Media Bureau Releases Updated Low Power FM Spectrum Availability Data
PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
Washington, D.C. 20554
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 12-1987
Released: December 10, 2012
Media Bureau Releases Updated Low Power FM
Spectrum Availability Data Files
The Media Bureau (Bureau) announces the release of updated water files for certain markets inanticipation of the resumption of Auction 83 FM translator application processing in the near future.
The Low Power FM (LPFM) Fourth Report and Order1 included a detailed LPFM spectrum
availability analysis at selected grid points within core areas in 156 studied markets. A description of the
Bureau’s methodology and the summary results of its analysis appear in the Fourth Report and Order’s
Appendices A and B. The Commission relied on this same methodology to fashion new processing rules
for FM translator applications that remain pending from the 2003 Auction 83 window, and upheld and
clarified these processing rules in the LPFM Fifth Order on Reconsideration.2 To help FM translator
applicants identify protected LPFM channel/grid point combinations, the Bureau released the spectrum
availability analysis program and data files by Public Notice on April 30, 2012.3
However, based on user comments and its own independent review, the Bureau has identified a
few minor discrepancies in the files used to exclude grid points at locations over water or not within the
United States. Specifically, the Bureau has updated the water files for Chicago, IL, Detroit, MI,
Jacksonville, FL, and Los Angeles, CA. The following path provides access to the code, the updated
water files and other related files:
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/MB/Databases/source_code/lpfm/lpfm6.20121206.zip.
Users should pay particular attention to the Readme.txt file in the zip file that describes the contents of the
package.
For further information regarding the LPFM spectrum availability program, contact Jorden Brinn or Jim
Bradshaw, Audio Division, Media Bureau at (202) 418-2700. Press inquiries should be directed to Janice
Wise, (202) 418-8165. TTY: (202) 418-7172 or (888) 835-5322.
1 See Creation of a Low Power FM Service, Fourth Report and Order and Third Order on Reconsideration, 27 FCC
Rcd 3364 (2012) (“Fourth Report and Order”).
2 See Creation of a Low Power FM Service, Amendment of Service Rules and Eligibility Rules for FM Broadcast
Translator Stations, Fifth Order on Reconsideration and Sixth Report and Order, FCC 12-144 (rel. Dec. 4, 2012)
(“Fifth Order on Reconsideration”).
3 See Media Bureau Announces Release of Low Power FM Spectrum Availability Program
and Data Files, Public Notice, 27 FCC Rcd 4812 (MB 2012).
--FCC--
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