For Low Power FM advocates, Radio Act brings 'ton of joy'.

[Dover]

Source: Current

For LPFMers, radio act
brings ‘a ton of joy’
Published in Current, Jan. 10, 2011
By Karen Everhart

Low-power FM advocates are celebrating a hard-won victory with enactment of the Local Community Radio Act, approved in the last days of the 111th Congress and signed Jan. 4 by President Obama.

The law clears the way for expansion of low-power FM stations, a noncommercial licensing category established by the FCC a decade ago but confined to small markets and rural communities by interference-protection rules demanded by full-power broadcasters. Their transmitter power is limited to 100 watts, reaching from three to five miles.

Approved with bipartisan support in both houses of Congress, the law gives the FCC more flexibility in assigning channels to LPFMs and resolving interference problems with full-power FMs and their translators

..snip..

NPR opposed earlier actions to expand LPFM on behalf of member stations, but dropped out of the fight after successfully lobbying for provisions in the House bill approved in December 2009. Commercial radio continued its opposition until it was the last lobby standing against it.

cont'd



Read more: http://current.org/radio/radio1101lpfm-bill.shtml

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Hurray for small local community radio.

[sharesunited]

1. What a wonderful opportunity if money can be found for it from somebody's budget.

And hopefully not somebody's budget who would use it to spew poison into the ether.

[Dover]

2. Well good point. Haven't read the law, but the GOP's rural contingent

might benefit the most from this since most rural communities tend to be conservative. Just depends on who or what entity can buy/own these stations and airwaves. I know that small local newspapers are all too often run by GOPers. On the other hand, the airwaves ensure free speech and are certainly necessary in service to local communities.
They would also be important to have as an information resource during localized or national emergencies.

[sharesunited]

3. We actually have somewhat robust airport, weather and local conditions radio here in the burbs.

A little bizarre hearing the robot manning the microphone, but still.

It's information.

[mwooldri]

4. Here in the bible belt, most likely to be snapped up by some large church group. nt

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

5. That's what happened last time LPFM stations were permitted

The mega-churches jumped in and bought up all the frequencies so they could turn them into repeater stations.

Let's see what happens this time...

[Frank Cannon]

11. That's exactly what they will do

The same way they pretty much destroyed shortwave. Now there's nothing but kooks on the SW bands.

[technotwit]

7. lpfm

Whether any frequencies will be left after the FCC cleans up the mess from the FM translator application land rush from 2006 is yetto be seen. That could take years. And then if the FCC opens a window for applying for remaining channels there likely will be so many applicants for each channel, it will take the FCC years to resolve who gets what.

[guitar man]

6. I'd love to have one of those stations

I'd just sit and spin vinyl all day. " next up, Joe's Garage, followed by Terrapin Station and then we are going spin two albums from The Band back to back, Music From Big Pink and The Band, so stick around all night..."

:)

[waddirum]

8. Terrapin

I've seen Furthur (Bob Weir & Phil Lesh's current band) perform 8 times in 2010. They've been playing the complete Terrapin Suite at a number of the shows.

[guitar man]

14. I'd love to see them

Love that album :D

[OxQQme]

9. guitar man

those are very cool choices.
After those, could you spin up some Country Joe and The Fish?
Maybe a cut or two from Blue Cheer or Santana?
I'll buy something from your sponsors.
I play bass.
Maybe would could do a live pickin' and grinnin' session.
Interspersed with some truth about the condition our condition is in.

[guitar man]

13. But of course

Live music a must !

I had my morning coffee today with some New Riders of the Purple Sage and Gram Parsons :)

[RexDart]

15. There's a cool LP station down the road from me.

KAPU-LP 104.7, based in Watsonville claims to be the only 24 hour Hawaiian station on the mainland. Don't know if it's true, but it's fun to listen to when I'm down there.

[Tunkamerica]

10. when I heard about this a few weeks ago I looked to see how much a transmitter was

so far outside any one normal person's budget that it precludes 'individual' stations.

[MineralMan]

12. Look again. I found 100W transmitters for around $1000.

Doing stuff costs something, and a grand isn't so much money. Granted, you'll need some peripheral equipment to go along with that, but this is certainly doable for individuals. $1000 car stereos are a common item. Google 100 watt FM transmitter.