On Monday, the FCC had released software that can be used to determine the protected channel/points of LPFM stations.
REC has ran this software and used the results to rebuild our protected channel/points database. In the past, this was done through the REC Channel Search technology but now that we know exactly which channel points the FCC is intending on protecting, the LPFM Tool has been updated with those channel/points.
To see the protected channel points for every market, visit the REC Channel Points viewer:
http://cdbs.recnet.net:8080/chanpoints.php
This week, REC has restored the highly requested population support. We are now also using 2010 census data. When you do a search, the tool will return the estimated population at the census block level within the service contour of the proposed station. The census block is the lowest level reporting area used by the US Census Bureau.
The Tool can also give overlap area population information on channels that may be potential second-adjacent channel waivers. As always, if you are considering a second adjacent channel waiver, please seek the services of a qualified consulting engineer.
The Tool also supports population within Native Nations. If the 60 dBu service contour of the proposed site includes tribal land, the Tool will return a separate population for the area within tribal land and what percentage is tribal over the entire population of the service area. This functionality is being added to support REC initiatives that address the FCC's proposed handling of LPFM stations for Native Nations.
We are planning no major changes to the Tool between now and the comment filing deadline date of May 7. We hope you participate in the rulemaking process.
