LPFM Filing Window Extended and Rules Clarified

The FCC has announced that the Low Power FM Filing Window originally scheduled from October 15-29 has been extended until November 14, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. EST due to the government shutdown.  In addition, the second LPFM webinar originally scheduled for October 3^rd was rescheduled to October 24^th.

When it returned to work, the FCC released a Report & Order (the sixth one on reconsideration) in the proceeding adopting the new LPFM rules.  While it left in place its prior decisions on things like eligibility, 10 watt stations, and attribution, it did clarify some issues.  LPFM applicants will not be permitted to improve their comparative points position with post-window amendments.  In addition, LPFM applicants must protect FM translator input signals from both full-service and FM translator stations, but those input signals are only those in place as of June 17, 2013, the date that the LPFM window was announced.  Finally, LPFM applicants will now measure predicted interference to third adjacent channels from the location of the receive antenna.

On the input signal issue, the FCC issued a separate public notice providing guidance to LPFM applicants on how to locate translator input signal station data in the FCC database.