LPFM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Difference between revisions

=== LP-1000 ===

The FCC proposed LP-1000 which would be an effective radiated power (ERP) up to 1,000 watts with an antenna height above average terrain (HAAT) of 60 meters (197 feet).  LP-1000 would be proposed as a primary service, equal in status with full-service broadcast stations and is able to displace FM translators and stations in the proposed LP-1000 service.  The service would create a 60 dBu service contour of 14.2 kilometers (8.8) miles, about half the distance of the service contour of a Class A (6kW) FM station.  The FCC seeks comments on whether this service should be restricted to noncommercial applicants, open to commercial service or both and whether the population in these service areas would be large enough to sustain an advertising base. It is also proposed that LP-1000 stations would provide minimum distance separation to other FM facilities on co-channel and first adjacent as well as to other full-service FM stations on intermediate frequency.  The inquiry also questions whether existing FM translator and booster stations should be grandfathered in as being protected from new LP-1000 stations and whether LP-1000 stations should be permitted to operate translators and boosters.

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=== LP-100 ===

The FCC proposed LP-100 to be a secondary service that would meet the demand of people who would like to broadcast affordably to communities of a moderate size such as a rural area or as part of a large urban area.  The LP-100 service was proposed to permit stations of 100 watts ERP at 30 meters (98 feet) HAAT.  This would create a service contour of 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles).  Depending on the population density, an LP-100 station may serve a few hundred to several thousand listeners.  The FCC describes LP-100 as comparable to the RM-9242 proposed service class of 50 watts at 150 feet HAAT.  In the NPRM, the FCC asks whether there should be a different power limit for this service, such as 30 watts, whether alternate levels of power or height should be used and whether the service should be limited to noncommercial use, commercial or both. Like with LP-1000, the FCC proposes LP-100 stations to only provide co-channel and first-adjacent channel protections to other facilities as well as provide intermediate frequency protections to full-service FM stations.  Additional, the FCC asks if stations should also be required to provide second or third adjacent channel protections and whether LP-100 stations should have lower spectrum use priority than LP-1000 stations and whether LP-100 stations should be primary over FM translator and booster stations.  Also like with  LP-1000, the FCC is inquiring whether LP-100 stations should be permitted to operate boosters.

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=== Microradio (LP-10) ===

The FCC proposed a third class of LPFM station that would be intended for an individual or a group of people with limited means to construct a station and reach listeners within the confines of a very localized setting.  This service would operate between 1 and 10 watts ERP with a maximum antenna height of 30 meters HAAT.  This would create a 60 dBu service contour between 1.8 and 3.2 kilometers (1 to 2 miles). This type of facility is similar to what was proposed in RM-9208 but on any FM channel instead of a dedicated channel as originally proposed.  The FCC sees microstations to be used for limited coverage at schools, small neighborhoods, subdivisions and town centers.  The FCC did seek comment to whether such facilities could satisfy some of the demand expressed for inexpensive community radio services, particularly in places where LP100 cannot work because of interference to financial constraints.  The FCC estimates that the costs would be low, potentially in the hundreds of dollars for some facilities.  The FCC questions whether this service should be restricted to noncommercial applicants, commercial applicants or both.