Looks like one of our favorite Internet radio stations is poised to snag a Low Power FM license from the Federal Communications Commission. As we reported earlier in the week, the FCC has released a whole slew of Low Power FM MX Groups on the east coast—basically clusters of eligible applicants for local signals. We noted that one MX Group in Louisville, Kentucky consists of ARTxFM and Squallis Puppeteers—the former a wonderful online community radio stream; the latter a terrific non-profit performance ensemble.
In response Michi Eyre of REC networks wrote in this morning to note that that license area “is already settled.” Squallis has requested that its application be dismissed “giving ART x FM the channel.”
We checked in with ARTxFM’s General Manager Sharon Scott and got some more details.
“We have reached an agreement with Squallis in which we will provide them programming hours on our frequency,” Scott told us. “In this manner, they get the radio time they want without the hassle/expense of building their own tower, studio, etc.”
The paperwork hasn’t all been processed, so nobody is pouring the champagne yet, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this is a Truly Great Thing and perhaps even a model for how to resolve these mutually exclusive time sharing situations so many LPFM applicants are facing. I’m listening to ARTxFM right now with a smile on my face.
