Low-power FM trio Prometheus Radio Project, Common Frequency, and the Center for International Media Action have filed an objection to over 1,000 of those applications. The groups are saying that the FCC isn’t observing the Local Community Radio Act of 2011 and are asking the FCC to reject the applications, which have been filed by AM owners around the U.S.
Recent FCC numbers show that there were 2,150 LPFMs as of March 21 (up 12% from the same time last year), and that their number has more than doubled in the past 10 years.
Prometheus’ Paul Bame asserted that since 2014 the FCC “…have allowed a giant spectrum grab by repeaters without regard to future LPFM opportunities. The Congressional mandate is still in force, but seems to have been forgotten by the FCC.”
“The FCC was supposed to be the referee between the interests of stations that wanted to extend their coverage with repeaters, versus new LPFMs wanting to get a start in broadcasting,” added Common Frequency’s Todd Urick. “Unfortunately the referee has stepped off of the field, and incumbent owners are grabbing up everything they can, hoping no one will remember Congress’ mandate. But the rule of law still applies, and the FCC is bound by the orders that Congress gave it.”
