FCC Asks for Comment Concerning Continued Operation of Channel 6 Station Supplementary Service on 87.7 FM

Submitted by Todd Urick on Tue, 06/07/2022 - 15:16

On June 7 the FCC released a Fifth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning operation of FM stations on 87.7 FM by Low Power Television Channel 6 stations.  The television channel 6 occupies an area from 82-88 MHz, for which the audio part of the analog television signal occupied 87.7 FM.  Upon digital television transition, this technical anomaly was supposed to disappear, however certain Channel 6 licensees asked the FCC to tack an additional analog FM service to the side of their digital television service under the guise that it is a digital supplementary service.

FCC Adds Missing Forms to New Filing Database

Submitted by Todd Urick on Sat, 04/02/2022 - 13:40

Back in January, the FCC discontinued its central database for television and radio form filings (Consolidated Database System, or CDBS) which replaced paper filings in year 2000.  Most of the forms of CDBS had been previously transported over to the FCC's new Media Bureau's filing system, LMS (Licensing and Management System).  Between January and May 2022 LMS had no options for informal forms for filing Special Temporary Authority and Resumption of Operations.

FCC Audio Division Provides Short Notice on Discontinued Use of CDBS Filing System

Submitted by Todd Urick on Wed, 01/12/2022 - 20:41

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

FCC Identifies Mutually Exclusive Groups of Applications from Non-Commercial Filing Window

Submitted by Todd Urick on Wed, 12/08/2021 - 21:02

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

FCC Identifies Defective Applications from Non-Commercial Educational FM Filing Window

Submitted by Todd Urick on Wed, 12/08/2021 - 19:48

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

FCC Releases Details for Procedures for November Filing Window for New Non-Commercial, Educational (NCE) FM Channels (88.1 FM - 91.9 FM)

Submitted by Todd Urick on Sat, 08/21/2021 - 19:59

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 Non-Commercial Educational (NCE) FM Licensing Window Is Nov. 2 - 9, 2021

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.

Proposal to FCC to Upgrade Low Power FM's Broadcast Power

Submitted by Todd Urick on Tue, 06/08/2021 - 20:39

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.

FCC Denies LP-250 Appeal

Submitted by Todd Urick on Sat, 06/05/2021 - 16:39

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