RIVERTON, MD (APRIL 20, 2015) --- A project that was over two years in the making, REC Networks has filed a Petition for Rulemaking intended to help LPFM stations enhance their signal within their current three mile service area as well as reach out to more rural areas.
In today's filing, REC is asking the Federal Communications Commission to allow 50 to 75 percent of currently authorized LPFM stations to increase their effective radiated power from 100 watts (based on 30 meters height above average terrain) to 250 watts increasing the average protected service contour from 3½ miles to about a 4½ mile radius. Unlike the previous proposals filed by The Amherst Alliance and the Catholic Radio Association which focused on rural expansion and was tabled by the FCC due to disagreement in the community, the REC petition focuses first on enhancing the listener experience within the "three mile zone", the prime area that current LP-100 stations serve. Many LPFM stations are experiencing issues with building penetration and other issues within the three mile zone.
Unlike the previous LPFM proposals which restricted upgrades to rural stations only, the new LP-250 Petition for Rulemaking calls for no geographic restrictions on the upgrading of LPFM stations. Stations that will not be able to upgrade are those in spectrum crowded areas, near the Mexican border and in some cases, stations that can not meet the requirements for a second adjacent channel waiver at the higher power.
REC's proposal has some additional provisions that call for additional processes for handling LPFM stations in foothill areas that have a very long service contour in some directions. This additional protection requirement assures that full-service FM stations and FM translators are protected from "super-sized" LPFMs. Currently, 7% of all LPFM stations are considered as "foothill" stations.
In addition to the power increase, REC has also asked the FCC to allow 100-watt LPFM stations to move up to 6.9 miles (11.1 km) and upgraded LP-250 stations up to 8.7 miles (14.1 km) as a minor move, remove the requirement of service contour overlap between LPFM stations and commonly-owned FM translators in light of other restrictions in place to keep these stations local, new second-adjacent channel protection requirements for FM translators and to provide relief to time share stations subject to the 8-hours per day local programming pledge.
Information about the LP-250 proposal can be found at LP250.com and an online lookup where granted LPFM stations can check their upgrade potential can be found at check.LP250.com.
REC Networks, established in 1984 is dedicated to entertainment, information and support. REC has been involved with the Low Power FM radio service since the original petitions for rulemaking. Over the years, REC along with other allied advocates in the media justice community have worked together to pass and implement the Local Community Radio Act as well as assure integrity in the LPFM service. REC also provides various free online services including mylpfm.com, FCCdata.org and http://fcc.today, the dashboard for activity at the FCC Media Bureau. REC Broadcast Services, LLC is a Wisconsin corporation that provides professional FCC filing services for LPFM stations and other radio services.
Media Contact: Michelle Bradley 202 621-2355
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