The FCC announced today it will hold a filing window for new non-commerical FMs from November 2 through November 9.
The filing window will be for vacant allocations in the reserved band (88.1 to 91.9) only. The agency has also instituted a ten application limit by any party just as it did in the previous non-comm window in 2007. The agency states that the cap “supports the goals of localism and diversity reflected in the NCE FM point system” and “remains a reasonable limit to prevent mass filings by speculators and to permit the efficient and expeditious processing of window-filed applications”.
A few commenters requested the FCC consider a five station limit, NPR agreed with the ten station limit, while Educational Media Foundation asked for the ability to designate ten as primary applications with the ability to exceed the limit for non-mutually exclusive applications for areas in non rated counties.
The Media Bureau (Bureau) announces a filing window for applications for noncommercial educational (NCE) FM new station construction permits. The filing window will open at 12:01 am EDT on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, and close at 6:00 pm EST on November 9, 2021. The window is available for FM reserved band (channels 201 – 220) proposals.1
New applications must be filed electronically on FCC Form 2100, Schedule 340 in the Bureau’s Licensing Management System (LMS). The Commission recently amended its rules and procedures for filing NCE FM applications and selecting and licensing competing NCE FM applications.2 The Bureau will provide detailed information about filing procedures and requirements by public notice in advance of the filing window. Interested applicants also may monitor the Audio Division Web Page for information and developments: http://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/audio-division/.