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artmorris
Administrator
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Posted: Wed Dec 12th, 2007 11:14 am |
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From Radio & Records
FCC Acts To ‘Maximize Value Of LPFM Service’
 By Jeffrey Yorke
The FCC on Tuesday (Dec. 11) issued revised Low Power FM rules intended to “ensure that we maximize the value of LPFM service without harming the interests of full-power FM stations or other Commission licensees” by easing third adjacency protections for LPFM stations and giving them equal footing in the race with commercial stations to settle in frequency space that might otherwise have been allocated to terrestrial repeaters for commercial broadcasters.
Finalization of the FCC’s “Third Report and Order And Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” validates the conclusions the Commission reached during its late-night Nov. 27 open public meeting.
“Low Power FM provides a lower cost opportunity for additional new voices to get into the local radio market,” said FCC chairman Kevin Martin (pictured). “Today’s item facilitates LPFM stations’ access to the limited radio spectrum by significantly reforming our LPFM rules.”
Martin added, “The Commission takes several important steps to improve our Low Power FM rules to better promote entry and ensure local responsiveness without harming the interests of full-power FM stations or other Commission licensees. To preserve opportunities for new LPFM stations, the Order restricts the number of FM translator applications we will grant from the 2003 window. In addition, the Order streamlines and clarifies the process by which LPFM stations can resolve potential interference issues with full-power stations. The Order also establishes a going-forward processing policy to help those LPFMs that have regularly provided eight hours of locally originated programming daily in order to preserve this local service.”
Commissioner Michael Copps, a long-time proponent of the advancement of LPFM stations who called the service “such a breath of fresh air,” said the FCC’s move “is a positive response to what ails us. These are truly local stations run by local organizations. They provide an outlet for local voices and local talent. They cover issues of importance to local and very often under-served communities.” Copps added, “Low power is truly radio of the people, by the people, and for the people. We cannot let it perish from the earth.”
Copps took the opportunity to bash big media for its persistence in “lobbying for the elimination or relaxation of ownership limits, seeking waivers of existing rules, proposing merger upon merger and daring regulators to draw the line. In radio, the results have been particularly distressing. Runaway consolidation since the 1996 Act has left us with homogenized content, national play lists, outsourced news, a dumbed-down civic dialogue and shameful levels of minority and female ownership.”
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FMAMGM
Member
| Joined: | Thu Feb 22nd, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 22 |
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Posted: Wed Dec 12th, 2007 07:14 pm |
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Here's a quote from the story: "To preserve opportunities for new LPFM stations, the Order restricts the number of FM translator applications we will grant from the 2003 window."
Let me ask.
For example: a company applied for a translator in any (let's argue in a large metropolitan, suburban, or a smalltown/rural) area in 2003. Now that these rules come into play, if this 2003 application were still under FCC consideration and a license not yet granted, someone who applies for an LP station within the same area could end up with the frequency, in effect giving a LOCAL SERVICE where it would have K***-LP designation. I would make a broad assumption that this is largely due to the factual evidence that most translators are (by rule, right?) not originating programming.
Or am I reading this wrong? Am I misinformed?
THIS IS HUGE if I'm understanding this properly and accurately!
Please respond if you have any knowledge on this.
FMAMGM
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