FCC To Consider LPFM/Translator Rule Changes At 11/30 Open Meeting

Considering LPFM/Translator Rule Changes

The FCC's next Open Meeting on NOVEMBER 30th has a single item on the agenda, the Fifth Order on Reconsideration and Sixth Report and Order on low power FM and FM translators.

Among the issues considered in the proceeding, involving rule changes under the Local Community Radio Act, were caps on ownership; allowing the Commission to waive LPFM second-adjacent channel distance separation requirements; modifying third-adjacent channel interference complaint and remediation procedures; eliminating 10 watt LPFMs and allowing LPFM power increases in some areas; allowing Native Nations to own and operate LPFM stations and to hold LPFM and other radio station licenses, and adding a Native Nation criterion to the LPFM point system; permitting cross-ownership of LPFMs and FM translators; modifying the process for mutually exclusive applications; dropping the IF protection requirements for LPFM stations below 100 watts ERP; and extending noncommercial educational FM mandatory time-sharing rules to the LPFM service.  The Commission also is dealing with a backlog of over 6,000 pending translator applications that must be handled before frequencies are opened up for LPFM use.

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