Welcome, LPFM 2.0

The FM band is about to get more crowded, courtesy of the legislative branch of the US government.  I have been mixed on LPFM based on my own technical experiences.  That being said, the FCC seems hell-bent on shoe-horning every possible signal into the FM band, so why not?  It certainly won’t be any worse than IBOC or the ever-growing crop of translators.  LPFM could possibly bring back local radio to some markets, depending on who gets the licenses and how they are acted on.  A local school district around here picked up an LPFM license on the last go around.  During the double blizzard of February 2010, they filled the shoes of the two former local stations, which have become remote-controlled repeater stations for a city 35 miles away, so there is a glimmer of possibility.

According to HR 6533, the original channel spacings (elimination of the 3rd adjacent channel protections) in MM Docket No. 99-25 are to be implemented.  Additionally, LPFM stations are on the same footing as translators and FM booster stations, which is a slight change from LPFM 1.1

I’d expect to see an NPRM from the FCC rather quickly, as the bill is pretty specific.  It may be interesting to see how possible frequencies are identified for LPFM service.

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