FCC to consider ongoing operation of existing FM6/Franken FMs, Expanded FM Band and Elimination of Reserved Band Protection Requirements

[Harvey_Dogg]

I suspect NPR resents commercial FM operators using the bottom of FM under the guise of LPTV.

Exactly. Just as it was with LPFM, when these stations ultimately fail, the religious groups pick them up for pennies on the dollar. When that occurs, the Commission isn't going to object to such an ownership transfer.

Some people thought they would make a living with an LPFM. They were wrong. LPFM is for community stations run by volunteers.

 

[Kelly A]

I suspect NPR resents commercial FM operators using the bottom of FM under the guise of LPTV.

Remember that NPR is a network/program provider with no owned-stations. They can care less of stations hidden away where few could find them. A lot like LPFM; anyone who would willfully build a facility on that far end with no tangible listeners, would get what they deserve.

Some people thought they would make a living with an LPFM. They were wrong. LPFM is for community stations run by volunteers.

Even then, most cry in their tofu because they can't sell ads, or their coverage doesn't cover enough donor population to pay the bills. And to them I say: Boo-freeking-hoo!

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

NPR stations are usually Class B, or one of the various higher power Class Cs. They cover many times as much area than the new relatively low power NCE-FMs with "religious" formats of various descriptions. Note though that the decline of commercial stations has resulted in several high power, full market, major market stations being sold to EMF. I think you'll find that many of the lower power stations owned in the same area will eventually be sold or leased to other owners and operators. I bet if they ever begin allowing commercial stations in the NCE-FM reserved portion of the band, these lower power NCE FMs would command very high prices to use to repeat AMs, if they refuse to allow other AM to FM migration options better than 250 watt translators. Look what the translators in major cities are being sold for. And it's not just "religious" stations in the NCE-FM band. How many college and high school, unformatted, "underground" station formats like the fictional movie's KRML and TV's KBHR do we really need?

I know for a fact that some high power NPR stations are buying up lower ERP NCE-FM stations and using them to repeat their signal in fringe signal areas, and making offers to others to do that in other areas.

 

[Harvey_Dogg]

Don

Remember that NPR is a network/program provider with no owned-stations. They can care less of stations hidden away where few could find them. A lot like LPFM; anyone who would willfully build a facility on that far end with no tangible listeners, would get what they deserve.

Even then, most cry in their tofu because they can't sell ads, or their coverage doesn't cover enough donor population to pay the bills. And to them I say: Boo-freeking-hoo!

An LPFM can cover a medium sized town quite well. Streaming with Live365 costs about $500 a year. Tunein is free for LPFM.

 

[Harvey_Dogg]

I think LPAM would stand a better chance of passing versus taking away TV channels used for cord cutters.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Every NCE filing window has brought us many many new religious FM's. They have packed the NCE portion of FM even in the smallest towns. Most of them are national.

I cringe at the thought of any expanded FM band being all NCE, as it would likely become wall to wall religion. If that is the inevitable outcome, I'll stick with the existing 88-108.

 

[Red Plume]

as it would likely become wall to wall religion.

That simple phrase just swayed my opinion on the whole matter.

The local Channel 6 LPTV here carries NewsNet, Cozi and RetroTV. I think I'd watch more TV from that spectrum than I'd gain from more NCE stations there yelling at and about me.

 

[Kelly A]

I cringe at the thought of any expanded FM band being all NCE, as it would likely become wall to wall religion. If that is the inevitable outcome, I'll stick with the existing 88-108.

You're right, and considering nobody buys radios to hear an expanded band, what difference could it make?

 

[Red Plume]

You're right, and considering nobody buys radios to hear an expanded band, what difference could it make?

Having a station that's <88 MHz would have no listeners, but it would give them the right to change their translators in a given market to "fill-in" status, and allow them to up the power to 250 watts from a much higher elevation.

So, it could result in an even tighter core-band (88-108).

 

[Kelly A]

So, it could result in an even tighter core-band (88-108).

Tighter, as in congested? Yeah, (laughing) that's just want we need...

 

[Kelly A]

An LPFM can cover a medium sized town quite well. Streaming with Live365 costs about $500 a year. Tunein is free for LPFM.

If they play music, I suspect Sound Exchange charges will exceed $500 a month.

 

[Red Plume]

Tighter, as in congested? Yeah, (laughing) that's just want we need...

Yes, I meant congested. I like this idea of more NCE stations so much less the more I think about it. If there's a way to abuse the system, someone will find it. And it's usually an NCE operator first.

Disclaimer: I love public & community radio, and it's all I listen to on FM.

 

[Harvey_Dogg]

If they play music, I suspect Sound Exchange charges will exceed $500 a month.

Live365 belongs to Sound Exchange. You join under their umbrella. They pay all music licensing fees in the US, Canada, and the UK.

They also do your reports for you as long as you stream metadata.

 

[Kelly A]

Live365 belongs to Sound Exchange. You join under their umbrella.

Sure, but if a music station, there will be a much higher charge for music royalties than a $500 a month streaming charge.

They pay all music licensing fees in the US, Canada, and the UK.

They also do your reports for you as long as you stream metadata.

And all these come at a cost. Most LPFM's can't even afford $500 a month to start. That's $6K per year, plus music charges. Most full class FM stations in smaller markets can't even afford that.

 

[Kelly A]

Disclaimer: I love public & community radio, and it's all I listen to on FM.

That's great. How much do you typically donate to the various stations you listen-to? And how often?

 

[Harvey_Dogg]

Live365 licensing link You can also see where your listeners are on the planet and what device they are listening with.

 

[Red Plume]

That's great. How much do you typically donate to the various stations you listen-to? And how often?

In the last 2 years, about $4,000 spread between 3 stations, all as non-recurring donations. Before that for several years, I was signed up for recurring donations-- they got much less out of me that way.

I donate to smaller stations, the money goes further that way and makes more of a difference.

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

I do like WVBI-LP, the Voice of Beaver Island, in the middle of Lake Michigan. It does have one of those eclectic formats like on Northern Exposure. But they can't even reach the shadowed portions on the island with their 39 watt LPFM signal. They are upgrading to a 3000 watt Class A on 91.9, and turning in the LPFM license. It is true that in relatively flat terrain, and no cochannel or adjacent channel interference, LPFMs can be heard as far as 30 miles away or so in some cases. WVBI-LP can be heard on the nearby mainland areas at higher elevations above Lake Michigan.

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[Kelly A]

In the last 2 years, about $4,000 spread between 3 stations, all as non-recurring donations. Before that for several years, I was signed up for recurring donations-- they got much less out of me that way.

I donate to smaller stations, the money goes further that way and makes more of a difference.

That's good! Put your money where your beliefs are.

 

[ZantennaG1]

@Michi has launched a new website explaining the REC's position on the expanded FM band, including how they would handle the transition in order to continue helping local community stations as well as others. It makes for a good read, and they even built a simulation to see what markets could have what frequencies, and how those allocations could interfere with channels 5 and 6.
You did a great job of setting it up!