Some examples of great testimony from the recent LPFM forum at the FCC:
These sorts of statements can be very helpful in helping the FCC make its decisions about Low Power FM radio. Take a look at these two quotes, made recently at the Federal Communications Commission by current Low Power FM radio broadcasters.
Marianne Knorzer describes the results of
powerful stations encroaching upon her LPFM's coverage area:
"And, just recently after the opening up of Commercial FMs to petitions
for new channels, a new Class A 1st adjacent station will short space
us from the East with what looks like a serious encroachment {on our
coverage area}. We will
get knocked off air due to our secondary status. We should have the
confidence to create our station, and gain support from the community,
without the fear of being shrunk down in coverage to a couple of
blocks..."
Marianne Knorzer, KRBS-LP, Oroville California
Sakura Saunders
describes the impact that the recent FCC translator window had on the LPFM service:
By FCC estimates, there were 279 stations in 54 radio markets available
for the LPFM service {without the 3rd adjacent protections}. Now,
according to a RECNET study, there are only 4 frequencies available in those
same markets. These are the LPFM frequencies lost for the sake of translators,
which merely repeat other signals. And, remember that most of these translators
are going to 15 organizations. LPFM deserves to get primary status over
these translators. LPFM also
deserves priority in terms on FCC staff energy. Over a thousand of
these translator applications have already been granted while it took
most LPFM broadcasters 3 years to receive their construction permit.
Sakura Saunders, KDRT-LP, Davis California