LPFM application list released

[CAwasinNJ]

The list of applicants for new LPFMs was released by the FCC today. It's long. Really long. If you want to read through it, it's at transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2013/db1126/DOC-324337A2.txt and scroll down to the section "LOW POWER FM APPLICATIONS FOR ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION PERMIT RECEIVED"

Some of them are really goofy. For example, UDOT applied for 95.5 at Roy. That's about 12 miles away from 100kw KYFO-FM on the same channel. Zero chance that will be approved.

[friendlee]

So I wonder if UDOT feels that shotgunning a pile of apps would be more effective than placing 10-watt Part 15 TIS/HAR's in those same locations? Not to mention ownership, local studio, and local programming issues...

[CAwasinNJ]

I think the TIS stations are under part 90, not part 15. Part 15 is for ultra lower power unlicensed stations. You're right though, there are requirements for LPFM's that don't exist for TIS stations, but there are also opportunities. The types of programming they could offer would be greater for example. Even just the fact that they're on FM instead of AM could be a help, though I think the Chicken Little's who say anyone under 40 won't even know that AM stations exist are crazy. (It would help the TIS case if people actually knew they were there. There are at least a half dozen TIS stations licensed along the Wastach Front. I haven't seen a sign for them on the highways in many years.)

There's also the question of coverage. TIS stations aren't supposed to be useable beyond about 2 miles. LPFM's aren't huge coverers, but they could probably get out better than that. A station isn't going to do much good if you can't hear it.

And I'm sure there are other good reasons too, not the least of which is "why not?"

[David]

I don't understand why UDOT needs low power FM TIS stations when they already have TIS allocations for 1300 and 1530 AM in the Weber County area. Maybe UDOT is trying to spend some of the "extra" $338 million that Governor Herbert says we have for next year's budget on some low power FM transmitters.

There's also a TIS station on 1350 AM with fairly good coverage that I believe is operated by Weber County. That TIS could be utilized by UDOT for traffic updates, construction advisories, etc. if the county would allow it. That would certainly be a better use for the station than broadcasting a repeating loop promoting neighborhood watch and information about swine flu, which is about all the TIS on 1350 has been airing for the past three years.