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An LPFM 100% Simulcasting Another LPFM - Okay? Legal?

R

RF101

I noticed that in certain metro areas, two LPFMs might band together and effectively turn one signal into a relay.of the other. This would be a way to skirt the translator rules.

Is this legal? If so, would the second station's antenna allowed to be co-located or would it have to be elsewhere?

With the upcoming LPFM Window I could see some community groups essentially adding a "translator" with this approach..
 
RF101 said:
I noticed that in certain metro areas, two LPFMs might band together and effectively turn one signal into a relay.of the other. This would be a way to skirt the translator rules.

Is this legal? If so, would the second station's antenna allowed to be co-located or would it have to be elsewhere?

With the upcoming LPFM Window I could see some community groups essentially adding a "translator" with this approach..
Click to expand...
LPFM's can have translators. Michi would have a better answer
 
Translator, yes - there are very restrictive rules about how an LPFM can use a translator, much stricter than for full-power stations. (Michi has also pioneered the use of on-channel boosters for LPFM, something I'm jealous I never thought of!)

Simulcasting another LPFM is problematic at best. LPFM is supposed to be strictly one license per licensee. If you have a second LPFM carrying the exact same programming, it raises an immediate concern about who's actually in control of that second LPFM. I can think of one case in Virginia where two LPFMs were simulcasting and the license to one was surrendered once the FCC began reviewing a broader complaint from a competing broadcaster over the way multiple LPFMs in the market were sharing certain services.

(I thought, and still think, that the FCC was overly restrictive in that case about allowing independently-owned LPTVs to share things like tower rent and studio space. Full power stations do that all the time, especially on towers.)

Back on topic - while there are certain workarounds (like all the locally-run LPFMs that carry 24/7 networked Catholic programming), I think the FCC would look askance at two "local" LPFMs carrying the same programming 24/7.
 
Both of the LPs on 101.5 in Portland Oregon Metro area relay the same programming, but neither have any overlap of coverage.
 
fybush said:
LPFM is supposed to be strictly one license per licensee. If you have a second LPFM carrying the exact same programming, it raises an immediate concern about who's actually in control of that second LPFM.
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IIRC city governments (and perhaps other governmental entities) can own more than one LPFM if they cover different geographic areas. Just north of Houston the city of Conroe has two LPFMs (KZCC and KZCW) which simulcast, but one covers the main part of town while the other covers the Lake Conroe area to the northwest.

 
fybush said:
Back on topic - while there are certain workarounds (like all the locally-run LPFMs that carry 24/7 networked Catholic programming), I think the FCC would look askance at two "local" LPFMs carrying the same programming 24/7.
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When visiting Paso Robles (CA) in April, I recorded KZSR-LP in Paso which was simulcasting KEBF-LP Morro Bay.
As far as I could tell, it was a full-time simulcast. The stations also had a website, centralcoastradio.org which has since become 97.3/107.9 The Rock | Morro Bay | Radio with the station identifying as "The Rock". I'm sure that slogan is more about the volcanic-remnant Morro Rock just off Morro Bay than a format designation. There's a page on the website about the stations' "Estero Bay Community Radio Public Safety Mission".
 
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speer360 said:
Both of the LPs on 101.5 in Portland Oregon Metro area relay the same programming, but neither have any overlap of coverage.
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LPFM KFFI-LP in Boise had their CP about to run out so they stuck it on a pole in someones yard and broadcast the KFFP-LP Portland OR stream for a year or so. Even had a legal ID cut in at the top of the hour no matter what was playing). Another (South Boise) HISPANIC EDUCATION FAMILY FUNDATION app.
Another one of the Todd Urick projects.
Was off for a long time even tho several CPs/App for licenses/resumed operation were filed.
New owner put it back on June of 2021 simply playing the stream of WDNA Miami.
Finally started doing his own programming late last year.

Legal?
Meh
 
Two LPFMs in Ocean City, MD that simulcast tourist and community information. Town owned, some overlap but generally cover different areas of the island.
 
The FCC is real specific on what you can and cannot do with LPFM. Simulcasting is not specifically addressed but language used implies it would be frowned upon. The FCC has been asked if a Buy/Sell/Trade call in show was okay on a LPFM. That's another where the FCC doesn't say. There are two things happening here: the FCC doesn't like to be forced to make a call on programming. And the FCC is not wanting to write new rules, especially if they might be challenged.

Personally I'd never simulcast. If forced to I'd want the station to 'subscribe' to a programming service and possibly pay a monthly fee, if applicable.

By reading FCC rules (go see REC NET, Michi's site) for this. If you wonder if anything might not be okay to do, stop, reflect on the FCC Rules and then if anything in those rules might imply it's not a good idea, I wouldn't go there. The FCC is like a chained dog. If you push the limits or 'tease' it, the day it is off the chain, it will remember everything and come for you. Here's what I mean: the FCC might not get you on what you think they'd target. The FCC checked the whole station and found a couple of things wrong that never made your list of possible violations. And they have an iron-clad case when they nab you. It might have been that decision to simulcast that made them give your station a close look.
 
In my area we have a cluster that has 3 LPFMs and 1 commercial AM with translator operating together. I'm not aware of the legalities.
 
This is a question in the REC FAQ.

FAQ: Can one LPFM station simulcast another LPFM station? | REC Networks

recnet.com recnet.com

FAQ: Can one LPFM station simulcast another LPFM station?​

Yes however, the two LPFM stations can not be in a time brokerage agreement nor can two LPFM stations reach a management agreement. In other words, two LPFM stations can share programs and simultaneously run them as long as one station does not pay the other station (cash or other consideration) as that would be a time brokerage agreement and both stations must have independent management teams and there is no agreement that one station will manage the operations of the other. REC recommends that stations wishing to simulcast to also run different programming on the stations for a part of the day. In all cases, the two stations should independently carry their own fundraising messages as an LPFM station can not raise funds for another organization including another LPFM station.
 
Mediafrog+ said:
In Houston we have KJFI-LP simulcasting the “La Mejor” format with several translators, all on 102.5. Has been an odd situation.
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One of Hector Guevara's shadow stations. Not surprised.
 
RadioGuy1864 said:
It's Houston. FCC rules don't apply.
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Not to derail the thread, but I have a feeling that the Commission will go in and clean house someday. Yeah, it seems the wild west of radio is in Texas and more so in Houston.
 
kc4rae said:
Not to derail the thread, but I have a feeling that the Commission will go in and clean house someday. Yeah, it seems the wild west of radio is in Texas and more so in Houston.
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The FCC has been totally asleep🥱🥱🥱😴😴😴in regards to all the issues going on with Houston translators and LPFMs, and these problems have been going on for years. Those of us in Houston are still waiting…😞😣😖
 
radiofan2023 said:
Has anyone complained to the Enforcement Bureau or not?
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There was a time long, long ago, that the FCC would bust stations for all sorts of nit-picky infractions, without anyone having reported such to the Enforcement Bureau. Now they completely ignore egregious misconduct.

Was thinking I should have used four emojis for the current FCC commissioners:🥱🥱🥱🥱😴😴😴😴

(Fifth one is still MIA:🫥)
 
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