FCC to Grant Full Power Radio Non-Commercial Educational Licenses

From Guatemala to Georgia, India to Illinois, people working for change have built radio stations in their communities. For independent musicians, community and media activists, minority and ethnic service organizations, schools and many others, a locally owned non-commercial educational (NCE) radio station is key to accessing democracy. A broad and thriving collection of locally owned community radio stations serve America's cities and towns, but for the past fifteen years, it has been virtually impossible for any organization to access new or full-power non-commercial licenses.

Now, for the first and perhaps last time in a generation, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will grant full power non-commercial educational (NCE) licenses to eligible nonprofits, where they are able to locate open signals on the radio dial. Over the years, all manner of community-based nonprofits, large and small, have applied for and been awarded these licenses – arts, culture, environment, religious and labor organizations to name just a few. Stations serving specialized music interests can also apply, such as orchestras and classical music institutions, or bluegrass and jazz supporters who have lost much of their radio coverage. Any group with a message to communicate, or a desire to expand their organization locally, can benefit from this rare opportunity.

The FCC has not yet announced the specific dates of the filing window because it is currently processing the backlog of new station applications going back to the 1990s. When the window opens – and it will likely only last several days – potentially hundreds of licenses ranging from 100-100,000 watts will be available for free on the noncommercial FM band (88.1 - 91.9 FM). Groundbreaking stations that broadcast with such non-commercial radio licenses include: flagship independent music station WFMU, serving the New York City market; KGNU, reaching Boulder and Denver; bilingual station KSJV in California’s San Joaquin Valley; KUYI on the Hopi Indian Reservation; and the five Pacifica Radio stations reaching millions in Berkeley, Los Angeles, Houston, New York and Washington, DC.

The Nonprofit Sector Support Program of the Surdna Foundation and the Media, Arts and Culture unit of the Ford Foundation have joined with a dynamic and creative group of activists and organizations to prepare for this tremendous opportunity. Believing that a healthy civil society and vibrant democracy depend upon a media environment that serves the public interest, Ford and Surdna are committed to insuring that nonprofit and community groups can maximize their participation in the FCC’s filing window. Though these full-power licenses will be available for free, the application process is lengthy, complex and costly. Public Radio Capital, Prometheus Radio Project, Future of Music Coalition and the National Federation of Community Broadcasters have partnered to develop a smoother, more coordinated navigation of the financial, technical, legal and administrative hurdles posed by the application process for groups representing a variety of special interests. By so doing, this informal public radio coalition seeks to make the FCC full-power window a truly democratic moment of opportunity.

For additional information on the FCC full-power radio license process, please visit the website of the Future of Music Coalition, which provides a brief overview of the opportunity at this link:

http://www.futureofmusic.org/articles/FullPowerfactsheet07.cfm