Now that the comment and reply comment period are over, the FCC has a lot of work cut out for them. 

Over these next few months, the FCC is going to continue reviewing the comments received throughout April and the reply comments received in May.  While there is no set timeline on when the FCC must issue the Sixth Report and Order with the final rules from the various LPFM proposals discussed in the Fifth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (that we just finished commenting on), the FCC's Audio Division consider getting these final rules out "a major priority".

In a public forum on LPFM, FCC Audio Division staff member James Bradshaw clarified the requirements that FM Translators will be required to follow to protect LPFM protected channel/points. 

On May 16 from 2.00~3.30PM EDT, the FCC will hold a public forum for the two recent Report and Orders. There will be discussion about the FCC's LPFM Grid software, FM Translator non-preclusion showings and the processing differences between spectrum limited and spectrum available markets. There will also be time for audience questions.

Those in DC can attend at the FCC:
445 12th St SW
Commission Meeting Room

It will also be streamed live at
http://www.fcc.gov/live

Questions may be e-mailed on the day of the event to livequestions@fcc.gov

REC recommends anyone who is interested in the upcoming translator application process should attend this forum.

In March, when the FCC decided the fate of over 6,000 FM Translator pending applications from the 2003 Auction 83 window, they had two objectives.  First they had to comply with the Local Community Radio Act of 2010 which states that LPFM and FM translator licenses must be available based on community need.  They also needed to address an issue by REC and many others regarding the excessive speculative filing of applications during the Auction 83 window which REC referred to at that time as the "Great Translator Invasion". 

To address the issues with the LCRA, the FCC developed the concept of "channel floors" and grids which turned into spectrum limited and available markets as well as LPFM protected channel/points.