See: http://www.prometheusradio.org/FCC_Update_June2013
Now if only they would act on creating a LPAM service. Or, as some have suggested, just up the Part 15.219 power to 1W. Apparently, England has a licensed 1W AM service.
Joe
The changes in regulations with LPFM as well as tall kinds of help in starting a new LPFM station is the domain of Prometheus: http://www.prometheusradio.org/
It's not the FCC, that's for sure. They have not at all in recent times promoted anything like LPAM licensed radio. Although a movement was afoot several years ago, it failed mainly becuse the presentation was very weak, compared to the highly professional comprehensive effort (lots of support to get engineers. lawyers, political friends, and contacts in teh FCC to come together...took years) made by Prometheus to reduce the LPFM requirement for 3rd adjacent channel spill.
They have also helped the FCC's understanding in other ways, which has led to the possibility of increasing LPFM power (up to 250w erp) in rural areas. That's great for folks like me.
It would take the same kind of effort to get a true licensed LPAM set of rules added to the service, but thus far, and IMO, it's a shame, no one has been able to organize and forward the large amount of support it will take. However Prometheus is a big influential NPO these days, has a staff and lots of volunteers, although it is still really a grass-roots based outfit.
I don't know whether or not they are interested in Low Power AM radio, tho'.
Until now we believed that 88.1mHz was the bottom of the FM band, except for two exceptions granted for 87.9mHz, those being KSFH Mt. View, CA and K200AA Sun Valley, NV.
But now, hold on to your valuables, we see 31 LPFM licenses for 87.7 FM located all over the country! Ya, and there's a link
http://db.wtfda.org/fac_frequency/down/1
EDIT NOTE:
Radio-locator lists 87.7 FM as an invalid frequency in North America. They probably need to update.
unless you are an established 501c3 running in the community for at least 2 years you can wish in one hand and crap in the other for a LPFM license.
as for LPAM the NAB screwed that pooch into the ground. FCC wanted to give us 1 watt input on AM and 1 watt ERP on FM but heavy lobbying by NAB messed all that up.
Yes, NAB and NPR have invested a lot of effort in preventing any kind of success with low power radio, licensed or unlicensed, but that's pretty much all they've achieved.
NAB has done zero for the listening public or service to local communities, and NPR has become a mouth-piece for government-corporate messages posing as "news," AND have just announced a 10% cut in their work-force.
The FCC is their b____.
YIKES!!!
This blows my mind!!!!!
On page 2, I see a station in Binghampton, NY
that is only 160 mW!!!
Can you guys check this for me? I might be
seeing it wrong!!!
Bruce, DOGRADIO
I think I see some more that are
even LESS power!! On 87.9 and 88.1!
My eyesight is terrible. Can you guys
check this?
Bruce, DOGRADIO
On page 2, I see a station in Binghampton, NY that is only 160 mW!!!
I think those powers are listed in kilowatts, so the Binghampton station with power shown as 0.016 would have an ERP of 16 watts.
I just dont understand why KLOVE needs 2 channels on the dial in the same coverage area..
That makes more sense!
Bruce, DOGRADIO
Don't overlook what I pointed out in Post # 3, the frequency 87.7 is now being assigned to LPFM! That's no small potato.
I have a batch of Scosche Transmitters CERTIFIED for 87.7. They knew what they were doing.
It's a matter of time before 15.239 gets updated to show "In the frequency band 87.7 to 108 mHz." I am confident that the spirit of the change already applies.
Hi folks.
My very first post, I've been lurking for a bit. You have a nice community here.
.
We're applying for LPFM. You do not need to be a 501c3, but do need to be a non-profit i.e. state non-profit incorporation works. We have 501c3 status.
Someone please tell me more about 87.7! Have we verified that's true, and how? Let me guess, on the FCC site we can't see right now..?
I can tune 87.7 here in the sf bay area and get k-love.. Not that I'd leave it there, it just surprised me.. I knew they were on one channel here, but now I'm able to get them on three. "Golly, I wonder why I can't get my lpfm application to go through? Oh.. That right, the flamethrower need three channels in each market"