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rapking
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The Government has pass the low power FM bill, so what does this mean for the Boston market ? http://www.radio-info.com/sections/...l-which-would-create-hundreds-of-new-stations
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Supposedly they can find some homes even in big markets. I do know they shoehorn them in already
(isn't a religious station due to start at 91.5 in Rockport)?
as for (the) Boston Market, it used to be called Boston Chicken
(isn't a religious station due to start at 91.5 in Rockport)?
as for (the) Boston Market, it used to be called Boston Chicken
Admittedly, it has been a while since I looked at this, but last time I did (back in 1999, and again in 2003) there were NO frequencies available for LPFM's inside the 128 beltway. Even with the 3rd adjacent protections removed.
The only station that could take advantage of LPFM was WBRS, which could convert its license to an LPFM. However, given their current power and height, they'd be able to increase their power only very slightly (IIRC it was from 25 to 30 watts) and they wouldn't gain too much in the way of other benefits in terms of EAS, operations, staffing, etc. I'd have to check again to be sure, but I vaguely remember it not being worth it.
If W242AA wasn't there, you might...emphasis on MIGHT...be able to fit an LP100 out in East Boston, Winthrop, or Nahant on 96.3FM. But even then you might be too close to WSRS and it doesn't matter because W242AA isn't going anywhere and that'll preclude any LPFM in or near Boston on 96.3FM.
I don't think there was anything available for LPFM's between 128 and 495, either, but I'm less positive of that because I didn't focus on it as much.
The only station that could take advantage of LPFM was WBRS, which could convert its license to an LPFM. However, given their current power and height, they'd be able to increase their power only very slightly (IIRC it was from 25 to 30 watts) and they wouldn't gain too much in the way of other benefits in terms of EAS, operations, staffing, etc. I'd have to check again to be sure, but I vaguely remember it not being worth it.
If W242AA wasn't there, you might...emphasis on MIGHT...be able to fit an LP100 out in East Boston, Winthrop, or Nahant on 96.3FM. But even then you might be too close to WSRS and it doesn't matter because W242AA isn't going anywhere and that'll preclude any LPFM in or near Boston on 96.3FM.
I don't think there was anything available for LPFM's between 128 and 495, either, but I'm less positive of that because I didn't focus on it as much.
It's not BS, they are talking nationally.
There will be little to no new stations in Boston proper from this bill sure, the dial's been full for years like Aaron says (my station did a study around 99 as well and found nothing) but there's still the potential for 100s nationally for sure.
There will be little to no new stations in Boston proper from this bill sure, the dial's been full for years like Aaron says (my station did a study around 99 as well and found nothing) but there's still the potential for 100s nationally for sure.
Probably more than 100's, actually. The problem is that a LOT of the places you can fit an LPFM are too sparsely populated to financially support one. The only way to get around that is for an organization like a college to do it, but it'll still be operating at a loss.
Removing the second-adjacent protections DOES help. For example, in Rochester you can't fit an LPFM now unless it's sort of a rimshot from the first ring of suburbs, and even then it'd only be ONE station, maybe two if the second wastes half its signal over Lake Ontario. Removing third-adjacent protections probably loosens that up to three, possibly four (but probably only three) LPFM's and you could fit at least one right in downtown. Rochester is, IIRC, the #55 Arbitron market...so this isn't a "major" market but it's not chump change, either.
Of course, demand in Rochester is HUGE...St John Fisher College, Nazareth College, and Monroe Community College all covet their own LPFM license. And that's just the colleges! There's at least one or two community groups I know of who'd apply for one...and they're just the ones that're organized enough that they might pull it off. I'm sure there's another half-dozen, at least, who would apply as well...even if they don't really have much idea to do with it if they got one. And then there's the religious broadcasters, with at least a four major players that I can imagine would all try to have a local chapel apply.
So even with "more" stations, it's nowhere near enough to satisfy the demand. Of course, the ugly little secret is that a lot of the people who want LPFM's have a product that nobody outside the volunteers at the station would actually want to listen to. There's a reason why several (I've heard as many as 20%) of the LPFM's granted in the first round 10 years ago have already folded and either turned in their license or didn't renew it.
Removing the second-adjacent protections DOES help. For example, in Rochester you can't fit an LPFM now unless it's sort of a rimshot from the first ring of suburbs, and even then it'd only be ONE station, maybe two if the second wastes half its signal over Lake Ontario. Removing third-adjacent protections probably loosens that up to three, possibly four (but probably only three) LPFM's and you could fit at least one right in downtown. Rochester is, IIRC, the #55 Arbitron market...so this isn't a "major" market but it's not chump change, either.
Of course, demand in Rochester is HUGE...St John Fisher College, Nazareth College, and Monroe Community College all covet their own LPFM license. And that's just the colleges! There's at least one or two community groups I know of who'd apply for one...and they're just the ones that're organized enough that they might pull it off. I'm sure there's another half-dozen, at least, who would apply as well...even if they don't really have much idea to do with it if they got one. And then there's the religious broadcasters, with at least a four major players that I can imagine would all try to have a local chapel apply.
So even with "more" stations, it's nowhere near enough to satisfy the demand. Of course, the ugly little secret is that a lot of the people who want LPFM's have a product that nobody outside the volunteers at the station would actually want to listen to. There's a reason why several (I've heard as many as 20%) of the LPFM's granted in the first round 10 years ago have already folded and either turned in their license or didn't renew it.
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FPB
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aaronread said:
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