Section 8 of the Local Community Radio Act requires that the FCC conduct an economic study on the impact that LPFM stations will have on full power commercial FM stations. A similar study was ordered in the original Radio Broadcast Protection Act of 2001.
The FCC seeks public comment on the scope of the proceeding around how data from existing LPFM stations and how that data can be applied to future LPFM stations and whether there's some limitations or issues with current data to make judgments on the future LPFM service.
The FCC is also looking for data around the impacts of LPFM stations on audience ratings and advertising revenues to commercial stations.
This inquiry will specifically not address interference issues as that was done in the previous MITRE Report.
Comments on MB Docket 11-83 are due on June 24, 2011.
Reply comments due July 25, 2011.
Brief comments can be filed through the FCC's ECFS Express system.
