House Committee Limits Lpfm - House Commerce Committee; low power FM radio stations

Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, April 3, 2000

FCC took "conservative approach" to LPFM, Comr. Tristani said, including deciding not to license 1,000 w LPFM stations, not end 2nd-channel interference protection and to create buffer zone: "We could have licensed many more LPFM stations, but we didn't want to jeopardize the use of the spectrum."

At markup, Rep. Pallone (D-N.J.) said "most would be willing to suspend LPFM while it is examined once and for all." Rep. Ganske (R-Ia.) said after conflicting interference tests by FCC and NAB "we need to have this type of [new] study." Companion legislation by Sen. Gregg (S-2068), which mirrored Oxley bill before it was amended, is in Senate Commerce Committee awaiting hearing and markup.

Licensing window for first batch of LPFM stations is to include applicants for Alaska, Cal., D.C., Ga., Ind., La., Me., Mariana Islands, Md., Okla., R.I., Utah. Batch was first selected in FCC lottery March 20. Five-day filing window is to open in late May. Separate groups of states, in order selected in lottery, will have their own filing window each of next 4 years.

FCC formalized rules for Class A status for low-power TV (LPTV) stations in decision last week. Rules mainly codify conditions for Class A status that were included in Nov. legislation creating Class A, which gives qualifying LPTV stations same interference protection as full-power stations. Rules also allow FCC to grant Class A status to LPTV stations that don't otherwise qualify if Commission decides "public interest, convenience and necessity would be served... or for other reasons determined by the Commission."