Mastodawn

Elmer Masters Jul 2, 2023

Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe

The FCC is accepting applications for new, low-power, community radio stations the first week of November.

This is huge, you guys, this window rarely opens (the last time was 2013), and as you know, KUZU shows one way LPFM can be a foundation to build valuable community information resources.

The Grassroots Radio folks are holding a conference in West Virginia to help folks out with this.

Please boost and share.

#radio
#community
#local
#journalism

https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/lpfm

Low Power FM (LPFM) Broadcast Radio Stations

In the following sections, we provide some basic information about Low Power (LPFM) radio stations (licensed service) and the related application processes. Contents Introduction LPFM Filing Window Periods Find LPFM Records via the FM Query Low Power FM Opportunities Map LPFM Channel Finder LPFM Notes LPFM Service Rules Related Information LPFM Documents (includes recent items) LPFM License Process Frequently Asked Questions (separate page)

Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe Jul 10, 2023

Here's another possible resource if your community group is interested in claiming a low-power FM frequency when the FCC opens the application window in November.

#radio
#community
#local
#journalism

https://www.amazon.com/Low-Power-Dummies-Sharon-Scott/dp/1394185324/

Amazon.com

Russ Sharek Jul 2, 2023

Tagging @ajroach42

Andrew (Television Executive)Jul 2, 2023

@RussSharek @phwolfe940 holy crap, thats huge!!

Andrew (Television Executive)Jul 2, 2023

@RussSharek @phwolfe940 I have so many other things I need to be doing!

But this just made it to the top of my list.

@djsundog @DoctorDeathray @connor_dylan @CaptainUnderpants @TaxDan @Ethancdavenport @jess

☝️ Let's Gooo!

Doctor Deathray Jul 2, 2023

@ajroach42 @RussSharek @phwolfe940 @djsundog @connor_dylan @CaptainUnderpants @TaxDan @Ethancdavenport @jess SO FUCKING HERE FOR THIS

The Doctor Jul 2, 2023

@ajroach42 @RussSharek @phwolfe940 @djsundog @DoctorDeathray @connor_dylan @CaptainUnderpants @TaxDan @Ethancdavenport @jess Anything we can do to help?

Andrew (Television Executive)Jul 2, 2023

@drwho I have no idea! I'm still looking for details and trying to dig up my old notes from when we were trying to do this in 2013.

I need to refamiliarize myself with the process, legal requirements, restrictions, etc.

arkywarky Jul 3, 2023

@ajroach42 @RussSharek @phwolfe940 @djsundog @DoctorDeathray @connor_dylan @CaptainUnderpants @TaxDan @Ethancdavenport @jess YALL IF YOU DO THIS I SWEAR I WILL PUT VISIT ELLIJAY AGAIN AT THE TOP OF MY LIST OF THIGNS TO DO (also radio hell thread????)

Russ Sharek Jul 2, 2023

@ajroach42 @phwolfe940

I know. I immediately thought of Ellijay, and you.

I also wonder if @radiofreefedi would want to partner up with you...

Alex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UK Jul 2, 2023

@RussSharek @ajroach42 @phwolfe940 @radiofreefedi

wow, 100W for a "low power" station? We are normally only allowed 25W ERP for our community radio stations in England...

You will get a lot more range than 5,6 km from 100W with a decent antenna (isn't the makerspace quite high up?)

Andrew (Television Executive)Jul 2, 2023

@vfrmedia @RussSharek @phwolfe940 @radiofreefedi It's not the highest point in the county, but we've got some elevation.

Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe Jul 2, 2023

@vfrmedia @RussSharek @ajroach42 @radiofreefedi

We have a range of 3 miles (about 5 km) in Denton, Texas, which is a little hilly, and our antenna is on one of those hills.

Andrew (Television Executive)Jul 2, 2023

@phwolfe940 @vfrmedia @RussSharek @radiofreefedi that would cover the whole of downtown and about half of the residential area here.

Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe Jul 2, 2023

@ajroach42 @vfrmedia @RussSharek @radiofreefedi we cover a good bit of our city and others stream online

Andrew (Television Executive)Jul 2, 2023

@phwolfe940 @vfrmedia @RussSharek @radiofreefedi

That's so good to hear. I was trying to figure out an application in 2012/13, but we just couldn't make it work.

I am genuinely so excited about this new opportunity, and it will probably entirely consume my next six months.

Bob Jonkman Jul 2, 2023

Our #CommunityRadio station, CKMS-FM Radio Waterloo is licensed for 250W, and has a broadcast radius of about 15km (10 miles).

Go for it! We need more Community Radio everywhere!

There is likely a US national association for community broadcasters; in Canada we have the NCRA. They're really helpful with licence applications, &c. https://ncra.ca

@phwolfe940 @vfrmedia @RussSharek @radiofreefedi

Homepage - NCRA/ANREC

NCRA/ANREC

Bob Jonkman Jul 4, 2023

Looks like there is also an auction of FM frequencies in the Netherlands.

I don't think any new frequencies are being offerred, these are more like license renewals for existing commercial stations. Because of Coronavirus precautions, licenses had been renewed automatically for the past few years.

https://nos.nl/l/2481364

Radioveiling van start, verschuivingen op FM-band in aantocht

Het gaat om een veiling van de FM-frequenties voor commerciële radiozenders. Voor de zenders 538, Sky Radio, Radio Veronica, BNR, Radio 10, Q-Music, 100%NL, Sublime en Slam wordt het een spannende week.

NOS Nieuws

Bob Jonkman Jul 4, 2023

One broadcaster, KINK, had no spot on the FM band and no way to apply with automatic renewals, and so took this injustice to court which ruled that all stations would have to bid for their frequencies in a spectrum auction.

The Dutch regulator is expecting to get €73.3 million from this auction, with at least three FM packages having a minimum bid of €15 million. So, it's unlikely there will be new #CommunityRadio stations...

https://nos.nl/l/2481364

Radioveiling van start, verschuivingen op FM-band in aantocht

Het gaat om een veiling van de FM-frequenties voor commerciële radiozenders. Voor de zenders 538, Sky Radio, Radio Veronica, BNR, Radio 10, Q-Music, 100%NL, Sublime en Slam wordt het een spannende week.

NOS Nieuws

Bob Jonkman Jul 4, 2023

Here's a summary of US resources I got from the helpful folks on the #NCRA mailing list:

Prometheus Radio Project: https://www.prometheusradio.org/

National Federation of Community Radio Broadcasters (NFCB): https://nfcb.org/

and Grassroots Radio Conference, which has an LPFM sub-group (no link, sorry)

#CommunityRadio

@phwolfe940 @vfrmedia @RussSharek @radiofreefedi

Prometheus Radio Project – freeing the airwaves from corporate control

Andrew (Television Executive)Jul 2, 2023

@RussSharek @phwolfe940 @radiofreefedi sundog ran a radio station back when.

I'm really hoping to leverage his expertise.

Fred Markle Jul 2, 2023

@phwolfe940 @wn3n

W6KME Jul 2, 2023

@phwolfe940 Clearly designed for the equipment hams have and use. There is a potential for something far more valuable than our current ham offerings like Newsline.

DavidPetraitis Jul 2, 2023

@phwolfe940 @ai6yr This would be something for your community!
https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/lpfm

Low Power FM (LPFM) Broadcast Radio Stations

In the following sections, we provide some basic information about Low Power (LPFM) radio stations (licensed service) and the related application processes. Contents Introduction LPFM Filing Window Periods Find LPFM Records via the FM Query Low Power FM Opportunities Map LPFM Channel Finder LPFM Notes LPFM Service Rules Related Information LPFM Documents (includes recent items) LPFM License Process Frequently Asked Questions (separate page)

Shy bunny Jul 2, 2023

@phwolfe940 It could also be worth liaising with the CHIRP Radio folks in Chicago; they were behind the legislation making these stations possible.

CHIRP Radio | From the Chicago Independent Radio Project

CHIRPradio.org is a listener-supported music and arts focused community radio station in Chicago staffed by more than 150 volunteers.

Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe Jul 2, 2023

@porsupah Many thanks to all those good folks in Chicagoland and I hope you all are safe in the flooding rn

Justice for Sepulveda Martinez Jul 2, 2023

@phwolfe940 @porsupah @kumarvibe might still know folks

Kumar McMillan Jul 3, 2023

@count3rmeasure @phwolfe940 @porsupah funny enough, I could rarely get Chirp’s terrestrial station to come in clearly when driving around most parts of Chicago. It always worked well from the iOS app, though.

Stuck Here Jul 2, 2023

@phwolfe940
Boosting this. I don't have the time or skills but if someone in a community out there does, then they should know of this opportunity.

I'd love it if my community had a locally run radio station.

Kevin Leecaster Jul 2, 2023

@phwolfe940
The Low Power FM (LPFM) radio service was created by the Commission in January 2000. LPFM stations are authorized for noncommercial educational broadcasting only (no commercial operation) and operate with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100 watts (0.1 kilowatts) or less, with maximum facilities of 100 watts ERP at 30 meters (100 feet) antenna height above average terrain (HAAT). The approximate service range of a 100 watt LPFM station is 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles radius).

cat_is_blob_and_enby

@phwolfe940 I have had the privilege of working with two LPFMs and it was a so much fun. I hope they start opening up the spectrum more frequently

LucifarGundam Jul 2, 2023

🎓 Doc Freemo

🇳🇱Jul 3, 2023

Eh, not sure broadcast FM interests me.... would be fun to do the antenna though :)

@phwolfe940 Good luck! I was involved with Boise Community Radio before they got their broadcast license, so I know how tricksy getting the application and resources together can be.

LucifarGundam Jul 3, 2023

arkywarky Jul 3, 2023

@phwolfe940 oh my god i would kill to set one up as a coop

Skylar Caulfield

@phwolfe940 okay it's time for Sky-FM

Ety, Ringer of Bells ^G Jul 3, 2023

@phwolfe940 whoa, this is huge. Passing along to some community radio nerd friends. Thanks for the info ❤️

1pixy_Jul 3, 2023

@phwolfe940 bump

Jenn Dolari Jul 3, 2023

@phwolfe940 @zx3 - We have a ton of these here in Seattle. My local one, KAPY-LP, I can barely get, but has some great stuff playing on it.

Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe Jul 3, 2023

I think a former co-worker volunteers as a newswriter for them. I think low-power FM is full of untapped potential to rebuild local news infrastructure in a healthy, sustainable way

Led By Gilded Fools Jul 6, 2023

@dolari @phwolfe940 @zx3 Where can I find a list of Seattle stations and maybe a map of antenna locations, please?

Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe Jul 6, 2023

@MHowell @dolari @zx3

Here’s where to find a list of stations

https://radiostation.info/lpfm/washington/

The FCC website can help with available frequencies for low power licensing

Washington Low Power FM (LPFM) Radio Stations

Index of all low power FM (LPFM) Radio Stations in the State of Washington

Radio Station Net

dcast Jul 3, 2023

@phwolfe940 I haven’t listen to a radio station since Spotify came out. I don’t care to listen to horrible local ads all the time.

Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe Jul 3, 2023

@dcast
Our community radio station has no ads. If you are a nonprofit, LPFM station you can't have ads or calls to action.

dal Jul 3, 2023

@phwolfe940 how do we learn more about this if we don't live in West Virginia?

Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe Jul 3, 2023

@meamdalton
https://virtualgrc.org/

GRC Virtual Summit

dal Jul 3, 2023

@phwolfe940 thank you so much!

ChiefGyk3D Jul 3, 2023

@phwolfe940 @vampire_lord_red_fang sounds like your kind of thang

vampire_lord_red_fang Jul 4, 2023

Interesting

Uncle Jamie Jul 3, 2023

@phwolfe940 Sadly our local LPFM station died recently along with its sole operator. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WFHA-LP Maybe this provides an open frequency for the next attempt.

WFHA-LP - Wikipedia

Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe Jul 3, 2023

@Magnifico give it a try

504BatteryDr Jul 4, 2023

Incredibly important as societies break down and the usual sources of communication (most are corrupted anyway) go down.

DaSkinny ⚜️Jul 4, 2023

https://wtsq.org/

Home - WTSQ

WTSQ

Sam Butler Jul 6, 2023

@phwolfe940 @hydroponictrash @scanlime @alive @rzr following up the convo, at intersection of low-power and communal approaches

https://kolektiva.social/@sambutlerUS/110549180773142842

Sam Butler (@[email protected])

I'm interested in low-energy / low-data communications networks and infrastructures. While Fediverse is decentralized, it is not necessarily low-energy or low-data. Is anybody familiar with efforts to this end? Like, comms and networks architectures that are built for Bluetooth Low Energy or similar energy conditions? That are focused on sending raw text data and small media, and can do it on the scale of micro-watts? cc @[email protected]

kolektiva.social

Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe Jul 7, 2023

@sambutlerUS what a great question

Led By Gilded Fools Jul 6, 2023

@phwolfe940 anyone in #Seattle #Everett applying for #lowpowerradio #radio permits?