Will LPFM licenses to mostly to evangelical Christian broadcasters?

October 23, 2009
By Billy Dennis

Doc Searls has a heads up about the future of low-power FM radio:

Looks like legislation opening up the FM band to more LPFM (low power FM) stations is moving through Congress. While Prometheus Radio celebrates, I gotta wonder if Calvary Chapel of Everywhere isn’t going to gobble a lot of those new licenses up. Since I can’t link directly to results (they’re from a database search, and are linkproof), go to FCCinfo.com, go to Search By / Licensee, and write Calvary Chapel in the Search Parameters box. Then click on Licensee_Search and see what happens.

Doc isn’t opposed to religion on the radio. But LPFM was supposed to give a voice to those those who have been locked out of the radio business by a process that tends to favor huge media groups.

And religion-based radio has been very successful in getting on the air.

My question is this: Are there ANY local people who plan to apply for a LPFM license?

Tags: ,

This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.

4 Responses to “ Will LPFM licenses to mostly to evangelical Christian broadcasters? ”

  1. Mahkno on October 23, 2009 at 8:28 am

    [quote]
    “Low Power FM Broadcast Radio Stations

    This page contains information about the Low Power FM (LPFM) radio service, which was created by the Commission in January 2000. These stations are authorized for noncommercial educational broadcasting only (no commercial operation) and operate with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100 watts (0.1 kilowatts) or less, with maximum facilities of 100 watts ERP at 30 meters (100 feet) antenna height above average terrain (HAAT). The approximate service range of a 100 watt LPFM station is 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles radius). LPFM stations are not protected from interference that may be received from other classes of FM stations. A construction permit is required before a LPFM station can be constructed or operated.

    LPFM stations are available to noncommercial educational entities and public safety and transportation organizations, but are not available to individuals or for commercial operations. Current broadcast licensees with interests in other media (broadcast or newspapers) are not eligible to obtain LPFM stations.

    LPFM stations must protect authorized radio broadcast stations on the same channel or frequency (cochannel), as well as broadcast stations on first, second, or third-adjacent channels above or below the LPFM station’s frequency. This protection is accomplished through the use of minimum distance separation requirements, which are set forth in 47 CFR 73.807.” [/quote]

    LPFM doesn’t seem particularly attractive to anyone except to churches. Which might have been the point of the change.

  2. vonster on October 23, 2009 at 5:16 pm

    Some LPFM licenses should be reserved for other community groups. Problem is, it takes money to launch even an LPFM outlet. Some groups, similar to college radio have tried but been stumped by the cost.

  3. Doc Searls on October 28, 2009 at 8:46 am

    Cost is an issue, but interest is a much larger one. So is organization. Churches, especially evangelical ones, come pre-organized. They have a built-in fundraising system. They have real estate. They have room in buildings. Some are even located on high ground, with height easements that makes it easy for them to put an antenna atop a steeple or a pole on their church or attached school. An LPFM station is only 100 watts. An FM antenna isn’t much bigger than a coat-hanger. (See here: http://www.ebsradio.com/antennas.htm.) It’s also not hard for a church, especially with an allied school, to fill a day’s air time with locally produced shows and national feeds.

    For a local community secular group it’s a lot harder. Far from impossible, but harder.

    There are some very good community LPFMs, however. This blog won’t let me put in many links (because it looks like spam to the system), but look up KRUU in Fairfield, Iowa. WCOM in Carrboro, North Carolina. WBCR-LP in Great Barrington, Mass. Or any of the many listed here: http://www.diymedia.net/links/lstalpfm.htm . It can be done. It’s just easier for churches to do it.

  4. Billy Dennis on October 28, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    Doc: Thanks for the comment.

    I found ONE Illinois-basede LPFM station on your List, Radio Free Urbana. I could not find any live streaming on their site, so I couldn’t give it a listen.