For those acquainted with filing applications with the FCC's Media Bureau for over the last twenty years, the Consolidated Data Base System (CDBS) was the main conduit for broadcast applications.  Within the last year, the FCC has been moving all application filing to the new Licensing and Management System (LMS).  On January 11, 2022, the FCC gave one day notice for the CDBS shutdown of operation.  Although most FCC Media Bureau application have already migrated to LMS, AM broadcast and digital notifications, Special Temporary Authority filings, and pleadings have resided on CDBS.  Until L

The FCC opened a filing window for new non-commercial educational FM station November 2 to 9, 2021.  1282 applications were received.  The Media Bureau has now identified 231 groups -- 883 applications, that have technical conflicts between applicants.  Within these groups where more than one applicant has applied for a selected frequency within a specific area, only one applicant can be granted a permit for a new station since the technical proposals overlap in channel use.  Within the public notice, the FCC outlines a period until January 28, 2022 where applicants an enter into voluntary

The Media Bureau's  Audio Division received 1,282 applications for new NCE FM stations during the November 2021 Non-Commercial Educational Full Power FM filing window. The FCC has reviewed the applications to identify singletons (applications that are not mutually exclusive (MX) with
any other application filed in the window, and can be accepted for filing), singletons with

As Common Frequency previously announced, the FCC is open a filing window for nonprofits, churches, and educational institutions for limited supply of FM channels (non-commercial, educational, or "NCE" channels) for new stations primarily in mostly rural areas across the United States.

The FCC has released a summary of the filing window procedures, found here.  The following briefly summarizes 

The next licensing window opportunity to apply for a full-power Non-Commercial Educational FM station construction permit begins Nov. 2, 2021, and runs until Nov. 9. This is a rare opportunity for qualified non-profit organizations to build a new full-powered FM station. If your organization is interested, now is the time to start planning.

The FCC has recently has accepted a petition for rulemaking proposing an upgrade to Low Power FM service's maximum power to 250 watts.  REC Networks Petition for Rulemaking (PRM), RM-11909, filed over a year ago, proposes a simplified approach for a 250 watt Low Power FM (LPFM) class.  The current maximum wattage for LPFM is 100 watts.  Many LPFM operators have been presented with limitations at that wattage level, including interference due more FM translators being added to the FM band and the poor wall-penetration of 100 watts.

Low Power FM (LPFM) stations have been challenged in recent years due to incoming inference on the FM band due to the total increase in FM licensed facilities placing signals in areas that once had no signal.  In 2020, the FCC opened a LPFM Technical Rules rule making to streamline some of the LPFM rules, with consideration of upgrading the power of LPFM from 100 watts to 250 watts.  The LPFM Technical Report and Order (MB Docket 19-193) eventually flatly rejected the proposed wattage improvement, flatly disr

All broadcast radio stations must file for station renewal between 2019 and 2022 within the FCC's 7-year licensing cycle.   This formally requires the submission of Form 303-S, and for all full power stations, the additional Form 396 (Employment Opportunity Program Report -- LPFM and FM translators need not file this).

Low Power FM (or “LPFM”) is a 100-watt non-commercial FM radio broadcast service developed for non-profits, churches, educational institutions, and public safety entities to take back the airwaves with meaningful locally-created programming.  If you have never heard of it, it is because the roll-out has been stunted.by poor rules guiding where the stations can be located, lobbying from the commercial radio industry, and resistance from the Federal Communications Commission during conservative administrations.  LPFM is currently in need of public support and legal action due to new circumstances that have curtailed its availability.

Read through below to learn more and hear about how you can help preserve the airwaves for the people.

On April 2, 2020 the FCC released a draft copy of the Report and Order MB Docket No.