Small Stations, Big Impact
What is LPFM?
Low-Power FM (LPFM) stations are small, community-based FM radio stations with a broadcast radius of two to four miles. Unlike many commercial full power stations that are driven by ratings, non-commercial LPFM stations often air programs that address the local concerns and debates of a particular community or ethnic group.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created this new class of stations in January of 2000, despite intense opposition from major broadcasters. Since that year, the FCC has processed thousands of applications from groups of all stripes committed to providing local, community-based radio to their towns and cities.
Today, more than 800 LPFM stations are on the air. MAP has been central to low power broadcasting from the beginning by filing comments before the FCC on behalf of LPFM supporters and tirelessly advocating for ways to increase the number of LPFM outlets for local community voices on the air.
Help protect these important stations nationwide! Contact your Senators and Members of Congress and urge them to support the Local Community Radio Act!
Why are there so few LPFM stations out there?
The true potential of LPFM remains unrealized. Shortly after the FCC issued its order creating LPFM, the broadcasting lobby alleged that LPFM stations would cause harmful interference to their stations. As a result of these allegations, Congress passed legislation that effectively limited LPFM stations to rural areas with less crowded spectrum, while the FCC studied these allegations of interference. This harmful legislation, called the Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act of 2000, eliminated about 75 percent of licensing opportunities for LPFM, leaving only one new station available in the top fifty largest U.S. cities.
Since the passing of the Radio Broadcasting Preservation, an independent study has determined that LPFMs will not cause interference to the full power broadcasters. However, to increase the opportunities available for LPFM stations, Congress must once again pass legislation that would repeal the Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act of 2000.
What’s happening today?
While waiting for the legislation to pass, MAP had a critical victory for LPFM in the Courts.
In January 2007, the FCC made it easier for full power stations to change their “city of license.” As a result, a large number of full-power stations submitted applications to relocate, threatening to knock off the air low-power FM stations that were already broadcasting in those communities. Recognizing the ruling’s adverse effects on LPFM stations, in December 2007, the FCC *adopted rules to help LPFM stations stay on the air.
The National Association of Broadcasters, an organization that supports the interests of full power commercial radio stations, challenged the FCC decision at the U.S. Court of Appeals of the D.C. Circuit. On behalf of Prometheus Radio Project, an intervenor in the case, MAP defended the Commission’s decision.
On June 5, the Courts affirmed Commission’s decision. This ruling was a big win for LPFM and for the preservation of local and diverse voices nationwide.
What can I do to help support and expand LPFM?
The fight for LPFM is not over. Legislation now pending in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives would overturn the restrictions imposed by Congress, opening space for hundreds of new LPFM stations.
Your help is invaluable in the effort to pass the Local Community Radio Act of 2009 (H.R. 1147 and S. 592).