The Stranger article on LPFM

[FMSteve]

Just saw this article on LPFM while flipping the pages of alternative newspaper "The Stranger". Check it out. The author thinks there will be "8 little KEXP's" licensed, and they all will be "underground" radio stations. Good grief!

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/...oid=15997442&show=comments&sort=desc&display=

First of all, I think there will be a lot of folks applying for these licenses. Those that have deep roots into the community serving non-commercial needs will accumulate more points than if you just incorporated your non-profit last year.

In the end though (no pun intended), perhaps the new LPFM's might prompt a larger station (or stations) to serve their community better, and that should make for better radio here in town.

What do you think?

 

[Bongwater]

It's a good theory. But conglomerate radio is unresponsive to anything they can't make instant $$$, good PR (or cannibalize themselves) off of.

Perhaps KEXP themselves would probably be the most affected. But I don't see that logic applying to commercial radio. KNDD's target audience is where the box stores and shopping malls are. And from the look of things today, there always seems to be room for another nationally syndicated "brand" format of crap.

On the other hand, were these LPFM stations to become successful (and you can never tell in Seattle), would KNDD start sounding a lot more like KRAB?

Here's an idea of what that might sound like:

Norman Batley "Life Elsewhere", KRAB 107.7 Seattle 1/28/82

Part One:
http://www.mediafire.com/?gnejnzulnnh

Part Two:
http://www.mediafire.com/?j112memlqgz

 

[crainbebo]

It CAN be a good idea, but that will kill ANY distant DX. Say goodbye to KINK, CKKQ, KAFE, KWPZ, and even KISM - in the city of Seattle, LPFMs will destroy you!
Sure glad I live in Monroe, where LPFMs are not abundant. I've still got some channels with...static! And almost always static!

-crainbebo

 

[FMSteve]

Ah, Monroe. You have no idea whats going to happen in that town.....heh....heh.

 

[Bongwater]

Ah, Monroe. You have no idea whats going to happen in that town.....heh....heh.

FMSteve is right....Just GET IN NOW!.....

 

[Shiny Knob]

Judging by what we saw in the non-commercial FM filing window a couple of years back, over half of the filings will be by church groups. Most of them will be rebroadcasting the same stuff that the translators are broadcasting.

So if the neighborhood didn't get a translator for your church's flavor of the Big 6 or so Christian networks, a local church will most likely step in to fill the gap.

And before somebody tells me, no, that's not legal, just shut up, please. This is being done EVERYWHERE and the FCC is turning a blind eye because they've been beaten to death by various pressure groups over their "anti-Christian" policies.

So if you want to start your own little underground station, better make plans now. You know the neighborhood church is already getting the paperwork together.

And once again let me tell everybody that you don't have to have an IRS 501C(3) tax exemption to file for an LPFM. You just have to be incorporated as a not for profit in the state you're operating in. Go to the Secretary of State's website for info:
http://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/NonprofitCorporationsONLINEandpaperregistration.aspx

The FCC still is leading us to believe the LPFM window will open Tuesday, October 15. Get ready now or watch the LPFM parade slowly pass by one more time.

Also, there will probably be far more than 8 LPFMs in the Seattle/Tacoma market. LPFM stations on the same channel have to be at least 24 km (~15 miles) apart.

Theoretically, one channel could hold one each LPFM in Tacoma, Kent, Seattle, Edmonds, Bremerton and Issaquah at the same time. And there are 6 LPFM channels open at Seattle Center. 9 in downtown Bellevue. 12 in Everett. 5 downtown Tacoma. 7 Bremerton. 4 in whatever passes for downtown Kent. 3 in Lakewood. In fact, the only place in Western Washington with zero LPFM channels seems to be Olympia.

There are going to be a LOT of LPFM stations in the Seattle market when the FCC is done. Dozens, maybe several dozen if the applications come in as thick as I personally expect them to. And I've been involved in this stuff since the first round of LPFM applications 12 years ago.

This is almost certainly the last great broadcast spectrum grab we will ever see. Once LPFM is done this time, there will be little white space left on the FM band in any area with more than 50 thousand people.

Get it now, while it's still hot.

 

[scott salvatori]

Ah, Monroe. You have no idea whats going to happen in that town.....heh....heh.

FMSteve is right....Just GET IN NOW!.....

yep, there is a vacuum for the real stuff(bluegrass/Americana), since the large corporate behemouth KBCS, can only provide a few hours per week these days. an LPFM antenna on one of the 1,000 ft monroe hills, and a translator broadcast for the musically edumicated darrington hillbilly market before some church gets it.

okay, ol' scott got the bluegrass/Americana/country genre hard copy library, a 1,000 ft monroe/snohomish county property, and good credit, and knee deep pockets from 27 years of turnin' and earnin' in the black. but damn, i hate filling out gov't paper work......mr bongwater, or mr crainbebo, got some time, and a pen?

 

[uncamark]

yep, there is a vacuum for the real stuff(bluegrass/Americana), since the large corporate behemouth KBCS, can only provide a few hours per week these days. an LPFM antenna on one of the 1,000 ft monroe hills, and a translator broadcast for the musically edumicated darrington hillbilly market before some church gets it.

KBCS? A "large corporate behemouth [sic]?" What are you smoking?

 

[scott salvatori]

What are you smoking?

i'll light up my fav's, roughneck cheroots, from thompson cigar co, fla. occasionally ill enjoy a, havana slim rough rider, from finck cigar co in texas. them havana slims are real 1959 crop cuban tobacco boy! now its your turn, what are you smokin?

 

[Bongwater]

I prefer Purple Kush or Jack Herer personally

Well first, get an application.

http://transition.fcc.gov/Forms/Form319/319Fill.pdf

(Instructions on application.)

Yours Truly is getting one together. Can't tell anybody much more than that unfortunately....

 

[Shiny Knob]

That's a copy of the application. But remember that you have to file the final application electronically on the FCC.gov website.

That requires that you get a Federal Registration Number (FRN) before the computer accepts the application. It's done online too.

You also have to sign up for an FCC CDBS account number so that you can log into your own mini-site to fill out FCC forms. That magic begins here:
https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts

Everything has been moved to computers so that all of the filings can be handled by the 3 humans and an android still left at the FCC.