Earlier this week, the FCC, on it's own motion eliminated several obsolete rules from Parts 1, 73 and 76. Some of the rules included those related to the TV "broadcast flag" which was intended to thwart piracy as well as the so-called "Fairness Doctrine".

The "Fairness Doctrine" was one of the last of the regulations on the book that made broadcasters accountable to the communities that they are licensed to. Unenforced for the past few decades, the Fairness Doctrine required broadcasters to air opposing viewpoints to commentary made over the air.

The FCC has informed REC late Friday afternoon that a Public Notice will be issued that officially announces the comment deadline dates. In addition, the FCC will also publish the parameters and programs used to determine the availability of LPFM channels, which is being used as a basis to determine the disposition of thousands of pending Auction 83 FM Translator applications. This data was requested by REC and other parties who have been in contact with REC since our motion was filed last Friday morning after the NPRM was published in the Federal Register.

The Third NPRM for the Low Power FM Radio Service (MM Docket 99-25) and the Scope of Translators proceeding (MB Docket 07-172) has been published in the Federal Register. This will start the clock on the comment period.

Comments are due: August 29, 2011.
Reply comments due: September 12, 2011.

Comments may be filed electronically through the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).

REC will be issuing opinions on the aspects of the NPRM at a later time.

In reply comments to the FCC on MB Docket 11-83 (Economic impact of LPFM to full service broadcasting), REC affirms the position that the economic impact to full service broadcasting stations by LPFM broadcasting stations would be extremely minimal. REC goes on to mention that the economic impact faced by LPFM broadcasters due to the actions of full service broadcasters such as facility moves to improve market share and make the full service station more profitable far exceeds any perceived economic "harm" caused by LPFM stations.

Listeners in Austin, TX who tune to 103.1 FM are in for a bit of a surprise. The FCC records show that a translator is on that frequency belonging to Educational Media Foundation (EMF), the California-based mega-ministry that operates the “K-Love” and “Air 1” radio networks on hundreds of full power FM radio stations and FM translators nationwide. However, on 103.1 in Austin, listeners do not hear inspiring Christian contemporary music or the reading of scripture. Instead, they hear promotions for gentlemen’s clubs and “natural male enhancement”.

Due to the recent rule changes that allow AM radio stations to be carried on FM translators, EMF is seizing the opportunity by entering into an agreement with commercial mega-broadcaster Clear Channel to carry the signal of AM 1300 KVET, an all-sports format on FM using the facility on 103.1 FM.

This is upsetting the residents in a nearby community who listen to low power radio station, KDRP-LP.