Licensed radio stations of all types–including LPFMs–are required to stay on the air, unless granted specific and limited exemptions by the FCC. The logic is clear and sound: licenses are for broadcasting, not collecting and monopolizing like so many empty parcels of land. A church-owned station in Buffalo, WY recently fell afoul of this rule. […]
The annual Infinite Dial survey of American listening habits is out. Paul and Eric analyze the results and what they indicate for community and college radio and podcasting. In particular, Paul argues that declining radio ownership and young people’s affinity for YouTube mean stations absolutely must broadcast online and should use video. He asks: Are […]
This might surprise you, but I spend quite a bit of time thinking about how community-focused broadcasters (and podcasters, for that matter) can create healthy organizations that result in amazing programming. Part of this requires shaking off decades-old assumptions about community radio, as well as embracing the challenges of today’s media environment. Many of my […]
February 13 is World Radio Day, a day set aside to celebrate radio as a medium, sponsored by UNESCO. This year’s theme is “Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster.” Though celebrated globally, World Radio Day is less well known in the United States. To help better connect us with global community radio, Eric talked […]
Over the past few weeks, the FCC has granted construction permits to three new low power FM (LPFM) radio stations. Those new stations include Freedom Christian Fellowship in Madras, Oregon, Iglesia Cristiana Amor Y Restauracion in Houston, Texas, and Mount Zion Church in Bemidji, Minnesota. Additionally, a number of stations are set to launch in […]
Seattle has been a hot-bed of low power FM (LPFM) activity, with numerous groups applying for and receiving construction permits for new radio stations. An article in Seattle Weekly last week recounts the progress that these applicants have made towards getting on the air. (more…)
This week, the FCC granted one construction permit for a new low power FM (LFPM) radio station and the lucky recipient is The Church in Lafayette, Inc. in Lafayette, Indiana. Competing applicant Great Lafayette Chinese Traditional Culture Association in West Lafayette, Indiana had its application dismissed. This is the first construction permit granted in 2016 […]
No new low-power FM construction permits have been issues yet so far in 2016. No applications have been dismissed, either. As I mentioned last week, there are only about 100 applications left to be processed by the FCC, so it’s likely we will see most, if not all, of these dealt with by year’s end. […]
Small and medium sized internet-only radio broadcasters are facing a very immediate danger in 2016, due to changes in the performance rates that they are obligated to pay. Some estimates indicate that these fees may increase by as much as ten-fold, threatening to put hundreds, or even thousands of stations out of business. Paul digs […]
With regard to new stations going on the air, 2015 represented the biggest single-year leap forward for non-commercial and community radio in U.S. history. At the end of the year 524 new low-power FM stations had been fully licensed during the year. This represents a 68% increase in the overall number of LPFM stations compared […]
