A decision by the Audio Division appears to loosen a regulatory provision that has limited the efforts of some FM translator licensees to improve their facilities. That's the good news.… Continue Reading
Hurricane Irene has produced at least one arguable benefit: because of disruptions caused by the storm, the Commission has extended the deadlines for comments in the LPFM/FM translator proceeding.… Continue Reading
With some proceedings, the FCC seems content to let its handiwork age tastefully before getting published in the Federal Register. That's definitely not the case with the LPFM/FM Translator Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.… Continue Reading
The long-running stand-off between FM translator applicants and LPFM applicants may finally be heading toward some resolution as the FCC moves to implement the Local Community Radio Act. It looks like LPFM applicants are likely to get first crack at the available spectrum.… Continue Reading
The Commission has solicited input on a range of questions concerning the economic impact of LPFM stations on full-service FM stations.… Continue Reading
Commercial program origination on FM translators? A new "auxiliary secondary service" classification? And what the heck is a satellator? A recent petition for rulemaking addresses these and other interesting questions.… Continue Reading
The Local Community Radio Act of 2010 has been signed into law, but don't look for any new LPFMs anytime soon. Multiple problems will have to solved before the real effect of the law can be assessed.… Continue Reading
With the clock ticking down on this session, and with a newly-elected majority standing in the wings ready to take over come January, the lame duck Congress has managed to pass a new version of the "Local Community Radio Act", largely eliminating third-adjacent interference protection from low power FM stations.… Continue Reading
The bill that would repeal the LPFM third adjacent protection requirement looked like it was sailing through to quick passage a year ago. It's still on hold. What happened?… Continue Reading
The Spring Cleaning bug has hit the folks in the Audio Division, which has unceremoniously dumped out at the curb nearly 300 applications for FM translators on noncommercial channels.… Continue Reading
The Commission has added to the lexicon of things you can't say on the radio, if you're a noncommercial broadcaster and you're referring to people or companies who have provided you with underwriting support. This time around, the target is nothing less than (cue ominous music) . . . "cold refreshing beer".… Continue Reading
The Enforcement Bureau has come down hard - very hard - on a low power FM station for broadcasting prohibited advertisements. Total fine: a cool $20,000. Ouch!… Continue Reading
Late last month we reported on a bill in the House that would eliminate the third-adjacent channel protections which full power FMs have enjoyed vis-à-vis LPFM stations since 2000. The House bill (H.R. 1147) now has a little friend over on the Senate side.… Continue Reading
A bill that would statutorily eliminate the third-adjacent channel protection to full-power FM stations has been introduced in the House. In addition to adding one more back (or maybe it's one more forth) to the long-running back-and-forth struggle over third adjacent protections, the bill - if ultimately passed - is also likely to fan the FCC's ardor for "localism".… Continue Reading
