Sixteen new low-power FM construction permits were issued in the last week to an eclectic set of groups, bringing the total to 1545. Amongst the groups approved are the Tulip Tribes of Washington for 102.1 FM in Tulalip, WA and the International Institute of Metropolitan St. Louis, MO.
There are two voluntary time-shares in major metroplexes. In Las Vegas, NV, the Iglesia Christiana Voz de Salvacion, Blackbird Arts and City of the World will split time for eight hours each on 95.9 FM. Zumix, Inc. and the Winthrop Art Association will share 94.9 FM in East Boston, MA.
Communications lawyer Michael W. Richards tweeted on Monday that the FCC is dealing with “mountains of petitions to deny,” which means things will slow down through the end of the year. These petitions might lead to the resolution of some MX groups of applicants competing for frequencies, but often require quite a bit of consideration and analysis.
Involuntary Time-Shares in California
Some applicants in the first set of MX groups in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and Washington are still waiting for the FCC to rule on who will receive construction permits. The Commission strongly encourages applicants to work together to come up with voluntary agreements, including time-shares, to resolve these competitions. However, in the event that the applicants in an MX group cannot resolve things on their own, then it’s up to the FCC to decide.
According to REC Networks, four applicants in the California towns of Fresno, Yucaipa and Redlands have been assigned to involuntary time-shares. This means that the applicants will have to share time on their frequency, whether they like it or not.
In Fresno the Downtown Association of Fresno and the Idefua Foundation for African Arts and Culture will share 103.3 FM. The Calvary Chapel of Redlands and the Yucaipa Center for Health and Family Well-Being will split 94.3 FM in Redlands/Yucaipa.
Wisconsin City Runs Contest to Name its LPFM
The city of Monona, WI was granted a construction permit for 98.7 FM and is turning to the community for help in choosing the station’s call letters. According to a press release the city is looking for the call sign to be “should be an abbreviation for words that describe the City of Monona or the area the station covers in the same way that WKOW is a take-off of Wisconsin’s dairy tradition or WISC is an abbreviated version of the word ‘Wisconsin.’” And, of course, the call letters have to be available.
Submissions are due January 15, 2015, and the person submitting the winning call letter will win a $50 gift certificate to their favorite Monona restaurant and an appearance on the station on its first day of broadcast.
We cover low-power FM news every Thursday in our LPFM Watch feature.
