View source for Timeline of LPFM service rules

Throughout the history of LPFM, the rules have been changed several times to reflect how LPFM was being used, recommended improvements and to respond to Congressional legislation.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Era
!2000
Creation of LPFM
!2001
Post RBPA
!2007
First improvements
!2013
Post LCRA
!2020
Second Improvements
|-
|Documents
|99-25 First R&O, First Recon, Second Recon
|Second R&O
|Third R&O, Third Recon
|Fourth R&O, Fifth R&O, Sixth R&O, Fourth Recon, Fifth Recon, Sixth R&O
|Admin Order, Tech Order
|-
|§73.807 Required protections
|Co, first & second adjacent channels, intermediate frequency
|Co, first, second & third adjacent channels, intermediate frequency
|Co, first, second & third adjacent channels, intermediate frequency
|Co, first and second adjacent channels
|Co, first and second adjacent channels
|-
|§73.807 Mexico strip zone ERP
|Up to 50 watts.
|Up to 50 watts.
|Up to 50 watts.
|Up to 50 watts.
|Up to 50 watts in direction of Mexico, up to 100 watts in all other directions (using a directional antenna).
|-
|§73.810 Third adjacent channel interference
|If actual interference takes place inside victim's 60 dBu contour in first year of operation.
|If actual interference takes place inside victim's 60 dBu contour in first year of operation.
|If actual interference takes place inside victim's 60 dBu contour in first year of operation.
|Separate handling for meeting and not meeting distance separations. Periodic announcements.
|Separate handling for meeting and not meeting distance separations. Periodic announcements.
|-
|§73.811 Classes of service.
|LP-10, LP-100
|LP-10, LP-100
|LP-10, LP-100
|LP-100
|LP-100
|-
|§73.816 Directional antennas
|Traveler's information service only.
|Traveler's information service only.
|Traveler's information service only.
|Traveler's information service & second adjacent channel waivers.
|Allowed for any purpose. Use for TIS, second-adjacent waivers and international agreements are written as nondirectional and di not require a proof of performance.
|-
|§73.825 Channel 6 protections
|Strict distance separation tables.
|Strict distance separation tables.
|Strict distance separation tables.
|Strict distance separation tables.
|Distance separation tables. Can be waived with TV station consent or §74.1205 technical study.
|-
|§73.827 Translator input interference
|General rule regarding actual interference to translator inputs.
|General rule regarding actual interference to translator inputs.
|General rule regarding actual interference to translator inputs.
|General rule regarding actual interference to translator inputs and specific language for inputs on third-adjacent channels.
|General rule regarding actual interference to translator inputs and specific language for inputs on third-adjacent channels.
|-
|§73.850 Silent notifications and STAs.
|Not required.
|Not required.
|Not required.
|Not required.
|Required.
|-
|§73.853 Eligibility for LPFM
|Educational & public safety.
|Educational & public safety.
|Educational & public safety.
|Educational, tribal & public safety.
|Educational, tribal & public safety.
|-
|§73.854 Eligibility of those with a "pirate past"
|Eligible if ceased operations prior to 2/26/1999 or within 24 hours of FCC notification.
|Not eligible.
|Not eligible.
|Not eligible.
|Not eligible.
|-
|§73.855
Ownership limits
|Up to 10 nationwide and no more than 2 within 12 km. Public safety unlimited within jurisdiction. 
|Up to 10 nationwide and no more than 2 within 12 km. Public safety unlimited within jurisdiction. 
|Limited to 1 station. Public safety unlimited within jurisdiction.
|Educational limited to 1 station. Tribal limited to 2 stations. Public safety unlimited within jurisdiction.
|Educational limited to 1 station. Tribal limited to 2 stations. Public safety unlimited within jurisdiction.
|-
|§73.860 Cross ownership
|Schools/colleges can cross own a full-power and LPFM if the LPFM is to be used solely by students.
|Schools/colleges can cross own a full-power and LPFM if the LPFM is to be used solely by students.
|Schools/colleges can cross own a full-power and LPFM if the LPFM is to be used solely by students.
|Schools/colleges can cross own a full-power and LPFM if the LPFM is to be used solely by students. LPFM stations can own up to 2 FM translators (4 for tribal).
|Schools/colleges can cross own a full-power and LPFM if the LPFM is to be used solely by students. LPFM stations can own up to 2 FM translators or boosters (4 for tribal).
|-
|§73.865 Assignments and transfers.
|Not allowed.
|Not allowed.
|Allowed after 3 years of licensed operation. Consideration limited to depreciated fair market value of equipment.
|Allowed after 3 years of licensed operation. Consideration limited to depreciated fair market value of equipment.
|4 year holding period only if LPFM CP was awarded through the point system.  Consideration limited to reasonable and prudent expenses.
|-
|§73.870 Definition of a minor move
|Up to 2 km for LP-100 and 1 km for LP-10.
|Up to 2 km for LP-100 and 1 km for LP-10.
|Up to 5.6 km for LP-100 and 3.5 km for LP-10.
|Up to 5.6 km for LP-100.
|Up to 11.2 km for LP-100 or if a showing can be made that the current and proposed 60 dBu has overlap.
|-
|§73.872 Point system factors
|Established local applicant, operation at least 12 hours per day,  8 hours of local progrmaming.
|Established local applicant, operation at least 12 hours per day,  8 hours of local progrmaming.
|Established local applicant, operation at least 12 hours per day,  8 hours of local progrmaming.
|Established local applicant, 8 hours of local programming, Main studio, local+main bonus point, diversity, tribal priority.
|Established local applicant, 8 hours of local programming, Main studio, local+main bonus point, diversity, tribal priority.
|-
|§73.872 Point aggregation
|No limits on time share groups size and aggregation of points.
|No limits on time share groups size and aggregation of points.
|No limits on time share groups size and aggregation of points.
|No limits on time share groups size and aggregation of points.
|Time share and point aggregation limited to 3 proponents in an MX group.
|-
|§73.872 Last resort policy
|Successive licenses of up to 8 applicants.
|Successive licenses of up to 8 applicants.
|Successive licenses of up to 8 applicants.
|Involuntary time sharing of up to 3 applicants.
|Involuntary time sharing of up to 3 applicants.
|}