In contrast to 2013, most big cities are now "full" and have no room for additional LPFM stations. The same is true for areas anywhere close to big cities, and areas close-ish to more than one city of any size. This is a bummer since those are also where most of the people wanting new stations are likely to be. Applicants for the few frequencies which are available in these areas will almost certainly caught up in the the competitive "mutually exclusive" resolution process. Organizations which cooperate to share a frequency will have an advantage.

June 22, 2023 - Organizations can file new LPFM (low-power FM) station applications during the first week of November. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is currently updating the online application to reflect rule changes since 2013, and when that is complete, nonprofit groups can begin preparing their applications online.

After 10 years, grassroots organizations will be able to apply for new Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations. Although they haven't formally announced the timing, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plans to follow the recent full-power noncommercial application window with an LPFM application window. During the window, qualifying nonprofit organizations can apply for permission to build a new LPFM radio station.

All broadcast stations, including LPFMs, must renew their FCC license sometime between July 2019 and 2022. The process includes reading on air announcements at specific dates and times, as well as filing Form (Schedule) 303-S with the FCC. Both Covid and rule changes have made renewal procedures a moving target this time.

The Supreme Court granted certiorari in Federal Communications Commission v. Prometheus Radio Project this morning, October 2, 2020.