Greetings from Riverton. As we are all waiting for the results of this year’s presidential election, no matter which side you are on, we must also remember that whomever wins this election also wins the FCC.  Commissioners on the FCC are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.  Most importantly, the President also designates the FCC Chairman.  This will also steer the direction of where the FCC will go in the next four years. 

This document was delcared obsolete on August 3, 2023.

This REC Advisory Letter is directed to prospective participants in the 2021 NCE Filing Window, potential 2022 LPFM Filing Window as well as existing NCE and LPFM licensees planning minor change applications in the reserved band (88.1~91.9 MHz, channels 201~220). 

The Federal Communications Commission has voted 5-0 today to adopt a Report and Order in MB Docket 19-311 for all-digital AM broadcasting. 

In the circulation draft, released three weeks prior to today’s meeting, the order calls for the ability for AM stations to voluntarily switch to an all digital operation using the Xperi (Ibiquity) HD Radio MA3 standard of in-band on-channel (IBOC) broadcasting.

In order to protect the integrity of the LPFM service by preventing commercial influence through speculation and “shadow ownership” (control of a station by an undisclosed third party), REC has filed Informal Objections against applications where it was supsected that speculative behavior was taking place. In other words, a single party filing for multiple facilities with the intention of either building a radio network or to sell the permits to other parties for a profit.