[grc] REC files petition to improve LPFM coverage

[dragon]

Congrats and way to go Michi!!

Todd
Phantom Machine Works
OpenSourceRadio.org




On 04/21/2015 08:34 AM, Michi Bradley wrote:
> RIVERTON, MD (APRIL 20, 2015) --- A project that was over two years in
> the making, REC Networks has filed a Petition for Rulemaking intended to
> help LPFM stations enhance their signal within their current three mile
> service area as well as reach out to more rural areas.
> 
> In today's filing, REC is asking the Federal Communications Commission
> to allow 50 to 75 percent of currently authorized LPFM stations to
> increase their effective radiated power from 100 watts (based on 30
> meters height above average terrain) to 250 watts increasing the average
> protected service contour from 3½ miles to about a 4½ mile radius.
>  Unlike the previous proposals filed by The Amherst Alliance and the
> Catholic Radio Association which focused on rural expansion and was
> tabled by the FCC due to disagreement in the community, the REC petition
> focuses first on enhancing the listener experience within the "three
> mile zone", the prime area that current LP-100 stations serve.  Many
> LPFM stations are experiencing issues with building penetration and
> other issues within the three mile zone.
> 
> Unlike the previous LPFM proposals which restricted upgrades to rural
> stations only, the new LP-250 Petition for Rulemaking calls for no
> geographic restrictions on the upgrading of LPFM stations.  Stations
> that will not be able to upgrade are those in spectrum crowded areas,
> near the Mexican border and in some cases, stations that can not meet
> the requirements for a second adjacent channel waiver at the higher power.
> 
> REC's proposal has some additional provisions that call for additional
> processes for handling LPFM stations in foothill areas that have a very
> long service contour in some directions.  This additional protection
> requirement assures that full-service FM stations and FM translators are
> protected from "super-sized" LPFMs.   Currently, 7% of all LPFM stations
> are considered as "foothill" stations.
> 
> In addition to the power increase, REC has also asked the FCC to allow
> 100-watt LPFM stations to move up to 6.9 miles (11.1 km) and upgraded
> LP-250 stations up to 8.7 miles (14.1 km) as a minor move, remove the
> requirement of service contour overlap between LPFM stations and
> commonly-owned FM translators in light of other restrictions in place to
> keep these stations local, new second-adjacent channel protection
> requirements for FM translators and to provide relief to time share
> stations subject to the 8-hours per day local programming pledge.
> 
> Information about the LP-250 proposal can be found at*LP250.com*
> <http://lp250.com/>and an online lookup where granted LPFM stations can
> check their upgrade potential can be found at *check.LP250.com*
> <http://check.lp250.com/>.
> 
> REC Networks, established in 1984 is dedicated to entertainment,
> information and support.  REC has been involved with the Low Power FM
> radio service since the original petitions for rulemaking.  Over the
> years, REC along with other allied advocates in the media justice
> community have worked together to pass and implement the Local Community
> Radio Act as well as assure integrity in the LPFM service.  REC also
> provides various free online services including mylpfm.com, FCCdata.org
> andhttp://fcc.today <http://fcc.today/>, the dashboard for activity at
> the FCC Media Bureau. REC Broadcast Services, LLC is a Wisconsin
> corporation that provides professional FCC filing services for LPFM
> stations and other radio services.
> 
> Media Contact: Michelle Bradley 202 621-2355
> 
> ###
> 
> _______________________________________________
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