Advisory Letters

REC Advisory Letter #5: Changes to the Assignment and Transfer of LPFM stations

Thu, 11/19/2020 - 10:30

Revision 1 (11/19/2020): Assignee's FRN is now indicated on the assignment application instead of the Consummation Notice.

In the context of smaller noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcast stations, including Low Power FM (LPFM), an “assignment” is a transaction where the license is changed (assigned) to another nonprofit entity. A “transfer” is a transaction where the license remains where the license remains with the same entity, but there is a significant change in the persons that control the licensee organization.

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REC Advisory Letter #4: Directional antennas for LPFM stations

Mon, 11/09/2020 - 13:58

On October 30, 2020, Part 73 of the rules was amended to expand the use of directional antennas in the LPFM radio service.  With the new rules, LPFM stations may elect to use a directional antenna (DA) for any purpose, where in the past, it was limited to two specific reasons, public sector traveler’s information services (TIS) and solely for second adjacent channel protection.

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REC Advisory Letter #3: Lifting of freeze on new DTV allotments may impact LPFM/NCE availability

Thu, 10/29/2020 - 12:35

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). 

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REC Advisory Letter #2: LPFM stations operating on channels 201~221 (88.1~92.1): NCE filing window

Wed, 10/21/2020 - 09:40

The following is a first Advisory Letter from REC Networks to Low Power FM (LPFM) stations operating on reserved band channels 201~220 (88.1~91.9) and on channel 221 (92.1), which is first adjacent to channel 220 (91.9) to inform these stations about an upcoming filing window at the FCC for primary full-service facilities that can cause interference to or displace secondary LPFM stations.

In 2021, the Federal Communications Commission is planning to hold a filing window for new full-service noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcast stations in the “reserved band” (channels 201~220, frequencies 88.1~91.9).  This window will be for new full-service “full-power” FM broadcast stations with effective radiated powers of up to 50 or 100 kW, depending on which portion of the country the station is located in.   The last such filing window was conducted in 2007.  Stations from this window could be on the air as soon as very late 2021 or 2022.

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Updated: REC Advisory Letter #1: LPFM stations carrying network programming from "Relevant Radio"

Wed, 10/14/2020 - 09:00

“Relevant Radio” is the brand name of a radio service operated by Immaculate Heart Radio (IHR).  Relevant Radio is a 24-hour Catholic programming service that provides a noncommercial programming source to affiliated stations across the country as well as through digital delivery.  IHR, operating as Relevant Radio, Inc. owns several dozen full-service AM and FM broadcast stations and has been commended in the past by REC for preserving the legacy call letters of the stations that they acquire, including the infamous KHJ, Los Angeles.  A couple of years ago, IHR had converted their stations from noncommercial educational to commercial and in their markets have been selling time.  This, while maintaining a noncommercial stream for affiliated stations not owned by IHR. 

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