catholic Congregation, Inc. in Eldersburg, Maryland. A Roman Catholic parish, the group plans to air “…programs from […]

  The post LPFM Watch: NAB Opposes REC’s 250 Watt LPFM Proposal, KMRD Launch, and More News appeared first on Radio Survivor.

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  With not too many remaining pending low power FM (LPFM) applications, we are starting to see very few construction permit grants at this point. The only new construction permit granted this week was to St. Joseph’s, Sykesville, Roman Catholic Congregation, Inc. in Eldersburg, Maryland.

  A Roman Catholic parish, the group plans to air “…programs from nationally recognized Catholic educational broadcasters such as the EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network of Irondale, Alabama, in addition to locally produced programs related to our organization’s activities and educational outreach,” according to its application. St. Joseph’s was originally part of a larger mutually exclusive (MX) group of competing applicants in the Baltimore area, which also included college radio applicants Johns Hopkins University and Loyola University Maryland (which filed a Petition to Deny).

  Radio Survivor Podcast Features Interview with Sabrina Roach about LPFM Efforts in Seattle

  Hopefully you’ve had a chance to check out the new Radio Survivor Podcast. This week’s episode should be of particular interest to those who care about LPFM. Sabrina Roach, a community radio advocate who works for Brown Paper Tickets, talks about the tremendous effort that’s been put into building interest around LPFM in the Seattle, Washington area. She also talks a bit about some of the new LPFM stations that will soon be coming to the airwaves.

  Last fall I was able to tour some of the LPFM-hopeful stations in the Seattle area and it was incredibly inspiring to see how all of the organizing and outreach has resulted in so many neighborhood stations.

  NAB Opposes REC’s 250 watt LPFM Proposal

  As we’ve reported, REC Networks submitted a proposal to the FCC, calling for the opportunity for LPFM stations to upgrade from 100 watts to 250 watts (read more the proposal in one of our Radio Survivor Bulletin exclusives). Initially, most of the comments in response to the proposal were favorable. This week, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) chimed in with its comments for the FCC, opposing the proposal. NAB argues that the upgrade request is “premature,” stating that, “The overwhelming majority of the approximately 2,000 LPFM stations to be licensed from the 2013 LPFM filing window have not even been constructed yet, let alone commenced operation at their current maximum power of 100 watts.”

  NAB also expresses concern about potential interference from new LPFM stations in “urban markets and/or on second adjacent channels to full-power FM stations,” and is asking the FCC to hold off on considering upgrades until after the impact of the 100 watt service is determined. Additionally, NAB writes that a power increase to 250 watts could limit opportunities for FM translators. In its comments, NAB states, “AM broadcasters have waited patiently for their first opportunity to participate in an FM translator window, but are concerned that allowing LPFM stations to increase power to 250 watts, and thereby double their coverage areas, will further overcrowd the already congested FM band and foreclose licensing opportunities for cross-service translators.”

  When I checked the FCC website today, there were more than 500 comments filed related to the 250 watt proposal, with a wide range of opinions both pro and con. You can also read a bit more about the variety of comments in today’s Radio Survivor Bulletin exclusive (subscribe here).

  Madrid Community Radio Launches KMRD

  On Tuesday, June 16th, Madrid Community Radio launched KMRD in Madrid, New Mexico. The Prometheus Radio Project helped to build the radio station last fall, alongside members of the community. According to the KMRD website, “There are so many stories and talents to share here in Madrid, and our participatory media outlet strives to share and amplify the knowledge, skills and voices of our community, as well as serve as a hub for community projects and organization. The radio station will bring together people from all walks of life to create truly independent freeform programming!”

  LPFMs Coming to Lexington, Kentucky

  The Lexington-Herald Leader reports on a couple of forthcoming LPFM stations in Lexington, Kentucky, under the auspices of Lexington Community Radio, including WLXL-LP. According to the article, “Lexington is getting closer to having its own nonprofit, non-commercial, community-based radio station. Spearheaded by insurance agent and former Urban County Council member Debra Hensley, the volunteer-run station is ahead of schedule on an Oct. 1 deadline for broadcast. ‘Think of it as NPR (National Public Radio) but hyper, hyper local,’ Hensley said.” The second station, WLXU-LP plans to get on the air by 2016.

  Spanish and Portuguese Language LPFM for Framingham, Massachusetts

  According to MetroWest Daily News, preparations are underway for a Catholic radio station broadcasting in Spanish and Portuguese to the Framingham, Massachusetts community. The article states that founder Father Paco Anzoategui “…is working with local church leaders and volunteers to launch Radio Catolica, a low-power FM radio station that will broadcast from the basement of the rectory at St. Stephen on the frequency 96.5. The station’s call letters, WBNU, are derived from the Spanish phrase ‘buena nueva,’ which translates to Good News.”

  LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.

  The post LPFM Watch: NAB Opposes REC’s 250 Watt LPFM Proposal, KMRD Launch, and More News appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/06/lpfm-watch-nab-opposes-recs-250-watt-lpfm-proposal-kmrd-launch-and-more-news/feed/ 0 32125 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/06/lpfm-watch-emergency-permit-for-lpfm-in-texas-flood-area-wjja-lp-donates-license-and-more-news/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/06/lpfm-watch-emergency-permit-for-lpfm-in-texas-flood-area-wjja-lp-donates-license-and-more-news/#respond Thu, 11 Jun 2015 12:26:51 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=32000 There continues to be a slow trickle of newly granted low power FM (LPFM) construction permits this month, with 5 more granted this week. Additionally, a few applications were dismissed, including Greater Broadcasting Network, Inc. (Duncanville, Texas) and Iglesia Pentecostes del Principe de Paz (Grand Prairie, Texas). Also, a LPFM that is still fundraising in […]

  The post LPFM Watch: Emergency Permit for LPFM in Texas Flood Area, WJJA-LP Donates License, and More News appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]>

  There continues to be a slow trickle of newly granted low power FM (LPFM) construction permits this month, with 5 more granted this week. Additionally, a few applications were dismissed, including Greater Broadcasting Network, Inc. (Duncanville, Texas) and Iglesia Pentecostes del Principe de Paz (Grand Prairie, Texas). Also, a LPFM that is still fundraising in order to get on the air full-time is now in the midst of an emergency temporary permit so that it can report important news for flood victims in Texas.

  New LPFM Construction Permits this Week

  NICE Corp. (Boulder, CO)

  Dallas Arts District Foundation (Dallas, TX)

  The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Household of Faith (Arlington, TX)

  Extend the Dream Foundation, Inc. (Iowa City, IA)

  Gilberto Sanchez Jr. Ministries (Brownsville, TX)

  KWVH-LP Broadcasting with an Emergency Temporary Permit in Flooded Area in Texas

  The Pacifica Network is reporting that one of its affiliate stations, Wimberley Valley Radio, received an emergency temporary permit in order to begin broadcasting over LPFM. According to Pacifica,

  Over Memorial Day weekend, massive flooding devastated parts of Texas along the Blanco River, including Wimberley, Texas, where, as of June 9, nine lives have been claimed in the area, with two children still missing. Such a crisis presents the need for the transmission of reliable, current information to those undergoing the arduous recovery process. In the aftermath of the flooding, local internet station and Pacifica Affiliate Wimberley Valley Radio—who already had a construction permit and was in the process of raising capital to launch their LPFM—perceived this need. Under a temporary emergency permit issued June 5, 2015 by the FCC, the station will broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week for 30 days, under the call letters KWVH-LP on 94.1 FM.”

  The station is still fundraising in order to get on the air permanently.

  WJJA-LP License Assigned to Southeast Kentucky Eco Research

  As we wrote last year, Appalachian Media Outreach was granted a new LPFM construction permit in 2014 for a station in Renfro Valley, Kentucky. At the time, it already held the license for the southern gospel and bluegrass station WJJA-LP in East Bernstadt, Kentucky, so it’s not surprising that it is now divesting that license since it cannot hold licenses for more than one LPFM.

  This week, the FCC granted Appalachian Media Outreach’s application to assign WJJA-LP to Southeast Kentucky Eco Research Inc. According to its application, “Assignor is the permittee of WKUR-LP, Renfro Valley, Kentucky…A condition in the WKUR-LP construction permit is the divestiture of WJJA-LP. The proposed transaction is intended to implement that divestiture.” The new owner is taking over the license “without consideration” and plans to air programming related to water conservation as well as “coverage of local public interest events,” according to the application.

  KGIA-LP License Cancelled

  Grand Island Adventist Educational Radio in Grand Island, Nebraska just surrendered the license for KGIA-LP on June 4, 2015. The Christian radio station received its construction permit in 2003 and aired syndicated religious programming from the Radio 74 network.

  LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.

  The post LPFM Watch: Emergency Permit for LPFM in Texas Flood Area, WJJA-LP Donates License, and More News appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/06/lpfm-watch-emergency-permit-for-lpfm-in-texas-flood-area-wjja-lp-donates-license-and-more-news/feed/ 0 32000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/06/low-power-fm-news-3-new-stations-250-watt-comments/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/06/low-power-fm-news-3-new-stations-250-watt-comments/#respond Fri, 05 Jun 2015 00:07:45 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=31915 This week saw a jump in low-power FM construction permits from the FCC, but that isn’t saying much. A whopping three were approved, compared to none last week, bringing the total to 1,860 new LPFMs. These three new stations go to: * Taller Cultural Jaycoa, Inc at 107.9 FM in Augadilla, PR * New Times […]

  The post Low Power FM News: 3 New Stations & 250-watt Comments appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]>

  This week saw a jump in low-power FM construction permits from the FCC, but that isn’t saying much. A whopping three were approved, compared to none last week, bringing the total to 1,860 new LPFMs.

  These three new stations go to:
  * Taller Cultural Jaycoa, Inc at 107.9 FM in Augadilla, PR
  * New Times Culture and Education Center at 101.9 FM in Atlanta, GA
  * Organizatcion Cristiana La Hermosa Internacional, Inc at 99.9 FM in Denton, TX

  Virginia LPFM’s License Cancelled

  Unfortunately one LPFM station had its license cancelled this week. According to the warning letter sent in April by the FCC to WRRW-LP in Williamsburg, VA, the station had been silent since “at least December 28, 2012.” The station failed to respond within 30 days, triggering the cancellation. WRRW-LP was part of the first wave of LPFM stations from the first application window in 2000, receiving its full license in 2005.

  Strangely the station’s website and live stream are still active, listing a 102.5 FM frequency and making no mention of being off-air. I suspect the stream is automated, and nobody turned it off.

  Comments on 250-Watt Proposal

  The FCC is currently accepting comments on a proposal to allow qualified LPFM stations the opportunity to increase their power from a maximium of 100 watts to 250 watts. The comment window is open until June 15.

  In an “FCC Extra” feature for our weekly Radio Survivor Bulletin email newsletter, Matthew wrote an overview of the comments submitted so far, noting that so far the proposal “is a hit.”

  As a bonus, here’s a link to read that article. Then, subscribe to the Bulletin so you don’t miss any of these great exclusive updates. It’s free, and we never share your email with anyone.

  The post Low Power FM News: 3 New Stations & 250-watt Comments appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/06/low-power-fm-news-3-new-stations-250-watt-comments/feed/ 0 31915 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/05/lpfm-watch-missoula-community-radio-radio-bristol-and-lompac-station-prepare-to-launch/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/05/lpfm-watch-missoula-community-radio-radio-bristol-and-lompac-station-prepare-to-launch/#respond Thu, 28 May 2015 19:27:46 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=31850 This was probably the slowest week at the FCC in regards to low power FM (LPFM) actions since we began our weekly LPFM Watch column. No new LPFM construction permits were granted, leaving the grand total from the fall 2013 application window at 1,857. Two applications were dismissed: for Harbor Light Broadcasting (South Bend, Indiana) […]

  The post LPFM Watch: Missoula Community Radio, Radio Bristol, and Lompac Station Prepare to Launch appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]>

  This was probably the slowest week at the FCC in regards to low power FM (LPFM) actions since we began our weekly LPFM Watch column. No new LPFM construction permits were granted, leaving the grand total from the fall 2013 application window at 1,857. Two applications were dismissed: for Harbor Light Broadcasting (South Bend, Indiana) and for Grand Rapids Adventist Academy (Grand Rapids, Michigan).

  Although the FCC hasn’t been too active on the LPFM front, we are seeing a regular trickle of press for some of the new stations that are on the horizon.

  Missoula Community Radio (KFGM 105.5 FM) will have an open house this Saturday as it prepares for its launch in Missoula, Montana. According to Missoulian,

  The station’s board is wrapping up paperwork with the Federal Communications Commission and its application for nonprofit status, and hopes to be live by mid-July. The mission statement, though, is ready to go. ‘We’re a First Amendment station focusing on community access and providing a platform for under-served communities,’ said Aaron Jennings, board vice president of KFGM 105.5 FM. ‘We want to make sure we’re giving people a chance to express themselves that don’t already have access to some way to get that message out,’ he said. That means news shows, music shows or whatever programming people want to produce, said Ann Szalda-Petree, the station’s general manager.”

  The City of Lompoc, California is also gearing up to launch its new LPFM station, KPEG-LP at 100.9 FM. Currently in a testing phase, the station is solely airing music for the moment, but plans to have a full slate of community programming. The Santa Maria Sun writes,

  Lompoc is now even more media savvy. Gregg Ratcliff, studio manager for the city’s Public, Education and Government [PEG] access television said that the city’s new FM radio station, 100.9 FM-LP, is operational…In January 2014, the Federal Communications Commission issued a construction permit. At one point, construction crews were delayed for two weeks. Eager to begin construction, Ratcliff started digging a trench with his assistant. ‘One day I got tired of waiting, and I grabbed my assistant Bill Smith, a couple of shovels, and some Gatorade and we went up to the transmitter site and started digging ourselves,’ Ratcliff said. ‘We got about 8 inches deep and we realized that possibly our best trench digging days were behind us.’ The station’s antenna is mounted to an old light pole, which Ratcliff said was rescued from the city scrap pile. The transmitter housing is also recycled from the scrap heap, Ratcliff said.”

  In Bristol, Virginia, a new country music LPFM station is launching this summer at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. WBCM “Radio Bristol” will “broadcast from the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in a studio that is equipped with historic vintage gear, restored to meet the modern needs of a fully functional radio station. The studio will also be a working exhibit for museum visitors to experience a radio broadcast firsthand,” according to an announcement from the museum this week. WCYB reports that, “Besides country, it’ll focus on American roots music including bluegrass, old-time, and Americana. It’ll even have three streams: classic, Americana, and live.”

  Finally, in Arizona, a flurry of LPFM stations are also hitting the airwaves. The Eloy Enterprise reports that 41 new LPFM stations are coming to Arizona, including numerous religious stations. The article provides glimpses of a number of the soon-to-be LPFMS, including KPCR, aka Phoenix Community Radio:

  KPCR’s community-based station is located in Hance Park, Phoenix, but still without a tower and frequency. The station will focus on the arts, culture, interests, and diversity of Central Phoenix. Each topic will hold a three-minute slot two or three times a week that covers the latest community topics buzzing around town. One program targets public safety with the Phoenix Police Department, which will cover road closures, marathons, police action and any new scams people run into…Other programs include, ‘Garage Sale Groupie,’ where the station will visit garage sales and get people to chat about what they’re selling. ‘Senior Moments’ is another, which will focus on activities that appeal to those 55 and older. The station will cover the state Legislature, too. ‘Here we’ll recognize the “worst bill of the week,”‘ Aronow said. ‘I want to call it “Lifting the Lid.”‘

  LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.

  The post LPFM Watch: Missoula Community Radio, Radio Bristol, and Lompac Station Prepare to Launch appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/05/lpfm-watch-missoula-community-radio-radio-bristol-and-lompac-station-prepare-to-launch/feed/ 0 31850 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/05/lpfm-watch-foundation-for-a-beautiful-life-and-caribbean-festival-association-to-go-lpfm-plus-more-news/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/05/lpfm-watch-foundation-for-a-beautiful-life-and-caribbean-festival-association-to-go-lpfm-plus-more-news/#comments Thu, 21 May 2015 14:00:34 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=31760 It’s been a slow week for LPFM news, with only a couple of new construction permits granted. One application was dismissed this week and, sadly, one existing license was canceled. However, there’s potentially exciting news for stations hoping to upgrade, as a proposal for a new 250 watt LPFM service is officially open for public […]

  The post LPFM Watch: Foundation for a Beautiful Life and Caribbean Festival Association to go LPFM, plus more news appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]>

  It’s been a slow week for LPFM news, with only a couple of new construction permits granted. One application was dismissed this week and, sadly, one existing license was canceled. However, there’s potentially exciting news for stations hoping to upgrade, as a proposal for a new 250 watt LPFM service is officially open for public comments.

  In this week’s Radio Survivor Bulletin exclusive (subscribe here), we provided an update about REC Networks’ proposal for a 250 watt LPFM service. The FCC is now accepting public comments on this proposal through June 15, 2015.

  Canceled License in Illinois

  Peoria Chinese Ministry Association’s WCUA-LP at 101.9 FM in Peoria, Illinois had its license canceled by the FCC. After not responding to a warning letter in April, the station’s license was canceled on May 13, 2015. In its letter, the FCC indicates that the station “has been silent since at least March 28, 2013” and since it has been off the air for more than a year, the license has expired. Back in 2013, WCUA-LP was granted a special temporary authority to remain silent. At the time, the station asked to go off the air for “financial reasons.”

  New Construction Permits for Groups in California and Florida

  As far as granted construction permits, there wasn’t much activity this week, with only two organizations getting the go-ahead:

  Foundation for a Beautiful Life (92.9 FM in Cupertino, CA): According to its application, this group’s “primary focus is promoting the interests and needs of the Chinese language population in Cupertino…” This has been a contested application and competing applicant South Bay Public Radio filed an Informal Objection on Tuesday, arguing that Foundation for a Beautiful Life has proposed that an antenna be placed atop a tower owned by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) on land managed by an open space district. South Bay Public Radio claims that “there is no permission to build or affix a radio transmitting apparatus at this location.” It will be interesting to see how the FCC responds.

  Caribbean Festival Association (99.1 FM in St. Petersburg, FL): This group aims to “provide a strong academic, artistic, and multi-cultural educational environment” with its new low power FM radio station, according to its application. Planned programming includes a call-in homework help line as well as children’s radio drama. It’s hoped that the non-profit will work to “develop a children’s theater workshop,” whose productions will air over the radio station.

  Dismissed Application in Texas

  This week, the application for Iglesia Fe Y Amor de Dios Inc. in Houston, Texas was dismissed.

  Low Power FM coming to D.C. Area

  Earlier this week, Elevation D.C. ran a nice feature about the low power FM stations coming to the Washington, D.C. area. Elevation D.C. writes, “WERA in Arlington and WOWD in Takoma Park are just two of the hundreds of new stations now signing on from coast to coast.” Also potentially in the mix is WOOK, whose launch is in question because of a “legal battle,” according to the article. We wrote a bit about WOOK’s situation back in February.

  LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.

  The post LPFM Watch: Foundation for a Beautiful Life and Caribbean Festival Association to go LPFM, plus more news appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/05/lpfm-watch-foundation-for-a-beautiful-life-and-caribbean-festival-association-to-go-lpfm-plus-more-news/feed/ 1 31760 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/05/lpfm-news-fl-church-beats-pirate-radio-accusation-to-win-lpfm/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/05/lpfm-news-fl-church-beats-pirate-radio-accusation-to-win-lpfm/#respond Thu, 14 May 2015 20:30:19 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=31722 The FCC’s Media Bureau continues to work on the remaining MX groups of applicants competing for a single frequency. Most of the nine construction permits for new low-power FM stations issued in the last week were from such groups. The total number of LPFM construction permits issued from the 2013 application window now stands at […]

  The post LPFM News: FL Church Beats Pirate Radio Accusation to Win LPFM appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]>

  The FCC’s Media Bureau continues to work on the remaining MX groups of applicants competing for a single frequency. Most of the nine construction permits for new low-power FM stations issued in the last week were from such groups. The total number of LPFM construction permits issued from the 2013 application window now stands at 1855.

  In one case an applicant in Merritt Island, FL was accused of operating a pirate station in informal objections filed by a competing applicant. The objection alleged that East Coast Christian Center broadcast Christmas music on an FM signal that could be received outside the group’s church premises during the last three holiday seasons. In a filing to the FCC East Coast confirmed the broadcast–intended to accompany a Christmas lights display in the church’s parking lot–but also contended that they used a “micropower-transmitting device (that) was permitted for unlicensed operation.”

  The FCC found that the objections failed to provide any proof of illegal unlicensed operation and that “the accounts of transmissions being heard outside of the East Coast property are hearsay.” The commission concluded that “it is apparent that East Coast was broadcasting its Christmas music pursuant to Part 15 of the Commission’s Rules which permits certain unlicensed broadcasting.”

  These are the other construction permits that were approved for applicants in MX groups due to changes that allowed them to avoid sharing a frequency:

  • The Terrell Independent School District in Texas was granted CP at 95.5 FM because Believers International Broadcast moved out of its MX group to 105.7 FM.
  • Stop Abortion.org in Tucson, AZ received 93.3 because two applicants moved out of its MX group, and one was dismissed.
  • North Austin Community Media in Texas moved out of an MX group, which now has a two-party time-share at 94.3, to 94.1 FM.
  • Total Life Community Education Foundation in Tontitown, AR moved out of an MX group at 98.9 FM to gain a CP at 107.3 FM.
  • New Wine Church International Ministries in Pasadena, TX moved out of an MX group at 96.1 FM to 99.5 FM.

  The post LPFM News: FL Church Beats Pirate Radio Accusation to Win LPFM appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/05/lpfm-news-fl-church-beats-pirate-radio-accusation-to-win-lpfm/feed/ 0 31722 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/05/lpfm-watch-reed-college-and-drury-university-to-go-lpfm-and-more-lpfm-news/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/05/lpfm-watch-reed-college-and-drury-university-to-go-lpfm-and-more-lpfm-news/#respond Thu, 07 May 2015 21:43:23 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=31561 This week ten more groups were granted construction permits for new low power FM (LPFM) radio stations. I’m thrilled to see two colleges and one school district in the mix, as not many schools have received grants in the past few months. By my count, 76 colleges/universities have now received new LPFM construction permits (out […]

  The post LPFM Watch: Reed College and Drury University to go LPFM and More LPFM News appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]>

  This week ten more groups were granted construction permits for new low power FM (LPFM) radio stations. I’m thrilled to see two colleges and one school district in the mix, as not many schools have received grants in the past few months. By my count, 76 colleges/universities have now received new LPFM construction permits (out of 1,849 total construction permits across all groups) resulting from the fall 2013 application window.

  Reed College’s Radio Station to Return to FM

  One of the granted college radio stations this week is at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. Once home to the long-time (since 1954) licensed class D FM station KRRC (see my tour on Spinning Indie), Reed has been operating an Internet-only station after donating its license to Common Frequency in 2012. KRRC had been forced to change frequencies a number of times and struggled to be heard on campus. After acquiring the license, Common Frequency worked to move KRRC (then at 97.9 FM) to a different frequency and found a group to run the new station, KXRY, now called X-Ray FM. X-Ray FM launched in March, 2014 and now broadcasts over 91.1 FM.

  Reed College’s new LPFM station will broadcast from 4pm to 3:59am every day, sharing its 105.5 FM channel with the Portland Russian Media Center.

  Another college radio station, KPSU at Portland State University, was initially in the running for this frequency as well, but its application was dismissed (despite numerous appeals) because the school was awarded fewer diversity points because at the time of the application, it was part of a larger university system that held additional radio licenses. KPSU (see my tour of the station on Spinning Indie) used to broadcast over AM through a deal with high school radio station KBPS 1450 AM (which I recently wrote about, as it’s potentially the oldest continuously operating high school radio station in the United States, having been on the air since 1923).

  New LPFM Grants This Week

  Churches/Religious Organizations

  Portland Russian Media Center (105.5 FM in Portland, OR): In a time-share with The Reed Institute (Reed College), this organization “operates a Russian-language audio Internet service,” which it plans to develop into a new LPFM station. According to its application, its main educational objective is “to provide religious instruction and moral teaching.” Programming will air between 4am and 3:59pm daily.

  Fundacion Arte Catolico Christiano (92.5 FM in Houston, TX): This religious station plans to air a Catholic talk format.

  New Birth F. Baptist Church, Inc. (105.7 FM in Palm Bay, FL): This church plans to air religious programming, community programming, music, as well as programming for the local “French and Creole’s speaking population,” according to its application.

  Jehovah Jireh International Mission (100.7 FM in Portland, OR): The group runs a missionary school and works with “Christ-based rehabilitation centers.” It plans to air locally produced religious-oriented programming and will broadcast from 2am to 1:59pm daily, sharing its channel with Slavic Community Center of NW, Inc.

  Charles F. Martin Ministry, Inc. (98.7 FM in Live Oak, FL): According to its application, this station’s “…primary purpose is the outreach of non-denominational religious and moral doctrine that is inspirational, informational and educational to target populations and individuals in the general population of the Live Oak, Florida area.” It will specifically focus on “Black members of the Live Oak, Florida and surrounding rural areas” and its programming will “address the foundation of the breakdown of the family and crime.”

  Colleges/Universities/Schools

  The Reed Institute (Reed College at 105.5 FM in Portland, OR): See above. Sharing with Portland Russian Media Center.

  Drury University (98.1 FM in Springfield, MO): Drury University used to run a very low power FM station on campus (KDRU), which currently operates as an Internet-only college radio station and has connections with its programs in Multimedia Production and Journalism. According to its application, “An FCC-licensed Low Power FM station with the concurrent administrative responsibilities required would enhance and further our educational program by providing an experience closer to the professional radio-station workplace.”

  Terrell Independent School District (95.5 FM in Terrell, TX): According to its application, this school district plans to operate its LPFM radio station at a high school in its district (Terrell High School) and “will integrate the station into its curriculum,” using it to “teach its students communication, management, and technical skills.”

  Other Non-Profits

  Radio America Media, Corp. (103.1 FM in Littleton, NH): The non-profit plans to offer “audio production facilities” and intends to collaborate with “the Communications program at Hugh J. Gallen Career Technical Institute” at Littleton High School, according to its application. Additionally, future programming will include live music (including local elementary school and high school groups) and remote broadcasts of events.

  Slavic Community Center of NW, Inc. (100.7 FM in Portland, OR): In a time-share with Jehovah Jireh International Mission, this organization plans to run “locally produced public affairs programming” and will also provide radio training. It will operate from 2pm to 1:59am daily.

  LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.

  The post LPFM Watch: Reed College and Drury University to go LPFM and More LPFM News appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/05/lpfm-watch-reed-college-and-drury-university-to-go-lpfm-and-more-lpfm-news/feed/ 0 31561 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/04/lpfm-news-12-new-stations-many-avoiding-timeshares/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/04/lpfm-news-12-new-stations-many-avoiding-timeshares/#respond Fri, 01 May 2015 01:12:35 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=31444 The FCC approved twelve low-power FM construction permits this last week, bringing the grand total to 1839 new low-power FM stations authorized in the 2013 application window. All but one of the approved groups was in an MX group of applicants competing for a single frequency. Six of these groups were able to move out […]

  The post LPFM News: 12 New Stations, Many Avoiding Timeshares appeared first on Radio Survivor.

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  The FCC approved twelve low-power FM construction permits this last week, bringing the grand total to 1839 new low-power FM stations authorized in the 2013 application window. All but one of the approved groups was in an MX group of applicants competing for a single frequency.

  Six of these groups were able to move out of their MX groups by finding another LPFM-qualified frequency. This demonstrates again how it’s possible to resolve these competitions without timeshares, or by reducing the number of stations that must share a frequency, even in urban markets like Miami metropolitan area.

  All of these applicants were in the third MX window–covering Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas–which closed on March 23, the deadline for submitting petitions to modify applications. The groups receiving construction permits are:

  • Zoo Art Radio, Inc in Miami, FL – 103.9 FM
  • All Media Services of America, Inc in Boca Raton, FL – 101.1 FM
  • Iglesia Poder de Dios in Pharr, Texas – 100.7 FM
  • Echo Broadcasting Network, Inc in Valdosta, GA – 104.7 FM
  • Hollywood Brothers Helping Others, Inc in Fort Lauderdale, FL – 92.7 FM
  • La Mision in Orlando, FL – 96.1 FM

  One voluntary time share was approved on 95.9 FM for three stations in northern New Jersey: Gospel Light Prayer Church in Kearney, Preakness Valley United Reformed Church in Wayne, and Caribbean Sports International in Maplewood.

  Finally, one group in Seattle, WA, was granted a construction permit on reconsideration. The application for Earth on the Air Independent Media had been dismissed for having a lapsed non-profit corporate status, but the group was able to demonstrate that Washington allows the retroactive reinstatement of that status. The applicant also successfully relocated out of an MX group.

  LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.

  The post LPFM News: 12 New Stations, Many Avoiding Timeshares appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/04/lpfm-news-12-new-stations-many-avoiding-timeshares/feed/ 0 31444 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/04/lpfm-watch-rec-proposes-lpfm-power-increase-to-250-watts-9-more-lpfm-construction-permits/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/04/lpfm-watch-rec-proposes-lpfm-power-increase-to-250-watts-9-more-lpfm-construction-permits/#respond Thu, 23 Apr 2015 18:15:47 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=31327 This week we only saw nine more grants for new low power FM (LPFM) construction permits, but it doesn’t mean that it was all quiet on the LPFM front. REC Networks has filed a Petition for Rule Making with the FCC with the intention of helping “LPFM stations enhance their signal within their current three […]

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  This week we only saw nine more grants for new low power FM (LPFM) construction permits, but it doesn’t mean that it was all quiet on the LPFM front. REC Networks has filed a Petition for Rule Making with the FCC with the intention of helping “LPFM stations enhance their signal within their current three mile service area as well as reach out to more rural areas,” according to a statement by REC’s Michelle Bradley. REC is asking the FCC to consider allowing certain LPFMs to upgrade their power from 100 watts to 250 watts.

  Additionally, the proposal asks the FCC to reduce the number of hours of required local programming for stations in time-shares. The REC petition states:

  REC is proposing to change the local origination pledge definition for time share stations from 8 hours of programming per day to one-third of the daily programming must meet the standard of local origination to meet the pledge. This means that for an LPFM station that is scheduled to operate 8 hours per day, they must provide a minimum of 2 hours and 40 minutes of local programming per day. LPFM stations operating 12 hours per day would be required to provide a minimum of 4 hours of local programming per day. This way, time share groups that does not have any vacant time slots will still broadcast a minimum of 8 hours of local origination programming each day collectively among the time share group member stations.”

  Read REC’s entire Petition for Rulemaking to see what else REC is proposing for LPFM.

   

  This Week’s LPFM Construction Permits

  The newly granted construction permits this week include once for a college radio station (it’s been awhile!) at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. By my count, this brings the total number of LPFM construction permits issued to colleges/universities during the 2013 application window to 74. This week’s grants include:

  Barry University (Miami Shores, FL) – time-share with Iglesia Misionera Pregoneros de Justicia de Florida, Inc.

  Iglesia Misionera Pregoneros de Justicia De Florida, Inc. (Hialeah Gardens, FL) – time-share with Barry University

  Proyecto Hispano de Ayuda a La Comunidad (Lafayette, LA)

  Artportunity Knocks (Smyrna, GA)

  Power One Ministries, Inc. (Miami, FL)

  Musica Sublime Inc. (Orlando, FL)

  The Zoo Art Radio Inc. (Miami, FL) – This station plans to “mix educational art and music information,” according to its application.

  All Media Services of America Inc. (Miramar, FL)

  Iglesia Poder de Dios (Pharr, TX)

  LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.

  The post LPFM Watch: REC Proposes LPFM Power Increase to 250 watts + 9 More LPFM construction permits appeared first on Radio Survivor.

  ]]> https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/04/lpfm-watch-rec-proposes-lpfm-power-increase-to-250-watts-9-more-lpfm-construction-permits/feed/ 0 31327 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/04/lpfm-watch-fcc-enforces-more-involuntary-time-shares/ https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/04/lpfm-watch-fcc-enforces-more-involuntary-time-shares/#respond Thu, 16 Apr 2015 23:58:12 +0000 https://www.radiosurvivor.com/?p=31199 The FCC issued another nineteen construction permits for new low-power FM radio stations in the last week, brining the grand total to 1821. Ten of these went to organizations in four cities that will have to abide involuntary time-shares. In each city there was an MX group of two or more applicants competing for a […]

  The post LPFM Watch: FCC Enforces More Involuntary Time-Shares appeared first on Radio Survivor.

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  The FCC issued another nineteen construction permits for new low-power FM radio stations in the last week, brining the grand total to 1821. Ten of these went to organizations in four cities that will have to abide involuntary time-shares.

  In each city there was an MX group of two or more applicants competing for a single frequency which the FCC judged to be equally eligible. In such situations the competing groups have an opportunity to reach time-share agreements amongst themselves. When the applicants fail to do so–as in these three cases–the FCC determines the arrangements.

  Even in this process applicants get a 20-day window to lobby for their preferred hours, which the Commission then awards based upon how long an applicant has been in existence as a local group. This doesn’t affect the number of hours in the time-share–the split is always equal–just which hours are assigned.

  These involuntary time-shares are:

  • 100.5 FM Santa Rosa, CA
    • Ya-Ka-Ama Indian Education & Development
    • City of Truth
  • 92.7 FM Miami, FL
    • Action for better future
    • 1 Miami, Inc
    • Tabernacle of Glory Community Center, Inc
  • 101.5 FM San Antonio, TX
    • Esperanza Peace and Justice Center
    • Lighthouse Network, Inc.
    • Martinez Street Women’s Center
  • 107.1 FM Ormond Beach, FL
    • We’ve a Voice, Inc.
    • Pal of Florida, Inc

  This past week also saw three approvals for LPFM applicants who were able to move out of an MX group competition by changing their application to a new frequency. These stations are:

  • Beware Inc. in Miami, which moved out of the time-share group for 92.7 listed above to its own frequency on 103.1 FM
  • Premiere International, which changed to 99.7 FM in Fort Meyers, FL, leaving an MX group at 107.7 FM
  • Unlimited Recovery Inc going from 103.7 to 102.1 in Douglasville, GA

  At this point most of the applications left to be processed are those in MX groups competing for a frequency. That was a topic I covered in the LPFM Extra feature last week in our Radio Survivor Bulletin email newsletter. We provide exclusive insights on LPFM, FCC proceedings, college radio, podcasting and radio scholarship in every newsletter, so you should definitely consider subscribing. It’s free, and we’ll never sell or share your contact info.

  Because this feature is so pertinent to this week’s low-power FM action I’m republishing an updated version here.

  LPFM Extra: All Eyes on MX Groups

  Now that the FCC has processed 90% of all LPFM applications from the 2013 window one the biggest hurdles for finishing things is the remaining MX groups. Each of these groups has two more more applicants competing for a single frequency. There were three windows of MX groups, divided by geographic region, each with their own space of time during which applicants could make major amendments to their applications, such as changing their frequency to get out of their MX group. The last of these windows–covering Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas–closed March 23.

  By and large the MX groups that remain are unresolved because the applicants all have equal standing on the merits of their applications. Each applicant receives a number of points based upon things like having a local studio presence or being a non-profit educational organization. Generally speaking, the applicant with the most points wins out over any other applicant in an MX group.

  During the MX windows applicants had the option to join forces and pool together points for time-sharing agreements in order to prevail over other applicants. So, if an MX group has three applicants with five points each, two can join together for a timesharing agreement, pooling their 10 points against the remaining applicant’s five. At this point most of these deals have been hammered out and submitted to the FCC for review.

  The biggest group proposing a timeshare involves seven applicants who propose to pool their total of 35 points in order share time on 101.5 FM in Los Angeles. Two competing timeshares of four and five applicants have each pooled 25 points. And that still leaves four remaining applicants left out on their own.

  There are three MX groups left where two or more applicants are tied in points and timeshare agreements have not been submitted. These cities are:

  • Miami Shores / Hialeah Gardens, FL (2 apps) – 99.5
  • Dallas / Duncanville / Arlington, TX (3 apps) – 95.7
  • Brownsville, TX (2 apps) – 104.7

  At this point unresolved MX groups risk having the FCC implement an involuntary timeshare, where each group gets a portion of the broadcast day on that frequency. So far there are only seven involuntary timeshares.

  It’s important to understand that the Commission has little interest in doing this. The preferable outcome is that applicants resolve MX competitions themselves, either by coming to voluntary timeshares or finding a way to winnow down the number of applicants in the group.

  Finally, there is one particularly notable MX stalemate in San Francisco. There are two groups of two applicants each that also have an equal number of points–ten–that are competing for 102.5 FM. It’s probable that an involuntary timeshare would not be desirable because the two sides have been locked into bitter disputes playing out through petitions to deny and informal objections against each other, filed with the FCC. From what I can tell some of the principals have worked together previously in other community radio projects, so I will only say that it seems unfortunate that they’re at such loggerheads.

  While I’ve read all the filings, I’m not interested in getting into the details because I’m not sure yet what overarching lesson there is to take away. If the FCC rules on any of these petitions or filings I will certainly report on that.

  Since all of the MX adjustment windows have closed, applicants may no longer request a move to new frequencies. One long-shot option could exist if an applicant can make the case that another open and LPFM-eligible frequency would be less subject to interference than the one originally applied for. It’s a long-shot because it would require both some engineering finesse and the availability of a suitable open frequency.

  If one or more applicants were successful in making a last-ditch move it would be both a win for that applicant and others in the same MX group, and a win in the bigger picture. That’s because there would be more community stations on the air that wouldn’t be there under a timeshare.

  This is important because any LPFM-eligible frequencies that are left unclaimed at the close of this licensing process very likely will never be available for LPFM again. First, there is an eager queue of full-power broadcasters waiting to get their hands on those channels to put translator stations on the air, especially in large urban markets. Second, there’s no known plan for an additional LPFM licensing window. And even if one were to happen, it’s safe to say that it wouldn’t open sooner than a decade from now. That’s why one might argue it’s vital to see as many LPFM stations make it on the air now.

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  LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.

  The post LPFM Watch: FCC Enforces More Involuntary Time-Shares appeared first on Radio Survivor.

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