I am very disappointed by the Audio Division's decision on the Petition for Reconsideration filed by Vida Abundante, the licensee of first-generation LPFM station KJVA-LP, San Bernardino, CA regarding interference by second-generation station KHSH-LP, Redlands.  Instead of thinking outside the box and running some simple contours (like I did below), the Bureau fell back on a regulation that has been rarely applied in the broadcast context and dismissed the petition because it did not contain some kind of engineering affadavit. 

I'm already seeing questions being posted asking how the new administration is going to impact LPFM and radio in general.  

I do feel that broadcast radio is very bipartisan in nature because we all have something to gain from it.  Some worry that the new administration will put tighter controls on the media.  Despite previous statements by the president-elect made during the campaign, the first amendment protects our press freedom and our right to free speech.  The administration and Congress should realize it was because of these freedoms that we enjoy that they are or are going to be in office.  

For the past 9 months, the FCC has provided an opportunity for FM translators including the many that were applied for in the 2003 "Great Translator Invasion" window to be moved up to 250 miles from their current location in order to rebroadcast an AM station as part of Commissioner Ajit Pai's "AM Revitalization" program.

Based on all of the FM Translator modification and "modify CP applications" filed, 144 of them specified facilities that either resulted in or maintained a §73.807 short spacing to an LPFM station.  

Today, the Federal Communications Commission issued a public notice to announce Stage 3 of the Broadcast Spectrum Incentive Auction.  In this announcement, the Commission has announced a clearing target of 108 megahertz of spectrum between 584 and 698 MHz (this does not include the channel 37 spectrum between 608-614 MHz which is not used for broadcast television).  This will mean that television has been reduced to 31 channels (channels 2 to 32).

On September 27, the FCC issued a citation to SCMS regarding the marketing of the BW TX300V2 transmitter as well some other power amplifiers.  This citation startled SCMS and sent some shockwaves across the LPFM community especially given that the TX300V2, one of the two most popular transmitters for LPFM stations was indeed FCC certified for use on LPFM stations.