Despite the objections of Educational Media Foundation, the FCC has granted the application for Razorcake/Gorsky Press for a new LPFM station on 92.7 to serve the Pasadena, California area.   

Razorcake was one of four applicants who applied for 92.7 during the 2013 window.  All 4 applicants were mutually exclusive.  Subsequent to filing these applications, Educational Media Foundation (K-Love), licensee of KYLA, Fountain Valley, CA filed a concern about all four of the applications stating that the interference contours of the proposed LPFM stations would overlap with the 60 dBu protected service contour of the co-channel Class A station and they needed a clarification whether this is covered by the Local Communit Radio Act. EMF claims that because the LCRA stated that LPFM stations on second adjacent channel waivers are not to cause interference to "any radio service", the term "any radio service" also includes co-chanel.  

The FCC has reached a decision in the long-contested MX Group #37, which included four applicants filing to operate on 102.5 in San Francisco.  During the 2013 window, five organizations including SF Indefest, San Francisco Public Press (SFPP), Outsound, San Francisco Community Radio (SFCR)  to use 102.5.  All four applicants claimed 5 points and therefore were all tentative selectees.   A fifth applicant, Independent Arts and Media (IAM) was dismissed just prior to the MX window due to a inconsistent application. A board member appeared on more than one application.

During the MX window, Outsound and SFPP filed a time share agreement to aggregate their points.  SFCR and SF Indefest also filed a similar time share agreement.  After the MX window, all groups except Independent Arts and Media were 10 points thus resulting in the dismissal of IAM.   Several petitions to deny and informal objections were also filed during the window. 

On Thursday, the FCC granted the LPFM construction permit application for The Los Angeles Social Justice Radio Project which proposed operations on 107.9 in the western portion of the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles.

LASJRP's application was a part of MX Group #40 which also included granted applications on 99.1 for Strategic International Ministries (operating as "99.1 The Ranch") in Simi Valley and Reach To The Top, still under construction in Venice. 

During the 2013 window, LASJRP, with the assistance of REC, filed for a site on the campus of Los Angeles Pierce College, a Los Angeles Community College with an agricultural program and proposed operations on 99.1. 

One of the things I spoke about at the 2016 LPFM Summit at the National Federation of Community Broadcasters in Denver was about the most common myths and misunderstandings that some have had about LPFM.  Many times, these misunderstands come from confusion with the full-power rules or because of how vague the rules and FCC policy has been on these subjects.

MYTH: LPFM stations are required to maintain a public file and make it available for public inspection.

FACT: Section 73.801 of the rules is a great cross reference to what other broadcast rules also apply to LPFM stations.  Section 73.3527 deals with the public inspection files for non-commercial broadcast stations.  73.801 does not cross reference 73.3527 as applying to LPFM.  This means that LPFM stations are not required to maintain a public inspection file.  

In a letter to the FCC commissioners and senior Media Bureau staff, REC has given an update to refresh the record on RM-11749, the REC LP-250 petition for rulemaking.  Despite the FCC's AM Revitalization efforts which involve an opportunity for Class C and D AM stations to obtain an FM translator and move it up to 250 miles, the percentage of granted LPFM stations that can upgrade to the proposed LP-250 service on the same channel has only fallen from 73% to 72%. While there will be three more filing windows for FM translators within the next year, REC does expect this number to fall further but overall, we expect the upgrade rate to remain extremely high.