LPFM Licenses open?

I work for the City of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.  I put up an LPFM for the City about a year ago.

A consultant contacted the City about applying when he noticed we had an AM TIS.

$800 later I had a license.  $16,000 later I had it on the air.

I refurbished an 8 X 10 construction shed, replacing the wiring and cleaning out all the rodents.  The transmitter site equipment was purchased and I put it together.  A tower climber was hired to install the antenna and Heliax cable on an existing tower at the site.

Turned it on last September.  For the most part it's fully automated except for a few live shows.  Our high school will take over daytime programming in about 2 months.

So from my understanding can I just get the license and get some good powerful transmitter close to 100W since that’s the max you can have with that license? Also is the applcation process online or is it a form I turn in?

Thanks 🙂

Keep in mind this says 2013 and not 2015... No one knows if or when a new LPFM window will open, likely after the FCC is done with AM revitalization.

WE may have a better chance of getting more power for part 15 on AM.  It could revive it.  At least give a few frequencies to hobby broadcasting.  I'll have to try and re locate where I read something about this.

Recently I read that several LPFM stations have turned in their licenses because they failed to raise the money or couldn't manage to get on the air.

The question is, what happens to the abandoned licenses?

Seems to me the FCC should at least make those licenses available to someone else.

In response to can I just run 100 watts with an LPFM, no.

Based on the engineering data for your installation the FCC will tell you what your ERP (effective radiated power) can be.  The higher your antenna, generally the lower your ERP as the signal will reach further with a higher antenna.

As an example our LPFM transmitter will operate at 300 watts.  The allowed ERP for our installation is 18 watts.  The transmitter is set for 52 watts output.  Some of that is lost in the transmission line.  The antenna gain is .46, less than 1 because the power is split between the horizontal and vertical planes.  The end result is an ERP of 18 watts.

18 watts ERP puts the 60 dbu contour plot at around 3.2 miles which is what the FCC allows LPFM.

I guess what I’m trying to say is can I just buy the LPFM license and just get some random good transmitter that meets the requirements and just go on from there? Is it like as simple as getting a GMRS license such as you go pay the $80 and bam your good for 5 years or is it a much bigger process that is very expensive?

Thanks 🙂

Hello winter4w.

Gettiing an LPFM license is no process at all because you can't get one.

The reason you can't get one is because the filing period has expired.

There may possibly be a new filing period, called a "filing window," sometime in a few years, but it may not be definite.

If you could file for LPFM the process is very complicated and there's no point explaining it now, since you can't file for one now.

LPFM licenses are not available at this time.  The FCC "opens a window" of oportunity based on what, I don't know.  Until the window opens again the licenses are not available.

Transmitters must be certified under Part 73 of the rules.  In addition your station must conform to the EAS requirements.

Our LPFM engineering costs were $800 to obtain the license even though the license itself cost nothing since we are a government operation.  The transmitter site equipment cost around $16K to include; Nautel VS300 transmitter with Orban processor, Shively 1 bay CP antenna, Andrew Heliax cable, Dasdec EAS decoder. antenna system install.  We already had a PC, shelter and tower.  A portable "studio" road case was assembled for less than $500 later.

Granted, you can get on the air for much less but until the FCC window opens again you can't get a license.

The whole cat and mouse game with the FCC and licensing and their unwillingness to allow small micro neighborhood FM stations at least on a given frequency for hobby broadcasting and Information is why the obvious happens. I am not a believer in running an unlicensed 10+ watt station, but these micro 1 mile stations certainly won't hurt a thing if the transmitter is clean. Its an argument that the older folks in Radio will try and father you by saying “Get a License!” but when one is not available to give takes away something I done as a child and that was to have a neighborhood FM station. I remember my first time on air and how it felt to actually get listeners and have the ability to interact with folks near by. It teaches science, social skills and too allows for healthy growth of an individual not always available via Internet alone. AM is not always something everyone can do because of the in ability to put up an outside antenna. As was demonstrated in the thread Starting A Radio Station where a test was done on FM it does not take much to get out on FM. AM on the other hand expect to spend close to $300 if you want a clean NEW transmitter. Plus you must have the resources and open area to get a good signal on AM even up to a mile. With a little $7 FM transmitter you can go .5 miles (Lets hope its clean) and do that with little effort. Now you know why I've always been pro FM. It gives us low income folks a fighting chance at a nice hobby something to take our minds off of worrying about rather we will lose our home from month to month. Heck even the local Food Bank could set up a FM Radio Station for $7 for the TX and maybe $20 for an extender cable of 10-20 feet. Hang the cable near a window and announce the latest events at the salvation army or church. This could all be done on 87.9 and 87.9 Mhz if the FCC would just wake up. OK end of Rant for now. I wish you luck dude.

The reason so many FM transmitters are so affordable is well, because they are cheaply built and poorly designed with very little power output. A GOOD FM Transmitter will cost a pretty penny. Notable exceptions include the C Crane, which really costs about the same as an unbuilt SSTran, Ramsey, or TalkingHouse. Naturally the SSTran is cheaper because its a kit, Ramsey is a kit as well that is very cheap and doesn't perform well, and the TalkingHouse is a good transmitter with crap audio and FM problems.

You get what you pay for in radio.

Ok thanks guys I was just curious on how to get a license. So I’m guessing once the window opens you have to go through a process before getting it? (Such as you just can’t get some transmitter on eBay and be set. That’s what I’m understanding from this). Yea I know I am unable to get it until that open applications I just posted the 2013 thing so people will get a better understanding on what I’m talking about.

Thanks 🙂

92.7

Post # 14 shows Druid Hills has yet another radio station under his leadership. I count three stations, but seem to recall a few others mentioned in the past.

WDCX

WLSL

Druid Hills AM 1710

Allow me to count my stations:

KDX AM 1670, KHZ AM 1640, KDX AM 1559, KDX-CC AM 970, KDX-CC AM 590, KDX-FM 89.5, KDX-FM 89.9, KDX-FM 101.5, KDX-FM 106.9, KDX-LW 184 kHz, KDX-SW 13.560 MHz, Worldround Wireless Mics 184.3 MHz, 916 MHz, WiFi STL 1800 GHz, Cordless Phone 2500 GHz, Brain Waves 24 Hz.