Preparing for Low Power FM: Finding an Available Channel

What is a Radio Frequency?
A radio wave is an electromagnetic wave propagated by an antenna. Radio waves have different frequencies, and by tuning a radio receiver to a specific frequency you can pick up a specific signal.

Why do I need a free channel to apply for LPFM?
A radio license is not like a drivers license- you can’t operate your radio station wherever you please. The FCC requires there be an available frequency in your area in order to apply for a Low Power FM station.  The transmitter and antenna can only be assigned to an exact geographic location, and you have to specify a location in your application that meets the FCC's requirements.  

Additionally, the frequency must not be in use and must not interfere with other stations. If granted a license for that frequency, it will be unique and specific to your station. With the license, you will also be given call letters to go along with the frequency you have selected. 

How do I know if there is an available frequency?
One great resource for channel searches is the Recnet LPFM Channel Search. Recnet already allows you to do a basic channel search in a geographical region based on some predictions about what the new rules will look like.   However, we won’t know what channels are truly available until after the FCC finalizes the rules for the LPFM program.

After you search for an available channel, and your answer is:
“YES”  -- Then almost certainly that means yes and the likelihood of that channel being available after the FCC makes the FCC rules is very high.

“Sorry”  -- Means there’s no available channel right now, but there's still hope!  An engineer can do a more detailed study, and they may find a channel that you can apply for with a waiver from the FCC.  Remember the engineer can't do this study until after the FCC finalizes the rules.

How do I use the channel finder on Recnet?
Go to RECNet Channel Finder. Enter your city and state. Then select it from the list. This screen will then appear: 

 (Click on image to view full size)

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