Why does REC's LPFM Search Tool results differ from the FCC's tool?
The FCC is going to announce the re-release of their Low Power FM (LPFM) Channel Search Tool. It will be available at the following URL:
http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/low-power-fm-lpfm-channel-finder-0
What we have found is the tool is not much different than the tool from the filing windows 12 years ago other than it now allows users to toggle second adjacent and IF channel protections.
Why is my result different on their tool?
From our use of the FCC's tool, we have noticed that their tool does not exclude translators that we predict may be dismissed if they do not amend their applications as they may conflict with what we predict to the be the LPFM protected channel/points.
As a government agency, the FCC is not in a position to make that kind of speculation, especially prior to issuing a public notice actually defining the actual protected channel points.
At the same time, REC is taking significant latitude by making such predictions but as we point out in the language of the user interface of the LPFM Tool, these are channels that are presumed to be dismissed. We are reminding our Channel Search users that the results, especially on the channels identified with the blue "presumed dismissed" identifiers are subject to change based on FCC disclosure of policy as well as application activity by the translator applicant.
With that, you could say that REC is giving a fairly liberal result while the FCC is giving a more conservative result. As the FCC continues to provide more definition, REC's search tools will "true up" to those definitions.
Should I use the FCC Tool instead of REC's Tool?
The FCC Tool should be seen as a cross-check to our tool knowing that you will not always get matching results. The results from the FCC Tool are no more official for filing an application than the REC Tool is. Neither tool replace the services of a qualified consulting engineer.
The REC LPFM Channel Search Tool actually predates the LPFM Search Tool established by the FCC for the original LPFM filing windows in 2000 and 2001 and unlike the FCC Tool, the REC Tool has been updated weekly over the past decade.
The user interface of the REC Tool currently provides eight different ways of entering your location therefore you do not need to know your geographic coordinates to use the tool. The output of the REC Tool provides you the big picture on a single screen with additional information such as channel reports and second-adjacent overlap zone information just a single click away.
The REC Tool also provides features to support the proposed LP250 services as well as supports current LPFM licensees through the NOTCH feature and for new applicants, gives much more information about a particular site.
The REC LPFM Channel Search Tool will remain operational and constantly updated.
Just as a reminder, if you do contact REC requesting assistance with results received in any of our tools, please make sure that you copy and paste the full URL (with all of the parameters) in your browser's address bar (as well as the one from the FCC's result page if you are needing to compare). This will help us isolate any issues. REC's tools are not perfect but we are constantly looking for ways to improve our prequalification results.
REC thanks everyone for their support over the years.
