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Factsheets

Fact sheets, handouts, one-pagers, how-tos, take actions: This section archives the many documents that Prometheus has created over the years to demystify the technological and bureaucratic challenges of producing your own media or impacting media policy. Most of these documents are also housed in relevant sections of the site, but here you can also browse the full collection of Prometheus educational materials. (Or check out the Recommended Reading page for a shorter list of our favorite articles.)

  • Pre-filing renewal announcements discontinued.
  • How long does renewal take?
  • New announcement templates and broadcast schedules

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.

Navigating LMS to file your license renewal.

UNLICENSED LEGAL FM

Regardless of popular misconceptions, it is not legal to broadcast on FM at low power, or at any power, without a license from the FCC. It doesn’t matter if you are less than 100 watts or less than 1 watt. That is why the FCC has been trying to institute LPFM – to provide a legitimate license to very low power operations.

With the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) slated for 2:20pm Eastern time today, September 28th, 2016; it will shortly be time to file "form two" in the on-line ETRS system -- before midnight in fact! Here's a quick guide, assuming you have filed "form one".

There are two basic questions asked on form one:

  • Did you receive the EAS test?
  • Did you retransmit the EAS test?