In October 2007, thousands of groups and media organizations applied to the Federal Communications Commission for licenses to build new community radio stations. After much anticipation, the FCC had lifted a seven-year freeze on filings for Noncommercial Educational (NCE) radio licenses. Among the applicants, including National Public Radio and numerous religious broadcasters, were more than 350 local community groups across the country.
In hopes of leveling the playing field, several progressive media organizations formed the Radio for People Coalition, coordinating the efforts of Prometheus Radio, the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB), Public Radio Capitol, Pacifica Radio, Common Frequency, Free Press and the Future of Music Coalition. Working together, they helped more than 200 groups apply in almost every state and US territory.
Since last year, the Commission has processed over 800 applications which were either granted as "singletons" – not mutually-exclusive with other applications, or dismissed because the applicant exceeded a 5 station filing cap. Despite pressure from NPR, Minnesota Public Radio, and religious broadcasters for high limits, the FCC restricted the number of noncommercial FM applications that could be filed by one party.
More than 260 applicants who want licenses in mutually exclusive areas have been asked to tell the FCC by early April whether they anticipate reaching a settlement or “share time” agreement. If they don’t, the Commission's staff will apply a point system to determine which should be preferred and granted. Other mutually exclusive applications will be handled at a later date.
A full-day intensive workshop for those who applied will be held at the upcoming NFCB conference in Atlanta. Among the speakers will be Ursula Reudenberg, Affiliates Coordinator for Pacifica Radio and coordinator of the network’s Radio South Campaign. Working with Atlanta-based Pacifica affiliate WRFG (Radio Free Georgia, 89.3 FM) and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, a rural civil rights organization with bases in Atlanta and rural areas, the Radio South initiative resulted in more than 20 completed applications, covering almost every southern state.
The federal government has periodically granted NCE frequencies, located between 88.1 and 91.9 on the FM dial, to nonprofit organizations free of charge. But according to FCC attorney John Crigler, who helped community radio applicants, this is the last of the free spectrum, "and this filing window will have social consequences. It is a last opportunity to have a fight about values and how public spectrum ought to be used," he said.
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What is startling about the recent filing window is the evidence of how many frequencies have been "found" by NPR and Church Network groups that were not found by community organizations.
What is startling is how little review is done by the FCC with regard to the actual amount of local service being proposed by many applicants who are not located in the community, or at best, represented by a few local people.
And what is startling is how the FCC inadvertently created a situation with regard to the resolution of the competing applications (MX'd proposals)where the best applicant may not get the license.
In the Puget Sound I have several examples of new station licenses in areas that were considered to have NO possible frequencies. This determination, that no new channels were possible, was made by well-known engineers including those working with the Radio for People coalition, and in visits in to the area by the Prometheus Project folks. In looking at the engineering maps and computer generated contours, I was also convinced that no channels were available. In fact, the Seattle NPR affiliate filed for a channel in Bellingham, and the Tacoma NPR affiliate filed for a channel in my own backyard of Sedro Woolley, and there were NO competing applications, meaning they will get the channels automatically. The secrecy of the process, and the FCC policy that no reconsideration will be made about any of these "singletons" regardless of whether they are the appropriate allocation of rare frequencies, means that the growing Bellingham area will now have 3 public radio channels but not one will permit local community programming. In my own valley, where the lack of channels means that Spanish and English audiences must share time on KSVR, we have been told for years that no open channel existed. However, a filing for a channel was made, by an NPR affiliate with a main studio over 100 miles away. Obviously, our community would have filed if we had been aware that a channel could be squeezed in here.
It is clear the FCC does not read the applications filed, or at best, does not evaluate the proposals against any measure of common sense. The NPR affiliate proposes to serve my community by "subscribing to the local newspaper", and allowing our residents to participate in an annual "select the song" event to have the song of their choice performed at a live concert in the Seattle area. No mention is made of having a radio program that features a local host or local guests. The station claims that local residents will benefit from the sharing of the "art of jazz" music, which will be featured all day on the channel, similar to many offerings on satellite radio, cable tv, and dozens of interet services. This cheapens and minimizes the real meaning of the public interest element that the FCC was mandated to consider when groups petitioned for this window.
I have found an license awarded to a rural part of Indiana near Cincinatti for a new community license (BNPED-20071019ANS) that is being offered for sale (www.radiogrit.com) to the highest bidder ("Nce Cp Available For 2kw Fm On 89.5. Last frequency left. We plan on building the station sometime this Spring. Price will be higher once station is built. If interested please email.") which contradicts the intent of such non-commercial licenses. The successful applicant has no plans to use the station for community programming, and currently operates a non-stop rock music non-comm with no apparent local programming at all. Did the FCC even read the application? for the new station or the station licensed in 2006? I doubt it. Here is the description of the applicants current station in Cincinatti: "No longer would listeners hear the same bubblegum crap on those other Classic Hits stations. ClassX was now playing Album Rock: a mix of New Melodic Album Rock releases combined with lost Classic Rock tracks from the past 40 years." That's it. Thats the format all day. No public affairs at all. Now they have another station, one they intend to sell at a profit. It's true no other group filed for this 89.5 channel in Versailles. But the FCC should deny the application based on the intent of applicant to not provide local community service programming, and their overt intent to sell it.
You can search for stations or applications in your own area, or anywhere in the country, at the FCC site (http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/fmq.html ).
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