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LPFM opportunities for the NEK-VT

O

Ozman

for the Long timers out there,
Stupid question to some but not all, I am curious where do you go to apply for a LPFM with the FCC. I would be interested in making a LPFM near St. Johnsbury, VT area with what I call the "rock hole" of the NEK-VT where 99.9 the Buzz or WTOS from Maine really don't come in well. As you guys know I was interested in starting my own radio station up there at one time but it was just too costly to buy the 94.5 FM frequency but it was too far from Lyndon area and I wish the current Owner luck for it’s a great frequency to have . I did try at one point to get the EB-5 grant and have a crew of 10 people working per the grant rules but was turned down because of the Jay Peak one already in place. ANY Help would be appreciated. I would just want it to be what was/is the coverage area of WWLR. http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WWLR&service=FM&status=L&hours=U

What sparked my interest in this was that all I have been seeing working at the Big E was many people wearing metal/rock shirts. not one radio shirt not one Light rock rap or county shirt but many Rock the-shirt. I have also been talking to many of the locals who miss being able to turn on WWLR back 10-15 years ago when it focused on primarily metal/rock music.

Another thing that sparked my interest is the fact that not many are going to online radio because of limited data plans and lack of cell service in many areas.

Last but not least what sparks my interest is also making it a kick ass online radio station for when out of the area or making it have the ability to slowly be put onto translators that are not used

this post will either lead to a lot of criticism or be a great Idea planned for a LPFM radio station.

Thank for any help. you can still hear me on the radio in CT on WXCI FM
Fridays when I can 3-6 being “wild” or on http:WXCI.org . Every week is different based on weather, traffic on I-84 ie gridlock and Mood ie whats going on in my life.
 
You're awfully late to the game. The filing window opens in just a few weeks, and the consulting engineers who are still taking clients are charging top dollar to do last-minute applications. Know, too, that individuals can't apply for LPFMs. Only nonprofits, educational institutions and government agencies can apply. Have a nonprofit you can partner with?
 
Let me echo what Scott said: You are probably too late to the game. Your application materials should now be complete and you be sitting there double checking all the commas and periods and maps.

If your idea of LPFM is tee shirts and kick-ass rock and maybe live traffic reports.... I suspect you haven't taken some of your days-off to go "slumming" and visit some existing LPFM stations. Yeah, I have some wild a crazy ideas I would like to include in an LPFM but I am having to pass up this application cycle for personal reasons, for family health issues.

I pulled up the coverage map you linked. Ain't gonna happen!!!! An LPFM will not fully cover even the inner-most circle of that coverage map. Yes, there are some LPFMs that are able to reach out because of the lay of the land... hills and valleys, but for all practical purposes, LPFM reaches out 3-1/2 miles. Not 10, 20 or 30 miles. Yes, some folks may chime in that they listen to one that is 10 or 15 miles away, but it is likely they are talking about listening at home or office in a fixed location with a great receiver and maybe a Yagi antenna 20 or 30 feet up in the air, and they live on a hilltop with a sweeping valley between them and the station.

Maybe you need to re-calibrate and set your sights on acquiring some commercial station where the current owner is ready to bail-out.
 
GRcowboy said:
Let me echo what Scott said: You are probably too late to the game. Your application materials should now be complete and you be sitting there double checking all the commas and periods and maps.


I pulled up the coverage map you linked. Ain't gonna happen!!!! An LPFM will not fully cover even the inner-most circle of that coverage map. Yes, there are some LPFMs that are able to reach out because of the lay of the land... hills and valleys, but for all practical purposes, LPFM reaches out 3-1/2 miles. Not 10, 20 or 30 miles. Yes, some folks may chime in that they listen to one that is 10 or 15 miles away, but it is likely they are talking about listening at home or office in a fixed location with a great receiver and maybe a Yagi antenna 20 or 30 feet up in the air, and they live on a hilltop with a sweeping valley between them and the station.

Maybe you need to re-calibrate and set your sights on acquiring some commercial station where the current owner is ready to bail-out.
Click to expand...
I appreciate the feedback. Currently in the ST. J area there are 2 owners both do news at the top of the hour interrupting songs its beyond annoying! Bruce and Barry see to Fight out each format one classic rock one CHR- top 40. while Magic is a great local station i want to help the rockers of the NEK the can be found in Lyndonville and East Burke St. J area etc.. As you saw yes, WWLR's coverage is 10 miles but if have you ever traveled I had listeners chime in Littleton (before they allowed a stupid 91.7 FM there) Jay Peak, (before they allowed a 91.5 in Burlington ) Mt Washington, Gorham NH all the way to Smugglers Notch on Route 15 where WGLY 91.5 kills it. The signal went out far. Remember I am just using WWLR as an example. Yes You are correct a LPFM would go out 2-4 miles but with the terrain around Lydon I can assume it would go East Burke, Lyndon St, Johnsbury with the passumpsic river.

here are 3 examples of successful LPFM's
B-107.3 Danbury
http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=W297AN&service=FX&status=L&hours=U
101.5 on Long Island (I get this one over WPDH and I'm not even on the coverage map
http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=W268AN&service=FX&status=L&hours=U
104.5 on Long Island (I get this one on the I-95 corridor Greenwich-New Haven in areas pretty good
... I miss it being alternative...
http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=W283BA&service=FX&status=C&hours=U

Scott,
Thank you for chiming in! The lyndonville/St. Jay area is a good area if you can cheat the engineering maps to include HAAT of which WWLR did and does. I could only imagine how far a LPFM would go if it were on Sheffield Heights to the north given the surrounding terrain but there is no listenership in that area except a few cows on a car occasionally getting stuck on the I-91 hill
 
Those aren't LPFMs, Jamie. They're translators - and that's a big difference. It means they can operate commercially, which you can't do as an LPFM. And it means they're not subject to "height derating."

WWLR puts out 2750 watts ERP. LPFM can't run more than 100.
 
Thanks Scott! This is why I am seeking feedback. If there is a will there is a way. I was under the impression that those 3 were LPFM's. you already know I am trying to find ways to get the 2 103.1FM translators in Stamford and Greenwich but $100K is just a little to much to bother buying either one.
 
A translator has to have something to translate. Unless you're leasing an HD2 from someone to originate your programming, there's not much you could do with those 103.1s even if you had the cash to buy them.
 
I have read over the various comments here. Might I suggest a good step for you might be to visit some radio stations and perhaps befriend a broadcast engineer in the area, especially being the 'go-fer' guy and a safety net if something bad happens. An engineer could fill you in on the various classes of stations and likely some of the FCC Rules and Regulations. Visiting a few stations will likely introduce you to some folks that give you a handle on the market and the internal workings of radio. By the way, those of us in the business tend to be pretty friendly and even those that do bite generally don't leave a mark.

Your most important asset in radio is knowledge. The more you understand and know how to do the better. I've been getting a paycheck in this business 35+ years and I still learn stuff almost daily.

So, put your passion and enthusiasm to work for you as you develop a plan you know will work for reaching your goals.
 
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