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What’s happening to those expiring construction permits? by Kai Aiyetoro October, 2002 During the month of August, three LPFM professionals collaborated on an effort to contact thirty-nine expiring applicants and find out the status of their LPFM permits. Of the thirteen which I contacted, these are the results, and they are startling! Many applicants who obtained permits did not understand the implications of not completing their projects—they seemed to feel that when they were ready, they could simply reapply and receive another permit. NOT! Once the expiration date has passed, the frequency is gone. Starting LPFM community or college radio stations has been a struggle for organizations with no experience in radio. Funding has been a major issue for those who depend on Board approval, or those with no fundraising experience. Many educational institutions decided to let the permits expire because they were facing unanticipated budget crunches in upcoming semesters; if something had to be eliminated, the radio station was the first to go. There were no considerations made to seeking out community assistance, because the institutions responsible for the licenses were not willing to deal with liability issues. One educational organization experienced the death of the originating applicant, with no one lined up to continue the project. Despite concern about the future of the station, the primary focus at this time was starting school, and as a result there was no budget or time available to seek outside assistance. We sent a letter to the local newspaper of this community to make them aware of the situation, and the possible loss of the frequency; we have yet to hear back. Even some church organizations faced difficulty convincing new pastors of the importance of their frequency. The powers that be just don’t seem to understand the power of radio, no matter which community is served. Then there were applicants who just disappeared, with no response to phone calls, letters or emails. What are our alternatives for handling the loss of these frequencies? Outreach to the communities via local newspapers; research of organizations that could be located and collaborate with the applicant; or letting them fade into oblivion. The latter option is hardly an option at all, because there’s still time and assistance available to pitch in and save the cause. Do you have an LPFM hopeful in your community that might need your assistance? Many stations seek assistance from their local community or public radio stations, using a kind of big brother/sister perspective to help them understand the processes involved in soliciting community participation and funding. Take a look at the FCC website to find out who might be in your area. The LPFM Report is at: www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/lpfm/index.html. These are just a few of the stations with construction permits that are working towards the target date: · WTND-LP 106.3 FM, Macomb, IL Kudos! And Good Luck! Mandated Third Adjacent Channel Testing Program MITRE Corporation, a nonprofit organization, has been contracted by the FCC to perform the third adjacent LPFM study mandated by Congress. “As I understand it,” stated Peter Franck of the National Lawyers Guild, “a field test bed is being equipped with seven types of FM receivers..., six experimental licenses at sites around the country where a portable LPFM station will be set up.” The LPFM stations will be located in East Bethel, MN; Avon, CT; Benicia, CA; Brunswick, ME; Owatonna, MN; and Winters, CA. The field test reports are due to MITRE by February 1, 2003. The FCC will allow a period for public comment upon completion of phase I testing before initiating phase II (a listener survey and economic analysis), should it become necessary. “The economic analysis is supposed to focus on the issue of whether full power stations...can expect to lose audience and then income due to degradation of their signal due to an LPFM on a third adjacent channel,” said Franck in his September 19, 2002 memo. Kai Aiyetoro
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