Low power FM radio stations broadcast at 100 watts or less in communities all across the country. Noncommercial groups like schools, churches, and local arts or organizing associations are great candidates for these licenses. The Federal Communications Commission gave out hundreds of these licenses for free in 2000 -- but Congress limited the service, keeping it from thousands of other communities, especially inside cities. We have a chance to expand low power FM all across the country! Learn more about the fight to expand low power FM here: http://www.prometheusradio.org/take_action/lpfm_in_congress -- or read more below.
Once we expand low power FM radio, you can apply for a license from the FCC for free. Full power FM radio applications require you to pay for costly engineering and lawyer fees -- but none of that is necessary for low power FM. Compared to building a full power FM radio station, the cost to build a station is relatively low (the basic equipment for a hundred watt radio station will cost between five and eight thousand dollars, depending upon your circumstances). It will take some time for the FCC to process your application, so you have time to fundraise as well. You have 18 months to construct your station from the day you receive your construction permit. Maintenance and music-licensing fees for LPFM are pretty low, as well -- expect to pay between $500 - $2000 a year, depending on your electricity and space-rental costs.
A community radio station can offer something for almost everyone, with diverse programs that reflect the needs and interests of the local residents. Below are some ideas of possible programming, though each community will surely develop their own creative shows.
As a sponsor for a broad-based community radio station, community organizations can promote the public good by acting as stewards of a station designed for the whole community -- almost like a library, a city hall, or a town square of the airwaves. Alternately, groups often focus more closely on a single constituency, like an immigrant language community, or as an organizing medium for a labor union in a rural farm-working community. Build your community now and you'll have a great chance to have the best station possible! Learn more about some wonderful examples of thriving LPFMs here:
In 2000, the Federal Communications Commission established the low power FM (LPFM) radio service -- noncommercial, local, 100-watt radio stations that schools, community groups, churches, and any nonprofit could use to broadcast local information to their community.
There are about 800 LPFM stations on air all across the country – but groups in big cities who applied for these great new stations lost their chance to apply. Why?
Because the big broadcasters -- represented by the National Association of Broadcasters -- convinced Congress to limit low power FM to the most rural areas, claiming that little LPFM stations would interfere with big radio stations in big cities.
In the law that Congress passed, limiting low power FM (the Radio Broadcast Preservation Act of 2000), they also asked the FCC to study whether or not LPFM stations would really cause interference. The FCC commissioned the MITRE Corporation to study that, and $2.2 million later, they proved that LPFM was a great idea in big cities as well as small communities.
Labor groups, community churches, universities, high schools, and more wanted low power FM, but couldn't get it because of this unfair law. Now we have the chance to overturn it!
Senators John McCain and Maria Cantwell are about to reintroduce their legislation that would bring LPFM to most of America's big cities and to thousands of other small communities.
What we need now is for members of the House of Representatives to step forward to introduce a bill as well, to expand low power FM to wonderful communities who want local radio!