Updated June 23, 2020.

The petition for rulemaking was filed by a consortium of 24 broadcast licensees calling themselves “Broadcasters for Limited Program Origination” (BLPO). 

The petition was in response to the petition made by GeoBroadcast Solutions that petitioned the FCC to allow FM boosters to originate separate content at times.  This item was put on public notice as RM-11854 and public comments were collected in April.

The BLPO Petition calls for the FCC to look beyond boosters for local origination but to also permit FM translators (as well as boosters) to originate up to 128 hours per week of separate programming without any restrictions on the type of content the translator/booster carries.

BLPO also calls for the “coverage contour” which is used to determine the coverage area of a translator to extend past the 60 dBu contour clear out to the 45 dBu contour of the primary station.  For this, BLPO is citing the recent changes in FM translator interference remediation rules that allows valid complaints to come from listeners located within the 45 dBu contour of the complaining station.

REC Networks regrets to report the news of the loss of one of our dearest friends, Donna DIBianco.

For those who have ever attended a recent Grassroots Radio Conference or have been involved in a NCE or LPFM station, you may know Donna. Donna, also known as the "Community Radio Goddess" would travel to different radio stations, especially those that were established after the 2007 NCE window to provide on-site support to assist stations in starting up their operations.  She referred to herself as a "start-up specialist".  Donna developed her own guides for broadcast stations to use to assure they remained in compliance. 

On Wednesday, April 22, 2020 prior to the FCC open meeting, the Commission has voted to adopt the Report and Order in MB Docket 19-193 with some modifications asked for by REC, ABC and NAB in ex parte presentations.

Here’s a combined list of all of the changes that both have been adopted in MB Docket 19-3 as well as those items expected to be adopted in MB Docket 19-193 as it relates to LPFM.  The FCC is expected to vote on the 19-193 technical proposal either at the Open Meeting scheduled on April 23, 2020 likely by teleconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic or sooner (as the Commission did with the March meeting items).  Items on MB Docket 19-193 are subject to change between now and that vote.  In addition, there will be an opportunity after the Commission adopts MB Docket 19-193 that petitions for