REC has filed comments today in two FCC rulemaking proceedings.

First, in MB Docket 19-310 which called for an elimination of a rule which prohibits two commonly owned stations in the same service (AM or FM) to simultaneously run more than 25% of programming within generally the same area, REC has told the FCC that it opposes the repeal of this rule as it would destroy any hope for broadcast diversity and localism especially in light of the recent layoffs at iHeartMedia.  

In the refresh of the record for MB Docket 03-185, REC performed an extensive analysis of what rules would need to be put in place for both Franken FM stations (which we also refer to as "FM6") as well as full-service and secondary FM broadcast stations on 88.1, 88.3 and 98.5 MHz. 

REC is planning a series of system work to take place between December 21, 2019 through January 5, 2020.

Planned for this project:

Today, the FCC unceremoniously adopted the Report and Order in MB Docket 19-3.  This proceeding has made some changes to the way that mutually exclusive (MX) or competing applications filed in future full-service noncommercial educational (NCE) and Low Power FM (LPFM) stations will be handled.  The changes related to this include relaxation of required information on governance documents for NCE applicants, some harmonization of the NCE time share process with LPFM, additional priority for NCE applicants that filed in 2007 or 2010 but lost out on points and for the next L

In an early vote prior to the December 12 open meeting, the Federal Communications Commission has adopted a Report and Order on MB Docket 19-3.  A majority of the items in this docket spell out the ground rules for future filing windows for new noncommercial educational (NCE) and low power FM (LPFM) broadcast stations.  The FCC has officially addressed the timeline for future filing windows.  REC is promoting a timeline that calls for the window for new NCE FM stations to take place in mid to late 2020 (following Auction 106 and the conclusion of the TV repack) and