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.”
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.
