LPFM stands for "low power frequency modulation". Low Power FM stations (LPFM) are community-based, non-commercial radio stations that operate at 100 watts or less and reach a radius of 3 to 7 miles.

You can find many of these stations in high schools across the nation. To the right, you will find many of these stations and their own webpages. If your high school station is not listed here, please send your URL address to tara.bulleigh@tusd1.org.



All information below is provided by the "Future of Music Coalition". You can visit their website and check out The Low Power FM Fact Sheet.

Who can get a license to operate a Low Power Radio FM station?

LPFM licenses are available to community groups, high schools, labor unions, churches and other nonprofit organizations that would like to reach out to a small, geographically concentrated group of individuals. About 780 radio stations, broadcasting at 100 watts or less, are currently successfully serving communities across the country, with many more in the process of applying for a license or in construction phase.

Legislative History of Low Power Radio Service

  • In January 2000, the FCC voted to issue low power FM radio licenses, a huge victory for communities nationwide where, in many instances, consolidation of commercial media outlets has led to decreased localism and diversity on the airwaves.
  • Incumbent broadcasters, represented in large part by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), opposed the FCC’s move and lobbied Congress to stop the service, warning that low power FM radio would cause "oceans of interference" for full power stations. Responding to this pressure, Congress passed the "Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act" in December 2000, which eliminated about 75 percent of the original LPFM licensing opportunities, predominantly in the most densely populated areas, and required that the FCC undertake a study of potential interference issues.
  • After three years of inquiry and testing, the interference study was released in July 2003. The MITRE Corporation, which was hired by the FCC to conduct the study, concluded that LPFM causes no significant interference problems and recommended lifting the burdensome restrictions imposed by Congress. In other words, the interference concerns raised by the NAB were, as predicted by Low Power advocates, unfounded.
  • In March 2005 the FCC began a further inquiry into possible revisions to its LPFM rules. Among the areas being explored are revisions to its point system (by which a choice is made from among mutually-exclusive qualified
    applicants) to no longer favor local programming, permitting ownership of more than one facility, permitting ownership by non-locally-based entities, permitting LPFM licenses to be sold or control to be transferred, and the need to protect existing translators from interference from LPFM stations. Comments are on file but a decision has not been issued.

LPFM Legislation Introduced in 2007

In June 2007, The Local Community Radio Act was introduced in both the House and the Senate. HR 2802 and S 1675 would remove the “third-adjacent channel” restrictions and allow more low power stations to be licensed in more urban and suburban areas. 

What You Can Do

Let members of Congress know that access to the airwaves impacts your livelihood and that you are concerned about the availability of low power FM radio licenses in your area.  Urge them to support pro-LPFM bills HR 2802 and S 1675.


Resources

Prometheus Radio Project 
Media Access Project
FCC's Audio Division
National Federation of Community Broadcasters