For AM broadcast stations, making a change to all-digital operation means that their AM station would no longer be heard by listeners with a conventional AM radio, including those AM and AM/FM radios that people have in emergency preparedness kits.  In some areas of our country, the AM radio station, especially during the daytime, may provide some of the only localized emergency information either originated from the station or through the Emergency Alert System (EAS). 

Thanks to Pete Tridish for reminding us that on this day, ten years ago, the Senate passed, on unanimous consent, the Local Community Radio Act of 2010 (LCRA).  Just a day prior, the House passed the legislation on voice vote. The legislation was signed into law by President Obama on January 4, 2011.

This REC Advisory Letter is to advise LPFM licensees of a pending rulemaking proceeding before the FCC.  This is an overview of the proceeding and our initial analysis of the impacts to LPFM and potential positions that will be taken by REC Networks in respect to this proceeding.  As with any proceeding, REC always welcomes the input from LPFM licensees, including those that REC has not worked with in the past to provide input. 

On Monday, REC Networks has filed Reply Comments in two FCC proceedings.

In MB Docket 20-343, REC opposed a suggestion by Educational Media Foundation (EMF), the largest licensee of noncommercial educational (NCE) FM broadcast stations operating under the K-Love and Air1 brands, that called for the ability to file unlimited applications outside of the urban markets as long as those proposals do not face any competing applications.