LPFM Radio Faithful Prepare for Expansion

By admin | Published January 25, 2013

WASHINGTON — More space on the FM dial is coming for low-power broadcasters, but demand for those new frequencies is expected to be very high, according to low-power advocates.

The FCC is targeting October 2013 to open a filing window for new LPFM licenses.

Low-power FM stations, which broadcast at a maximum of 100 watts and typically reach seven to 10 miles from the antenna, have until now been relegated to mostly rural locations. However, the commission believes that frequencies in urban areas will become available due to relaxed criteria for LPFMs seeking a waiver for second-adjacent channel spacing requirements and an interference remediation scheme.

According to FCC figures, there are 824 licensed LPFMs at present. Thousands of new LPFM stations are expected to be authorized as a result of the agency’s action in November, according to LPFM broadcast observers.

LPFM advocate Conexus expects 3,000 to 5,000 applicants will ask the FCC for LPFM licenses. Conexus bases its estimate on customer inquiries, Internet forum chatter and FCC comments concerning the latest Report and Order.

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Three New LPFM Petitions for Reconsideration

By admin | Published January 13, 2013

After the new Low Power FM Radio Rules were posted in the Federal Register, three Petitions for reconsideration have been filed.  The initial petition timely filed concerning the LP50 service.  The second filed at the last possible day to file a Petition for Reconsideration.  On January 10th, Life Talk Radio requested the FCC to reopen discussion concerning prevention of established local broadcasters.  This request goes against the grain of the very purpose of Low Power FM Radio.  Life Talk wants to use LPFM radio as translators (repeaters).  However there are several "firewalls" preventing this very practice.  These include a limit of one LPFM radio station per entity and preclusion of any organization that already owns a broadcast station.   These rules were heavily discussed before the current LCRA and rulemaking, despite Life Talk's claims.  Life Talk expects the FCC to suddenly change the rules created and supported by the LPFM Radio Community.  Life Talk is not a part of this community and is the antithesis of why LPFM radio was created.  It's surprising that they believe they can come along at the last moment and undo years of LPFM advocacy's and The FCC's work regarding prevention of LPFM stations becoming another translator network for large disinterested radio chains.  They have no direct interest in the local population and wish only to tie up remaining spectrum from those that would serve the local community LOCALLY.

While Conexus wholly supports "LET THE CITIES IN" and the Recnet Petion - we cannot support the Life Talk Radio Petition and will fight the petition as it is a threat to the very purpose of LPFM Radio.  We urge you to do the same through reply comments on the FCC's electronic commenting system.  List LPFM Radio 99-25 Proceeding Petitions and Comments

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LPFM RADIO POWER GRAB BY BIG BROADCASTING CHAIN

By admin | Published January 13, 2013
LIFE TALK RADIO (LTR) of Simi Valley, California   --   an evangelical satellator chain   --   filed a  Petition For Reconsideration on January 10.    The Petition's proposed rule changes would make it MUCH easier for a chain-affiliated station to be classified as a "local" station for purposes of LPFM eligibility.

IF GRANTED, THE LTR PETITION COULD BE A MAJOR BREACH OF THE "FIRE WALL" WHICH CURRENTLY PREVENTS OWNERSHIP OF LPFM STATIONS BY ESTABLISHED BROADCASTING INTERESTS.

Please file Reply Comments, in FCC Docket 99-25, which oppose the LIFE TALK RADIO Petition!!

Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D.C.20554
In the Matter of )
)
Creation of a Low Power Radio Service )
MM Docket No 99-25 )

To. The Commission
PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION OF FIFTH ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION AND SD(FIFTH REPORT AND ORDER

LifeTalk Radio, Inc. ("LTR"), by counsel and pursuant to $1.429 of the Commission's rules, hereby petitions the Commission to reconsider in part the Fifth Order on Reconsideration and Sixth Report and Order (the "Order"), in the above-identified proceeding. Public notice of the Order was published in the Federal Register on December 11, 2012.2 LTR filed Comments on May 7,2012, in response to the Fifth Report and Order, Fourth Notice of Proposed Rulemahng and Fourth Order on Reconsideration in this proceeding (the "NPRM').3 In those Comments, LTR urged the Commission to clarifu or amend $73 858(b) of the Commission's rules. While the Commission did not specifically address LTR's concerns or suggestions in the Order, it did touch on and offer some interpretation of $73.858(b). However, LTR believes that the Commission's treatment of this rules leads to an inconsistent result that should be resolved.

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NEW GROUP FILES PETITION TO RE-OPEN FCC’S URBAN LPFM POLICY

By admin | Published January 13, 2013

WATERBURY, CT, December 4    --    A new citizens’ group, LET THE CITIES IN!!, has filed a Petition For Reconsideration on the FCC’s recent expansion of the Low Power FM (LPFM) Radio Service of community radio stations (in Docket 99-25).    The Petition urges the FCC to allow “radio stations below 50 watts” in highly urban areas.    

The 15-member group is composed of aspiring LPFM broadcasters and radio listeners who reside in “urban core” areas of the Top 100 Arbitron Markets.  These urbanites are joined in the group by concerned Americans across the nation,   The group's attorney is Don Schellhardt of Connecticut (dsgoodmind@gmail.com), who also leads THE AMHERST ALLIANCE, and its Technology Advisor is Nick Leggett of Virginia (leggett3@gmail.com).

The current policy in the FCC's final LPFM rule limits all LPFM licenses in all locations, even highly urban areas, to LP100 status (50-100 watts).     Because stations above 50 watts are often too large to "fit" into crowded urban spectrum, the present "LP100s only" policy would leave no room on the radio spectrum for any LPFM stations at all in New York City, Detroit and San Jose.   The cities of Boston, Pittsburgh, Denver and San Diego would have only one LPFM station apiece.    The cities of Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles would have only two LPFM stations apiece.    LTCI estimates that, overall, at least 40 million Americans would have "severely restricted LPFM coverage or no LPFM coverage at all".

As a solution, most LTCI Members prefer a policy of licensing only LP10 stations (1-10 watts) in highly urban areas.     This shift to "LP10s only" would more than quadruple the number of LPFM stations in San Francisco and Los Angeles.     Despite this preference, however, the Petition adds that LTCI Members could accept, as a "fallback", a policy of licensing only LP50 stations (1-49 watts) in highly urban areas.

The Petition also asserts that the FCC's November 30, 2012 decisions to eliminate the LP10 class of stations completely, and impose an "LP100s policy" absolutely everywhere, were legally questionable for several reasons:

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Conexus Comments Published in Radio World Magazine

By admin | Published December 4, 2012

RadiO World MagazineToday Radio World published our LPFM Advocacy 'Conexus' comments regarding the LP50 and LP250 class missing from the November 30th Commission meeting.

With the highly anticipated release of new rules shaping the future of LPFM radio, Conexus is proud to have been a part of this process. The LPFM Community have come together to express their support for the LPFM service. While the FCC has made great strides with this latest R&O and moving forward towards and October 2013 filing window, we feel a few items were swept under the proverbial rug. However, this decision is not necessarily without good reason and I don’t believe ill intent from the Commission.

The LP10 class was never implemented. The FCC cited lack of interest previously, though a simple look at internet forums on the topic would show otherwise. Reportedly the Commission says that the service would not be economically viable due to the current noise floor on the FM band. Many LPFM advocates including Conexus agree with the noise floor issue, especially in metro areas where these LP10 stations would most likely be established. However an upgraded version of the LP10 class was proposed by Recnet and quickly supported by The Amherst Alliance, Conexus and others in the LPFM community. The new service “LP50” (1 – 49 watts) would allow a compromise for those desiring a lower power version of LPFM.

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