One channel for Newark, one for LA suburbs and 3 for Chicagoland

REC has released a new version of the SuperCoordinator report that looks at not just the availability of LPFM channels nationwide but also the potential quantity per metropolitan area by "constructing" a new LPFM station in as many ZIP codes as possible without stations previously "constructed" interfering with other stations being constructed further into the report.

The current SuperCoordinator report takes into consideration potential LPFM channels that meet 73.807 of the FCC Rules for minimun spacing requirements.  It also shows the availability of second adjacent waivers but unlike previous SuperCoordinator reports, it limits the availability of channels to only situations where the full power station is close enough to the LPFM site that the interference overlap area will be less than 50 meters (based on the full facilities of the other facility's service class). 

Within the overlap area, there can not be any "potential listeners" including homes, businesses or highways.  The overlap is measured from the radiation center of the antenna and not the ground.  For many situations where the height of the antenna is larger than the overlap area, the waiver may be possible because the interference will never reach the ground.

In New York, while there are no channels showing for the five buroughs, the Newark area may be able to get a channel. REC does note that portions of Staten Island may receive a waiver based on closeness to the Empire State Building and the ability to find a location with no population in the overlap zone.

In Los Angeles, there will likely be a fight for 101.5.  While 101.5 may have citywide availabiliity with a waiver, most of the Los Angeles basin and San Fernando Valley will have very large overlap zones as the main FM stations are located on Mount Wilson, north of Pasadena.  Areas such as Pasadena, Altadena and Monrovia will have the best chance since they are the closest to Wilson.

In Chicago, most of the FM stations are located on the Willis (Sears) Tower.  The closer the applicant is to the Loop, the better.

For the full SuperCoordinator, visit http://cdbs.recnet.net/super.php

Here's a brief rundown on the number of potential channels available in each of the Top-25 Arbitron markets and the location of the coordinations in respect to the center city of the market: