This week, a wide range of groups were granted construction permits for new low power FM (LPFM) radio stations, including 11 church-related organizations. Additionally, a high school that has had its permit for a year, just launched a streaming radio station in anticipation of building its LPFM, while another school district is working on plans for three new high school radio stations. The total count of new construction permits granted from the fall 2013 application window is now at 1,703.
KNHS to Launch at Northside High School
This week, online radio station KNHS launched at Northside High School in Lafayette, Louisiana and it’s hoped that the new LPFM station will debut by fall. The Northside High PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) was granted a construction permit in February, 2014. According to The Advertiser, “Northside students will be responsible for all aspects of the station, whether it’s programming, scheduling, troubleshooting with equipment or managing the business. The station will air a variety of music, including hip-hop, jazz, country, Cajun, blues and more. Student-scheduled programming will run from 6 a.m. to midnight, with a jazz station taking over for the nighttime hours.”
Great Clark School District Approves Plan to Launch High School Radio Stations
The LPFM opportunity seems to have created a renaissance in high school radio. This week, “the Greater Clark County Schools’ Board of Trustees approved the implementation of radio and television programs at the district’s high schools in Indiana,” according to the school district’s website. Three high schools will be developing radio programs and the Greater Clark website includes detailed information about the plans for each station. It was granted a construction permit on January 9, 2015 in order to build a new station at Jeffersonville High School. Additionally, “through a inter-local agreement with the City of Charlestown, [it] will construct and operate a radio station at Charlestown High School.” The City of Charlestown was granted a construction permit in December, 2014 for a public safety LPFM. Finally, a studio will be built at New Washington High School, with programming airing over the Charlestown High station’s signal.
Albuquerque Station Broadcasts from Owner’s Backyard
KOB 4 profiles Albuquerque’s newish R&B, gospel, and jazz station KMGG-LP, which began broadcasting last summer at 99.9 FM, after obtaining its construction permit in February, 2014. The owner calls it a “very expensive hobby” and works two jobs in order to keep the station running. The station is owned by the non-profit group Future Broadcasters.
Newly Granted Construction Permits This Week Include Numerous Churches and Religious Groups
Among the new grants this week, there are quite a few religious groups, including: Auditorium of Prayer and Worship Inc. (Kissimmee, FL), J.A.S. Community Radio Inc. (Norcross, GA), Love Commandment Ministries (Birmingham, AL), The Church in Birmingham Corporation (Birmingham, AL), the Omega Church International Ministry (Oakland Park, FL), His Sanctuary Ministries USA International, Inc. (Houston, TX), Ministerio de Dios Pentecostal (Tyler, TX), Iglesia de Dios Jesucristo Manantiales de Vida (Tyler, TX), Iglesia Cuidad de Refugio (Lowell, AK), Equality Broadcasting Network (Montgomery, AL), and Calvary Chapel of Dallas D/B/A Calvary Chapel Plano (Plano, TX). The Birmingham groups will share a frequency.
Student-Run LPFM Coming to University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma was granted a construction permit today for a new LPFM in Norman, Oklahoma. According to its application, the school already holds licenses for NPR stations, “the proposed LPFM is to be used exclusively for a student-run operation.” Additionally, it plans to air “public affairs programming,” “a diversity of musical programming to encourage musicology,” and “debates, independent news and issues of concern to the community.” University of Oklahoma is currently home to an Internet-only student radio station, The Wire.
Georgia Radio Hall of Fame Granted Construction Permit for New Station in Kennesaw, Georgia
Georgia’s radio history will be the focus of a new station, WWGW, being launched by the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame. Granted its construction permit this week, the new station will, “air programs devoted to the history of Georgia Radio, as well as old radio programs, and past induction ceremonies,” according to its application.
San Antonio Community Radio Plans to Bring R&B Music Back to San Antonio
The newly granted construction permit for San Antonio Community Radio means that broadcaster will claim a spot over traditional FM. It currently broadcasts over Trinity University’s HD2 FM signal (KRTU 91.7 FM) as KROV-FM. According to its application, “Our mission is to educate listeners on R&B music over the last 60 years, African-American history, news, views, and issues, and play local musicians of all music genres. The station was born from the loss of KSJL 96.1 FM, which was San Antonio’s only R&B and Black urban adult contemporary station…”
Public Safety Stations Coming to Jacksonville, Alabama and Conroe, Texas
The Calhoun County 9-1-1 District was awarded a construction permit for a public safety LPFM service in Jacksonville, Alabama and the City of Conroe was granted a construction permit in Conroe, Texas.
Other Grantees this Week Include A Range of Non-Profits:
NTD Public Media (Houston, TX): According to its application, “The mission focus will be to teach and inform the public on the Chinese culture for all people in Houston.” Bilingual programming is planned.
Supha Xayprasith-Mays (Little Rock, AR): This license is for the group Multicultural Expo Center, which runs various educational programs for youth, teens, and adults. According to its application, the non-profit has “partnerships with local television stations” and hopes to “provide additional community radio exposure.”
Pulaski County Learning Center, Inc. (North Little Rock, AR): According to its application, this station will “create a voice for African Americans in North Little Rock, Arkansas that do not have a voice dedicated to disseminating information particular to their health wealth, and social-emotional well being on a consistent and daily basis.”
Sunday Morning Glory Radio Inc. (San Angelo, TX): According to its application, the station will air “Sunday Morning Worship Services for the people who can not get to church…” as well as R&B music, jazz music, educational programs, news, weather, and music events.
Kates Media Group, Inc. (Killeen, TX)
Seminole County Community Broadcasters, Inc. (Altamonte Springs, FL): This group plans to “provide public service information” to local residents, including “updates on city board meeting schedules, agendas, issues, water quality, hurricane and storm preparations,” according to its application.
New Voice of Central Florida, Inc. (Southchase, FL): According to its application, this station expects to “offer community, family and educational programming.” It also plans to air high school sports, “public awareness programs,” music, news, and more.
Hispanic Arts of Tampa (Citrus Park, FL): This arts non-profit plans to “promote Hispanic artists, arts organizations, and intergenerational cultural exchanges.” According to its application, it expects to air interviews, remote broadcasts, live poetry, as well as music programming.
Running with Time Communication, Inc. (Winter Park, FL): Its application states, “In keeping with the diversity of our broadcasting area, we will seek to air a broad educational mix of culture and views, with priority given to those who have typically been denied access to the mainstream media. The station will enable residents to share music and opinions, as well as build community through bringing people together to work on a common project.”
LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.
