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.
| 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. |