4 ms·

Something I've been kind of playing with the idea of is setting up an Low Power FM[1] station to reach my local community. Since around 2000 the FCC has let peo

Something I've been kind of playing with the idea of is setting up an Low Power FM[1] station to reach my local community. Since around 2000 the FCC has let people get licenses for a non-commercial 1-100W FM radio station. Some of these have some really interesting formats; one lets listeners call in and leave a voicemail describing their dreams. If it's interesting, they'll air it. [1]: https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/lpfm https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/lpfm

nullc 4y ago
Have things changed? A decade ago LPFM was more fiction than reality, with very few licenses granted.
- yeetsfromhellL2 4y ago
  From what I remember reading when I dug into it, there's a group (or groups) dedicated solely to helping people get their permit for this. The FCC does not make it easy by any means, but when you know all the invisible hoops to jump through it can be done.
  - sidewndr46 4y ago
    Can you run one of the new digital radio standards or are you required to broadcast the wideband FM signal?
    - nullc 4y ago
      The patent licensing for hdradio is rather expensive!
      - sidewndr46 4y ago
        Hmm, so is that why almost no public radio stations have moved over to it? Everyone is waiting on the patents to expire first?
hilbert42 4y ago
If you're keen enough and have a message that's worth listening to and there's sufficient audience not to mention having a group of willing helpers to help you make it all happen then go ahead. Note, it's a lot of work. Applying for a license, public hearing etc. complying with regulations etc., getting the station running - studio, transmitter, antenna location etc. requires a group of dedicated people with a wide variety of skills to pull the whole operation together. I know, as I've done it. Years ago, not only was I involved in helping getting a community FM station running but back then where I live there was no FM service and we had to petition government to hold a commission of enquiry just to get the FM service approved. And that even meant having interlopers who were then occupying the international 88-108MHz FM band evicted. If that weren't enough we even built our stereo exciter and transmitter from scratch.
- yeetsfromhellL2 4y ago
  Do you have a write up somewhere? Building that stuff from scratch sounds like a hell of a project. I've toyed with the idea, but the technical barrier and responsibility is a steep obstacle that I'm not 100℅ ready to commit to at the moment. My community (and my property) are all perfect candidates for this though, and I have the time and money for it if I decide to commit. Out of curiosity, if you don't mind divulging, what general area was it operating? Alaska?
  - hilbert42 4y ago
    "Do you have a write up somewhere?" No, we've been notoriously inept at documenting our own history (and without pushing our barrow too far, I'd say some of it is milestone stuff that ought to rate higher in the history books on broadcasting). A number of our people have tried and there is lots documentation of sorts but nothing by way of a 'how-to' book. As is often usual with founders (especially techie ones), documentation is usually disorganized and rates a poor second to everything else. And we're no exception. Not sure what you'd need exactly (I'd roughly have to know your expertise, resources, human and otherwise and so on). BTW, there are many groups who've done this before so my group isn't unique by any stretch. I've no objection to providing you with some info from time to time if I can so long as it doesn't bog me down in too much work. "...if you don't mind divulging, what general area was it operating? Alaska?" No it's not Alaska, in fact Alaska would have already had FM services by the time we'd started (at least I think it did). I'd prefer not to divulge specific details here - not because of any secrecy or such but because it'd only further improve Google's indexing of me which I find irksome. I've no objection to contacting you by other ways if possible. I'll say this much I'm not in the US (however I'm familiar with and have visited the stations mentioned immediately below). In the meantime/for starters try these links, our listener-supported radio is similar to these services, albeit somewhat smaller: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KQED_Inc https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KQED_Inc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WBAI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WBAI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacifica_Foundation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacifica_Foundation First, note the age of these stations, this is quite relevant. It's unlikely you'll get any help from them directly as by now their founders will have either retired or have died (my experience is that the second generation of people is much more interested in talking on the radio than creating a radio station (in fact, there is a stark difference in attitude). Moreover, this later generation usually has little interest in the station's history so they actually know very little about how it started or came into existence. Nevertheless, you should get the flavor of things if you chase down rabbit holes and crevices in these or related links. Good luck.

nullc 4y ago

Have things changed? A decade ago LPFM was more fiction than reality, with very few licenses granted.

yeetsfromhellL2 4y ago
From what I remember reading when I dug into it, there's a group (or groups) dedicated solely to helping people get their permit for this. The FCC does not make it easy by any means, but when you know all the invisible hoops to jump through it can be done.
- sidewndr46 4y ago
  Can you run one of the new digital radio standards or are you required to broadcast the wideband FM signal?
  - nullc 4y ago
    The patent licensing for hdradio is rather expensive!
    - sidewndr46 4y ago
      Hmm, so is that why almost no public radio stations have moved over to it? Everyone is waiting on the patents to expire first?

hilbert42 4y ago

If you're keen enough and have a message that's worth listening to and there's sufficient audience not to mention having a group of willing helpers to help you make it all happen then go ahead. Note, it's a lot of work. Applying for a license, public hearing etc. complying with regulations etc., getting the station running - studio, transmitter, antenna location etc. requires a group of dedicated people with a wide variety of skills to pull the whole operation together. I know, as I've done it. Years ago, not only was I involved in helping getting a community FM station running but back then where I live there was no FM service and we had to petition government to hold a commission of enquiry just to get the FM service approved. And that even meant having interlopers who were then occupying the international 88-108MHz FM band evicted. If that weren't enough we even built our stereo exciter and transmitter from scratch.

yeetsfromhellL2 4y ago
Do you have a write up somewhere? Building that stuff from scratch sounds like a hell of a project. I've toyed with the idea, but the technical barrier and responsibility is a steep obstacle that I'm not 100℅ ready to commit to at the moment. My community (and my property) are all perfect candidates for this though, and I have the time and money for it if I decide to commit. Out of curiosity, if you don't mind divulging, what general area was it operating? Alaska?
- hilbert42 4y ago
  "Do you have a write up somewhere?" No, we've been notoriously inept at documenting our own history (and without pushing our barrow too far, I'd say some of it is milestone stuff that ought to rate higher in the history books on broadcasting). A number of our people have tried and there is lots documentation of sorts but nothing by way of a 'how-to' book. As is often usual with founders (especially techie ones), documentation is usually disorganized and rates a poor second to everything else. And we're no exception. Not sure what you'd need exactly (I'd roughly have to know your expertise, resources, human and otherwise and so on). BTW, there are many groups who've done this before so my group isn't unique by any stretch. I've no objection to providing you with some info from time to time if I can so long as it doesn't bog me down in too much work. "...if you don't mind divulging, what general area was it operating? Alaska?" No it's not Alaska, in fact Alaska would have already had FM services by the time we'd started (at least I think it did). I'd prefer not to divulge specific details here - not because of any secrecy or such but because it'd only further improve Google's indexing of me which I find irksome. I've no objection to contacting you by other ways if possible. I'll say this much I'm not in the US (however I'm familiar with and have visited the stations mentioned immediately below). In the meantime/for starters try these links, our listener-supported radio is similar to these services, albeit somewhat smaller: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KQED_Inc https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KQED_Inc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WBAI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WBAI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacifica_Foundation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacifica_Foundation First, note the age of these stations, this is quite relevant. It's unlikely you'll get any help from them directly as by now their founders will have either retired or have died (my experience is that the second generation of people is much more interested in talking on the radio than creating a radio station (in fact, there is a stark difference in attitude). Moreover, this later generation usually has little interest in the station's history so they actually know very little about how it started or came into existence. Nevertheless, you should get the flavor of things if you chase down rabbit holes and crevices in these or related links. Good luck.