On this date 5 years ago, the FCC issued a public notice which effectively puts a nail in the coffin for hundreds of LPFM applications. These were the applications that were impacted by the Radio Broadcast Preservation Act enacted by Congress which mandated third-adjacent channel protection by LPFM stations to full-power and translator stations. While some applicants were able to move to other channels, many applicants were "deadlocked" and could not change frequencies or locations to remain compliant with the Act. A Petition for Reconsideration lead by REC and supported by others was denied by the Commission.
Five-years later after the FCC through the Congress-mandated MITRE Report and the experimental Comsearch stations, proved that LPFM stations operating on third adjacent channels did not cause severe interference, various groups including REC, Prometheus and other LPFM and media advocacy groups are trying to get Congress to lift these restrictions. The broadcast industry lead by the National Association of Broadcasters disputes the findings in the MITRE report claiming that the report does show that some interference is caused and that MITRE did not do the second part of testing, which called for the economic impacts of LPFM stations operating on third adjacent channels.
Versions of the bill (S-1675 for the Senate & HR-2802 for the House) have been introduced to lift these restrictions.
REC continues to ask you to please contact your legislators to support these two bills.
