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DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE!!! It has been 10 years since the FCC opened an LPFM window and there is no guarantee it will ever happen again!  The offical information from the Federal Communications Commission can be found HERE: www.fcc.gov/media/radio/lpfm 1) Find a Frequency 2) Find / Found a Nonprofit 3) Locate a Towersite 4) Conduct an Engineering Study (if necessary) 5) Get an optional Letter of Assurance from the Landlord 6) Write an Educational Statement about your plans for the Frequency 7) Wait for the FCC to open the application window 8) APPLY DEC. 6 - 13th, 2023 FIND A FREQUENCY The first thing you need to apply for an LPFM license is to find available frequency in your area.  If there is no open airspace in your area, you will not be able to apply. It's pure science. If you live in a rural area, there should be plenty of opportunity.  The urban dial is more densley packed, limiting the available choices.  Surprising things happen in radio, however, and no matter where you live, you should at least investigate this extremely rare opportunity!  To view frequency availablity in your area: VISIT the FCC LPFM Channel Finder _ OR _ CLICK HERE to view the REC Networks INTERACTIVE MAP Most Broadcast Engineers working with noncommerical stations will provide a free preliminary study of the airspace in your community.  They will be able to tell you what, if any, frequencies will be available. Some frequencies will require Engineering Studies and some will not -- depending on how close the neighboring stations may be -- but it is a good idea to consult with a broadcast engineer just to be certain you are doing everything right. You can find a list of LPFM-friendly Engineers on the "CONNECT" page of this website. FIND (OR FOUND) A NONPROFIT If there is availablitly in your area, you will need to have a nonprofit organization that will submit the application.  The FCC will not accept LPFM applications from Individuals or For-Profit businesses.  So long as the organization is in good standing with the state, it can apply for a license.  If you are not with a nonprofit, there may still be time to incorporate.  The process usually takes just a few days. Check your the website of your state's Secretary of State.  They often have an online incorporation form.  You may want an attorney to help with this process. LPFM applicants do not need to be Federal 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations.  EARN PRIORITY POINTS If you are not with a nonprofit group and would like to start one for the purpose of applying for an LPFM you should do so immediately.  Usually three board members are required though sometimes only one.  Each state is different, check on your Secretary of State’s website.  You may find an online form for filing nonprofit Articles of Incorporation.  Otherwise you or your attorney will need to draft and file your Articles as simply and as quickly as possible.  Within a couple days of filing, the state should send you confirmation of your nonprofit status and you will then be eligible to apply for an LPFM license. In the cases where there is competition for the frequency and a timeshare cannot be negotiated, the FCC will award bonus points to groups who have served their community for TWO YEARS or more.  This will be irrelevant in rural areas with lots of airspace. If you live in an urban area, with limited available frequencies however, you may want to partner with an older organization that can apply for the frequency and transfer it over to yours once it comes of age.  Likewise, up to three nonprofits pledging to work together can aggregate their points in order to win the frequency.  It never hurts to have friends! The FCC will award organizations Priority Points based on each of the following: 1. Established organizational community presence for at least 2 years 2. Pledge to create local programming at least 8 hours per week 3. Pledge to have a main studio publicly accessible 20 hours per week 4. Local program origination and local main studio (both 2 & 3 above) 5. Diversity of ownership, organization owns no other broadcast entities 6. Tribal applicants on tribal lands KEEP IT LOCAL The nonprofit organization must be locally based. This means the Tower Site will be within 10 miles of the organizational headquarters or 75% of the Board Member's homes. In areas outside of Neilson Top 50 Markets, this distance increases to 20 miles. REC Networks provides a chart of Nielson Audio Top 50 Counties HERE: recnet.com/metro MAKE SURE YOUR BOARD QUALIFIES 80% of the Board Members must be American citizens. Board Members and their families cannot have ownership interest in any other broadcast licenses, daily newspaper, or cable TV systems. Board Members cannot have been dishonest with the FCC in any proccedings or have been convicted of a felony involving discrimination or providing false statements to the US Government.  They may not have a drug conviction that has resulted in the loss of Federal Benefits.  They cannot have engaged in unlicensed broadcasting. Quesitons?  REC Networks has a Q&A about Board Qualifications HERE: recnet.com/faq-ownership KNOW YOUR TIMELINE Once the license is granted, the nonprofit will have THREE YEARS to get the station on the air.  The location and the license holder can be changed at any point with the help of an Engineer and the permission of the FCC. LOCATE A TOWERSITE When you apply for an LFPM frequency you will need to have a location for your broadcast tower. It will need to meet certain rules of localism. In Neilson Top 50 markets that means that the tower must be within 10 miles of the organiational Headquarters -or- the homes of 75% of the Board members.  In rural areas, this distance increases to 20 miles. On their website, REC Networks has a CHART of the TOP 50 MARKET COUNTIES. The antenna will need to be hoised atleast 20 feet above any regularly occupied space.  You may have to install a mast to provide the proper elevation. GET A LETTER OF REASONABLE ASSURANCE Once you locate a towersite, you will want to present it to your Engineer and make sure there are no obstacles.  If everything looks good, you will need to get a Letter of Reasonable Assurance signed by the site owner stating that they will allow you to install your station on their property.  This will be submitted with your application.  This document not have to be a lease or binding contract.  It's ok if this preliminary site is not the ideal location.  You'll have three years before you have to go on air and you can always change your tower site by providing official notice, and applicable Engineering studies, to the FCC. WRITE AN EDUCATIONAL STATEMENT The FCC requires all LPFM applicants to submit an Educational Statement that describes the ways the organization will use the frequency to educate their community.  This does not have to be a long essay but it should detail the benefits of particular programs and the specific audiences they will serve. LPFM Resources from REC NETWORKS General info on LPFM https://LPFM.app National overview availability maps https://recnet.com/lpfm2023-map REC's "encyclopedia" of LPFM Service https://recnet.com/lpfm FCC rules for LPFM (Part 73, Subpart G [§73.8xx rules]) https://recnet.com/lpfm-rules REC Info Sheet for LPFM Applicants https://recnet.com/new-station-lpfm

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