RM-9208, RM-9242 and RM-9246: Difference between revisions
(Created page with "RM-9208 was a Petition for Rulemaking written by Nickolaus E. Leggett and Donald J. Schellhardt and was one of two petitions that became the catalyst for the creation of the Low Power FM (LPFM) radio service through the creation of one watt "microstations" in the AM and FM broadcast bands. === The original petition === The [https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/196908 original petition] which was received by the FCC on July 17, 1997 proposed amendments t...") |
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Revision as of 22:32, 28 July 2022
RM-9208 was a Petition for Rulemaking written by Nickolaus E. Leggett and Donald J. Schellhardt and was one of two petitions that became the catalyst for the creation of the Low Power FM (LPFM) radio service through the creation of one watt "microstations" in the AM and FM broadcast bands.
The original petition
The original petition which was received by the FCC on July 17, 1997 proposed amendments to the rules to permit "microstations" on the AM and FM broadcast bands. The microstation would serve an area of one to several square miles to service a single small municipality or a very small neighborhood of a larger municipality. According to the petition, the microradio broadcast service would provide an opportunity for individual citizens and small groups of citizens to operate radio broadcast services and would expand the variety of subjects and types of entertainment presented. New musical groups could present their music society and new social and political options could be discussed.
The concept called for one AM and one FM channel be set aside for microbroadcasting. Each station would serve a specific geographic location (referred to as a "cell"). Microstations would be one watt, use nondirectional vertical antennas no more than 50 feet above ground level. Licenses would be issued for a 5 year term and have a flat regulatory fee of $50.
in a subsequent filing in March 1998, Leggett and Schellhardt stated that microstations should not be licensed to larger corporations and that multiple microbroadcasters should be permitted to share a frequency and that perhaps power ceilings greater than one watt should be considered. The petitioners opposed the concept of a noncommercial only service and that some licenses should be set aside for race-based and gender-based groups.
Comments in support of the petition came from various individuals, some who to this day, remain involved in the LPFM movement. Dave Solomon, who would later form the Low Power FM Advocacy Group supported the concept of allowing FM translators to be able to originate their own programming.[1] In February, 1998, Michael Reynolds, who at the time was the owner of the W0KIE Satellite Radio Network and currently the principal of KOKT-LP, Tulsa, Oklahoma, suggested that the service be unlicensed and allow up to 15 watts.[2] The Puerto Rico Radio Broadcasters Association, which generally supported the creation of a microradio service on the mainland, requested that Puerto Rico be excluded from the service due to the unique terrain and the need to protect the Arecibo Radio Astronomy Observatory.[3]