Few schools are aware that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has created a new radio station service that is designed to be used primarily by educational and religious institutions. Schools should consider the many benefits of owning a license for one of these new "Low-Power FM Stations" (LPFM). The costs for building and operating such a station are minor relative to full-power FM stations; and the potential learning opportunities from a live radio station are enormous. Moreover, these stations will provide new opportunities for community-based programming.
Beginning in the summer of 2000, the FCC has been holding "filing windows" in which it accepts LPFM applications from applicants in various states. The final filing window will take place between June 11 and June 15, 2001. Only applications from applicants located in the following 22 jurisdictions will be accepted during this filing window:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Guam
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
Even if your school is not located in one of these states, there may be future opportunities to apply.
To be eligible for an LPFM license, a school must be
- a government or public educational agency, board or institution
- a private, nonprofit educational organization
- a nonprofit entity with a demonstrated educational purpose
- based within 10 miles of the station it proposes to operate, and may not already own another broadcast station.
The proposed LPFM station must be non-commercial. Importantly, the applicant must ensure that the proposed station would not cause interference to existing broadcast stations. A broadcast engineer should be consulted to determine an appropriate frequency and transmitter location. Generally, the more rural the school the greater the likelihood of finding an available FM frequency; fewer frequencies are available in congested urban areas.
An authorized LPFM station can operate with a maximum power of 100 watts, meaning that the station will serve an area with a radius predicted to be 3.5 miles. This coverage area could translate into a useful resource for schools. Possible uses of the station include broadcasting coverage of live school sporting events and PTA meetings, providing traffic safety information around the school, cultural interviews, school announcements, and other student-originated, locally focused, community-based programming.
'The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.'
