The Federal Communications Commission has made decisions on nearly 1000 of the 1400 plus applications for Low Power FM radio licenses which are designated “singletons”, or applications which have no competing applications. The San Benito County application is a “singleton”. Applications were submitted from all over the United States. The 282 applications from California are 35% completed, including permits granted in; Watsonville, Santa Cruz, Davis, Arcata, Ventura, Half Moon Bay, Sacramento, Oroville, Susanville, Stockton, Sonora, Fresno, Alturas, Modesto, and Crescent City.
So far, 38% of the applications have been approved for construction permits. Once the construction permit is granted, they must build their station within 18 months. If they have not completed the station at the end of the 18 months, they may apply for an 18 month extension.
Among those granted licenses are several Animal Rights Groups, more than 20 Religious Organizations, 15 Universities or Colleges, Granges, American Legion Halls, stations for music for children, school districts, High Schools, tribal groups, arts organizations, stations to serve agricultural communities and municipal groups.
The Radio Survivor website describes Low-Power FM (LPFM) as “a class of non-commercial FM station intended for non-profit groups to create non-commercial stations that are both inexpensive to build and operate. Because of their low power levels they serve limited geographic areas and are ideal for serving small and underserved communities.”
You can follow the posting of the grantees here.
Community Media Access Partnership (CMAP), the official applicant, will operate in partnership with the San Benito Community Radio group. CMAP will build the station, and install the transmitter, and the station will be staffed and run by San Benito Community Radio, a volunteer group.
The application is based upon location of the transmitter on Park Hill. From that location the signal should be able to cover San Juan Bautista.
The programming of the station will also be up to the volunteer group. It will be possible to have a wide range of programming, music, news, information, agricultural reports, being limited mainly by the ability of the community to create and offer the programming.
Anyone interested in participating can go to the Community Radio of San Benito Facebook page to express your interest.
Though the decision could be made any day, the licensing approval process for “singletons” is scheduled to be completed by March 1st.