Just sharing with everyone my conditions here in Connecticut regarding the FM band 88.1 to 107.9 MHz. A friend of mine broadcasts with an FM transmitter that puts out roughly 100 MW. He has been using a vacant frequency for some time now, but has been experiencing interference from another station 200KHz below his frequency--The station is WMRQ 104.1MHz. So he was checking various web sites to which offer suggested vacant frequencies per a given zip code area. Checking some of the suggested frequencies, one was pretty quite and he was thinking of switching to it. It was 200KHz above his current frequency at 104.5MHz.
I decided to go to the FCC FM frequency data base website and type in the frequency 104.1MHZ to 104.7MHz to see what the results were. As it turned out, his current frequency 104.3MHz had REVIVAL CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES, INC showing up with a construction permit application in an area less than 10 miles away in Groton CT. The new frequency he choose which was 104.5MHz, also showed a construction permit modification application on file for a station that is also showing up as the same REVIVAL CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES, INC as the applicant for the purpose of rebroadcasting a local AM radio station WICH AM on that frequency and the 60 Db contour map (Link provided below) indicates that the new FM station would cover a 50 mile radius. The purposed antenna would be perfectly line of site to my friend's house and about 3 miles away to the south of his central Norwich antenna location.
Now this would mean that once that station starts broadcasting on 104.5MHz, it would bleed over on his current frequency of 104.3MHz and would of course, make his new choice of 104.5MHz a bad one because a .25 KW station would soon be broadcasting there on that exact same frequency at some point soon. One Authorized by the FCC.
Here's some links to what research I've done. By the way the original frequency my friend was broadcasting on was 104.3 MHz, the purposed frequency he was going to move to was 104.5 On this page, I have all frequencies listed for Connecticut from 88.1 to 107.9MHz.
As you can see from both links above, if my friend was broadcasting a 50 Watt pirate station, he would have been flagged by the FCC rather quickly, because for one, the applicant would have observed another station on their assigned frequency. For another, the FCC would obviously be in the area some time soon to check out the applicant's equipment and they to, would observe another station already using the frequency unauthorized. Good way to get caught real quick!
Now as I looked over the data base I can NOT find a single frequency in the Norwich area that isn't either already in use or has a CP attached to it. Keep in mind, that the Rhode Island state boarder is close to Norwich and Long Island New York is just south of Connecticut and Massachusetts is due north and east of Norwich. So FM stations from those states play a factor as well to the FM band congestion found in my area.
My point to this topic is, the above reasons are good ways to get caught by the FCC and the fact that there are no frequencies left--the Cristian stations have used them all up as LPFM stations. Why doesn't the FCC just assign them one frequency with a larger amount of ERP output?
What they really need to do is re-assign the old 49.00 to 89.9Mhz to FM broadcasters.
Quite a common problem in larger cities. In fact you think it sucks for pirates trying to find a free channel to use well you ought to be a person trying to legitimately get a frequency legally. With the FCC regulations it is almost next to impossible to get licensed in a large city with the whole FM broadcast spectrum being used up.
In those situations it may be a viable alternative to think about setting up for AM instead. Sure audio quality on most peoples radios will suffer because of the inherent limitations manufactures build into car radios today but if you have a lot of talk based programming it can be highly beneficial for both free frequencies and reception distance.
Only other option is biting the bullet and just going on air anyways risks and all, or find a legal medium (I know not as attractive) like webcasting. If you do go on the dial anyways I would recommend sticking to the low band from 88-92MHz since that spectrum is only used by non-commercial broadcasters and you would be less likely to step on the feet of the big guys.
Quite a common problem in larger cities. In fact you think it sucks for pirates trying to find a free channel to use well you ought to be a person trying to legitimately get a frequency legally. With the FCC regulations it is almost next to impossible to get licensed in a large city with the whole FM broadcast spectrum being used up.
In those situations it may be a viable alternative to think about setting up for AM instead. Sure audio quality on most peoples radios will suffer because of the inherent limitations manufactures build into car radios today but if you have a lot of talk based programming it can be highly beneficial for both free frequencies and reception distance.
Only other option is biting the bullet and just going on air anyways risks and all, or find a legal medium (I know not as attractive) like webcasting. If you do go on the dial anyways I would recommend sticking to the low band from 88-92MHz since that spectrum is only used by non-commercial broadcasters and you would be less likely to step on the feet of the big guys.
This is true for my area, however the low band is what it congested for me. NPR has 3 channels in our are on the low band sucking it all up, with the rest being blown out by the immigrants broadcasting their Spanish stations. I had a nice cozy position at 88.3 Mhz in my area for a little while till it got too much interference from NPR 88.1 and NPR 88.5............................................. All I could hear was NPR blasting through into my signal. I had to move up to an empty band and thank god it is now clear, but it is next to the big boys and I'm afraid I may awaken the beast since I have been using 10 watts power recently for short brief times. Thinking about going lower...
Your right about getting a license for LPFM I have tried and it appears that Norwich's FM band has no areas were there is no issues with co-channel, 1st channel and 2nd channel immunity.
Hence this snippit from CFR part 74:
§ 73.207 Minimum distance separation between stations. (a) Except for assignments made pursuant to § 73.213 or 73.215, FM allotments and assignments must be separated from other allotments and assignments on the same channel (cochannel) and five pairs of adjacent channels by not less than the minimum distances specified in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section. The Commission will not accept petitions to amend the Table of Allotments unless the reference points meet all of the minimum distance separation requirements of this section. The Commission will not accept applications for new stations, or applications to change the channel or location of existing assignments unless transmitter sites meet the minimum distance separation requirements of this section, or such applications conform to the requirements of § 73.213 or 73.215. However, applications to modify the facilities of stations with shortspaced antenna locations authorized pursuant to prior waivers of the distance separation requirements may be accepted, provided that such applications propose to maintain or improve that particular spacing deficiency. Class D (secondary) assignments are subject only to the distance separation requirements contained in paragraph (b)(3) of this section. (See § 73.512 for rules governing the channel and location of Class D (secondary) assignments.) (b) The distances listed in Tables A, B, and C apply to allotments and assignments on the same channel and each of five pairs of adjacent channels. The five pairs of adjacent channels are the first (200 kHz above and 200 kHz below the channel under consideration), the second (400 kHz above and below), the third (600 kHz above and below), the fifty-third (10.6 MHz above and below), and the fifty-fourth (10.8 MHz above and below).
I have tried to apply for a license and the process stops as soon as I enter my exact Latitude and Longitude right down to the seconds. It states I am too close to other sations and stations can also have their frequency blocked from any 1st, 2nd or 3rd channel intruders (Interference). As you'll see below.
I hope you do not mind my adding my results to this topic. It simply shows how stations that don't even exist on the FM band anywhere in Connecticut can stop you from aquring a vacant frequency. I am still not sure how that station in New London was able to be purchased by WICH and moved to a tower already being used by WCTY and owned by WICH Inc. when the original license was for a Christian church in Groton Connecticut. More info on any station can be found in the FCC's public records for any given license holder, even if it involves a transfer of location or ownership. So it appears W283BW was purchased by Hall Communications which owns WCTY and WICH and intends to move W283BW's license to Cook Drive in Montville CT to WCTY's transmission tower. Now if I can't get a license for this area, how can they move a LPFM 20 miles north-north-west and not get blocked?
Anyways here's my results from the FCC for a LPFM license:
The channel(s) shown are blocked by the station(s) below. The column Rules contains the required spacing, in kilometers. Try the suggested location (latitude,longitude), at the approximate offset (km; heading N, S, E, or W) from your proposed location.
LPFM Chn Blocker Chn Adj Lat. Long. Dist. Rule Possible Site Try Moving 225 US223 2nd 41.56 72.85 58.0 67 41 28 25 072 02 56 S 1.4 E 9.1 km 225 US226 1st 42.24 72.65 93.2 97 41 27 21 072 08 17 S 3.4 E 1.6 km 236 US239 3rd 41.56 72.84 57.9 67 41 28 26 072 02 52 S 1.4 E 9.2 km 236 US236 co- 41.49 73.43 106.2 112 41 29 08 072 05 03 S 0.1 E 6.1 km 236 US235 1st 41.03 71.98 52.7 56 41 30 51 072 10 08 N 3.1 W 0.9 km 247 US247 co- 41.64 70.87 108.6 112 41 28 51 072 12 04 S 0.6 W 3.6 km
Oh and by the way the FCC does not use frequncies, they use channel numbers for the FM band, 88.1 MHz is channel 201 and 107.9MHz is channel 300. So there is only 100 channels total in the FM band.
NOW HERE ARE THE STATIONS THAT BLOCKED ME FROM GETTING A LPFM LICENSE:
EDIT: I decided just to add a link to my results and removed all the text I copied and pasted here originally.
Tool Options. Applications for new LPFM stations must currently meet certain distance separation requirements to stations operating on and applications proposing operations on second-adjacent channels and intermediate frequency (I.F.) channels (+/- 53 and 54 channels). The Commission is currently considering standards for waiving second-adjacent channel spacing requirements and a proposal to exempt LPFM stations operating at less than 100 watts from I.F. spacing requirements. See the Fifth Report and Order, Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Fourth Notice on Reconsideration in MM Docket 99-25, FCC 12-28, released March 19, 2012 [ Link to PDF file below in this post) Commission action on these proposals could affect LPFM channel availability at many locations. Searches can include or exclude either or both of these spacing requirements to help LPFM applicants take into account these potential rule changes.
I found this PDF file which relates to my text above:
I see where REVIVAL CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES, INC sold their 104.5Mhz LPFM license for $200,000 USD to Hall Communications. Heres the file of transfer, although it mentions nothing about the price Hall paid for the transmitter (which must have been part of the $200,000 price tag. licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/1544231.pdf
Imagine getting that much money for a free license and a transmitter that at most cost about $2000.00 USD
I.m in Toronto Canada and on fm I have 2 places to go and if a station gets there that will be it for fm broadcasting! Only answer is two things, move to a more rural area at least 60 miles from a major city or cities, or go to AM where there's lots of space...yeah the noise interference sucks and the majority of people won't listen to AM but it's better than nothing! We baby boomers grew up with AM radio listening to the hit parade and there was less noise back then...hydro was cleaner then also. Here in Toronto the problem isn't local stations but also the stations coming from everywhere else around.
I live in the Seattle-Vancouver corridor of no-spots-left-on-the-FM-dial-so-they're-doubling-up. The ethnic stations are even heading to the AM channels for breathing room.
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