In 2003, the FCC unknowingly caused the Great Translator Invasion.  In this window, over 13,000 applications were filed for new FM translators in the Auction 83 filing window, of which, almost one-third of the applications were filed by two commonly owned entities.  What would entail afterwards was the loss of many opportunities for new LPFM stations, a place in federal legislation, massive permit trafficking and one of the biggest government handouts ever for an auction that only raised $574,711 to the US Treasury.  

In a short Public Notice, the Federal Communications Commission has announced the dates for the next filing window for new Low Power FM (LPFM) broadcast stations.  

The filing window will open at 12:01 AM EDT on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 and will close at 6:00 PM EDT on November 8, 2023. 

This will be the first Public Notice released by the FCC on this. 

REC Networks is pleased that President Biden has made a choice for a fifth Commissioner for the Federal Communications Commission.  If confirmed, it will finally break the 2-2 deadlock on the Commission and allow the FCC to move forward on issues such as net neutrality, which has been split along party lines and may also be the catalyst to finally get some steam on issues such as various REC initiatives including LP-250, translator reform and rural NCE expansion.  It may also address the Petition for Reconsideration on the FM duplication rule change, for which REC was a joint filer