FCC Rules for LPFM

Submitted by Michi Eyre on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 00:57

FCC documents amending LPFM rules

Here's a copy of all of the FCC rulemaking documents that resulted in the rules were changed. We will use these references throughout our documents.

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - 14 FCC Rcd. 2471, 2488-89 (1999)
Original R&O - January 27, 2000 - "Original R&O" 15 FCC Rcd at 2249-50
First MO&O - September 20, 2000 - "Sep 2000 Order" 15 FCC Rcd 19,208 (2000)
Second R&O - March 22, 2001 - "Mar 2001 Order"
Second Order on Reconsideration & FNPRM - March 16, 2005 - "Mar 2005 Order" - 20 FCC Rcd 6763
Third R&O - December 11, 2007 - "Dec 2007 Order" - 22 FCC Rcd 21912 (2007)
Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - 76 FR 45491

Congressional Documents

Radio Broadcast Protection Act - Invokes third adjacent protection to full power FM and FM translator stations. Also adds language that all persons with a "pirate past" are ineligible for LPFM licenses (see Rugierro v. FCC below).

Local Community Radio Act of 2009 - This is not the version of the LCRA that passed, this was the previous year's attempt.

Court Decisions

Rugierro v. FCC - US Court of Appeals, DC Circuit declares that the "pirate past" provisions of the Radio Broadcast Protection Act (which states that any pirate activity automatically excludes someone from obtaining an LPFM license) is unconstitutional.

Part 73 - Subpart G - Low Power FM Broadcast Stations

For each Subpart G rule, we will first show a summary which is a more plain English explanation of the rule. (Note: This summary is NOT the actual text of the legal rule and if there's a conflict between the summary and the text of the actual rule, the text of the actual rule prevails.) You will then see the actual text of the rule from the Code of Federal Regulations or as amended by a subsequent Report and Order. When applicable, we will also provide some historical information about the rules if they have been amended since the inception of the LPFM service.