LPFMs Boxed in by New AM Translators

With the conclusion of the recent new-translator window held for class C and D AM stations, here are a few statistics about applications for new translators which would box in in LPFM stations, plus lists of stations and translators affected by short spacing.

  • 1081 new translator facilities applied for
  • 67 new translators are too close to one or more LPFMs
  • 81 LPFMs are short spaced by new translators
  • 15 new translators are short spaced to more than one LPFM
  • 3 LPFMs are too close to more than one new translator, which can really box them in.
When a translator moves closer to an LPFM than an LPFM can move to the translator, the LPFM is "short spaced" to the translator. FCC rules say that the LPFM can never move any closer to the translator, like a line in the sand, and that can prevent the LPFM from making necessary moves in the future. When the LPFM has short-spaced translators in different directions, those lines in the sand can really box it in and freeze it from moving. What can be done about this situation is a work in progress -- for now it is bad for LPFMs.

Like the old story about heating the water slowly to cook the frog without it jumping out, these new AM translators continue to make the water a little hotter, as have the other recent FCC actions about AM translators, but this event itself isn't an emergency. If the FCC had said outright that they intend to change policy such that hundreds of LPFM stations would face boxing in (and interference), perhaps the frog would have jumped from the pot. Nevertheless, more and more LPFMs are being cooked, currently by AM translators, and Commission actions virtually guarantee there will be more. You can read more about this issue in our article about our unresolved FCC petition regarding AM translators.

Historical articles about translators.

Which Stations are Affected?

You can search the tables below for call letters or cities.

Each line in the first table shows a new translator and which LPFM(s) are short spaced to that new translator. Since the translators don't have call letters yet, their FCC facility IDs are shown. You can look those up with various search tools for example with FCC CDBS Application Search. FX in the tables is short for translator.

Table 2 shows each LPFM now short spaced, and the translator or translator(s) to which it is too close.

Both tables are formatted simply so they can be pasted into spreadsheets. Only FCC super-nerds will care about the last column -- don't worry if it is nonsense. IF and third-adjacent spacings not part of this analysis.

Table 1 -- New-translator Applications with Short-spaced LPFMs

nFX facility IDCityStateLPFM(s) Short SpacedCity(s)State(s)Short-Spaced Application IDs
1200668BirminghamALWLVC-LP, WFYN-LPBirminghamAL1761984:2:1666043, 1761984:2:1655395
2200190JonesboroARKLEK-LPJonesboroAR1760050:2:1761302, 1760050:2:1666311
3200851SpringdaleARKHEL-LP, KPSQ-LPRogers, FayettevilleAR1762283:2:1077499, 1762283:2:1729035
4201620KingmanAZKGPS-LPKingmanAZ1763859:2:1764123, 1763859:2:1761122, 1763859:2:1262027
5200953VictorvilleCAKPTG-LPAdelantoCA1762450:0:1592088
6200995Apple ValleyCAKNVU-LPVictorvilleCA1762498:1:1658219
7200999EurekaCAKCHP-LP, KKDS-LPArcata, EurekaCA1762505:1:1180233, 1762505:2:1159584
8201336Lemon GroveCAKCZP-LPSan DiegoCA1763008:0:1722207
9200742WaterburyCTWSPV-LPAvonCT1762127:0:1751277
10201081BrookfieldCTWKBR-LPTown of HighlandsNY1762624:0:1749036
11201388WilmingtonDEWNUW-LPAstonPA1763111:0:1695116
12200389St. Augustine BeachFLWVXE-LP, WRIA-LP, WSKR-LPOrange Park, JacksonvilleFL1761075:0:1684842, 1761075:0:1750707, 1761075:1:1675549
13200628ImmokaleeFLWQXY-LPFort MyersFL1761924:0:1741628
14201376AuburndaleFLWPDD-LPKissimmeeFL1763088:1:1633943
15201532BithloFLWRXW-LP, WKIE-LPWinter Park, KissimmeeFL1763421:0:1758263, 1763421:0:1689528
16201610Winter GardenFLWPYH-LP, WHPB-LPSanford, OrlandoFL1763595:0:1669506, 1763595:0:1741161
17201682Cross CityFLWIMR-LPMcintoshFL1763709:1:1220946
18201253TrentonGAWVMG-LPChattanoogaTN1762857:1:1746592
19201628AtlantaGAWWXR-LPNorcrossGA1763628:0:1717169
20200048Council BluffsIAKJSO-LP, KXNB-LP, KXOM-LPOmaha, BellevueNE1759120:1:1748022, 1759120:1:1746276, 1759120:2:1653681
21200682ShelbyvilleINWEPB-LPNoblesvilleIN1762001:0:1677796
22201048MooresvilleINWYRZ-LPBrownsburgIN1762580:0:1759455
23201117ColumbusINWHUM-LPColumbusIN1762669:2:996872
24201505PrincetonINWWPO-LPOakland CityIN1763369:1:1030408
25200797CorbinKYWJTE-LPEast BernstadtKY1762205:0:1764203
26200911SimpsonvilleKYWFHS-LPFern CreekKY1762390:1:1145521
27201349ShelbyvilleKYWXOX-LPLouisvilleKY1763030:1:1717947
28201455New OrleansLAKNOF-LPMarreroLA1763249:1:1744272
29201503PinevilleLAKCJM-LPAlexandriaLA1763367:2:575418
30201029MedfordMAWGUA-LPLawrenceMA1762553:0:1726707
31200744OtsegoMI193072KalamazooMI1762130:0:1662750
32201624ShakopeeMNKRSM-LP, WVIC-LPMinneapolis, Saint PaulMN1763623:1:1593978, 1763623:0:1742039
33201587KennettMOKCJS-LPKennettMO1763539:2:1753167
34200981LaurelMTKFHW-LPBillingsMT1763535:0:1311075
35200008CantonNCWSFM-LPAshevilleNC1758902:2:1725100
36200047MarshallNCWART-LPMarshallNC1759093:2:1749493
37200547DurhamNCWHUP-LPHillsboroughNC1761731:1:1690325
38201302BurlingtonNCWEJM-LPMount ZionNC1762934:1:1112985
39201392Winston-SalemNCWLJF-LPGreensboroNC1763123:0:1749022
40201622New HopeNCWFNE-LP, WSHP-LPWAKE Forest, CaryNC1763620:0:1693185, 1763620:1:1684363
41201062PhiladelphiaNJWEMQ-LPHorshamPA1762601:0:1649772
42201436ElizabethNJWOLD-LPWoodbridgeNJ1763212:0:1753992, 1763212:0:1662303
43201205RenoNVKWNK-LPRenoNV1762782:0:1721675
44200783ZanesvilleOHWTLL-LPZanesvilleOH1762186:2:1174003
45201063YoungstownOHWLDJ-LPNew CastlePA1762602:0:1750070
46201227PortlandORKXYQ-LP, KDOO-LPPortlandOR1762816:0:1640533, 1762816:0:1665535
47201738PortlandORKXRW-LPVancouverWA1763853:0:1752299
48200821AguadillaPRWMAA-LPMocaPR1762238:2:1727442
49200035EasleySCWZFN-LPSandy SpringsSC1759049:0:1677473
50200549Rock HillSCWRHJ-LPRock HillSC1761736:2:1036852
51201491ColumbiaSCWXRY-LP, WXNW-LPColumbia, Seven OaksSC1763335:2:1291075, 1763335:1:1751687
52201535OrangeburgSCWLVC-LP, WFYN-LPBirminghamAL1763433:2:1666043, 1763433:2:1655395
53201607YorkSCWRHJ-LPRock HillSC1763589:2:1036852
54200350RockwoodTNWKNT-LPKingstonTN1760891:2:1683593
55200391ChattanoogaTNWAAK-LPBoyntonGA1761113:0:1490397
56200943LoudonTNWGSM-LPMadisonvilleTN1762440:0:1627700, 1762440:0:1764348
57201429MadisonvilleTNWLNB-LPAthensTN1763203:2:1764350, 1763203:2:1654323
58200346DallasTXKYEB-LPGarlandTX1760851:1:1718789
59200843NederlandTXKSAP-LPPort ArthurTX1762275:1:1512674
60201261HoustonTXKOYM-LP, KHGV-LPHoustonTX1762876:0:1589789, 1762876:0:1695043
61201375BryanTXKACB-LPCollege StationTX1763087:2:1133443
62201625TexarkanaTXKJUK-LPHooksTX1763624:1:1624419
63201212BurkeVAWERA-LP, WQER-LPArlington, RockvilleVA, MD1762793:0:1712307, 1762793:0:1748590
64201399RichmondVAWRWK-LP, WCFC-LPMidlothian, RichmondVA1763137:1:1761471, 1763137:2:1238943
65201580EverettWAKCSC-LPMukilteoWA1763525:1:1680872
66201582DeforestWIWVMO-LPMononaWI1763527:1:1685968
67201252ParkersburgWVWSPW-LPParkersburgWV1762854:2:1398416

Table 2 -- LPFMs with Short-spaced New-translator Applications

nLPFMCityStateNew FX(s) Short SpacedCity(s)State(s)Short-Spaced Application IDs
1WFYN-LPBirminghamAL200668, 201535Birmingham, OrangeburgAL, SC1761984:2:1655395, 1763433:2:1655395
2WLVC-LPBirminghamAL200668, 201535Birmingham, OrangeburgAL, SC1761984:2:1666043, 1763433:2:1666043
3KHEL-LPRogersAR200851SpringdaleAR1762283:2:1077499
4KLEK-LPJonesboroAR200190JonesboroAR1760050:2:1666311, 1760050:2:1761302
5KPSQ-LPFayettevilleAR200851SpringdaleAR1762283:2:1729035
6KGPS-LPKingmanAZ201620KingmanAZ1763859:2:1761122, 1763859:2:1764123, 1763859:2:1262027
7KCHP-LPArcataCA200999EurekaCA1762505:1:1180233
8KCZP-LPSan DiegoCA201336Lemon GroveCA1763008:0:1722207
9KKDS-LPEurekaCA200999EurekaCA1762505:2:1159584
10KNVU-LPVictorvilleCA200995Apple ValleyCA1762498:1:1658219
11KPTG-LPAdelantoCA200953VictorvilleCA1762450:0:1592088
12WSPV-LPAvonCT200742WaterburyCT1762127:0:1751277
13WHPB-LPOrlandoFL201610Winter GardenFL1763595:0:1741161
14WIMR-LPMcintoshFL201682Cross CityFL1763709:1:1220946
15WKIE-LPKissimmeeFL201532BithloFL1763421:0:1689528
16WPDD-LPKissimmeeFL201376AuburndaleFL1763088:1:1633943
17WPYH-LPSanfordFL201610Winter GardenFL1763595:0:1669506
18WQXY-LPFort MyersFL200628ImmokaleeFL1761924:0:1741628
19WRIA-LPJacksonvilleFL200389St. Augustine BeachFL1761075:0:1750707
20WRXW-LPWinter ParkFL201532BithloFL1763421:0:1758263
21WSKR-LPJacksonvilleFL200389St. Augustine BeachFL1761075:1:1675549
22WVXE-LPOrange ParkFL200389St. Augustine BeachFL1761075:0:1684842
23WAAK-LPBoyntonGA200391ChattanoogaTN1761113:0:1490397
24WWXR-LPNorcrossGA201628AtlantaGA1763628:0:1717169
25WEPB-LPNoblesvilleIN200682ShelbyvilleIN1762001:0:1677796
26WHUM-LPColumbusIN201117ColumbusIN1762669:2:996872
27WWPO-LPOakland CityIN201505PrincetonIN1763369:1:1030408
28WYRZ-LPBrownsburgIN201048MooresvilleIN1762580:0:1759455
29WFHS-LPFern CreekKY200911SimpsonvilleKY1762390:1:1145521
30WJTE-LPEast BernstadtKY200797CorbinKY1762205:0:1764203
31WXOX-LPLouisvilleKY201349ShelbyvilleKY1763030:1:1717947
32KCJM-LPAlexandriaLA201503PinevilleLA1763367:2:575418
33KNOF-LPMarreroLA201455New OrleansLA1763249:1:1744272
34WGUA-LPLawrenceMA201029MedfordMA1762553:0:1726707
35WQER-LPRockvilleMD201212BurkeVA1762793:0:1748590
36193072KalamazooMI200744OtsegoMI1762130:0:1662750
37KRSM-LPMinneapolisMN201624ShakopeeMN1763623:1:1593978
38WVIC-LPSaint PaulMN201624ShakopeeMN1763623:0:1742039
39KCJS-LPKennettMO201587KennettMO1763539:2:1753167
40KFHW-LPBillingsMT200981LaurelMT1763535:0:1311075
41WART-LPMarshallNC200047MarshallNC1759093:2:1749493
42WEJM-LPMount ZionNC201302BurlingtonNC1762934:1:1112985
43WFNE-LPWAKE ForestNC201622New HopeNC1763620:0:1693185
44WHUP-LPHillsboroughNC200547DurhamNC1761731:1:1690325
45WLJF-LPGreensboroNC201392Winston-SalemNC1763123:0:1749022
46WSFM-LPAshevilleNC200008CantonNC1758902:2:1725100
47WSHP-LPCaryNC201622New HopeNC1763620:1:1684363
48KJSO-LPOmahaNE200048Council BluffsIA1759120:1:1748022
49KXNB-LPOmahaNE200048Council BluffsIA1759120:1:1746276
50KXOM-LPBellevueNE200048Council BluffsIA1759120:2:1653681
51WOLD-LPWoodbridgeNJ201436ElizabethNJ1763212:0:1753992, 1763212:0:1662303
52KWNK-LPRenoNV201205RenoNV1762782:0:1721675
53WKBR-LPTown of HighlandsNY201081BrookfieldCT1762624:0:1749036
54WTLL-LPZanesvilleOH200783ZanesvilleOH1762186:2:1174003
55KDOO-LPPortlandOR201227PortlandOR1762816:0:1665535
56KXYQ-LPPortlandOR201227PortlandOR1762816:0:1640533
57WEMQ-LPHorshamPA201062PhiladelphiaNJ1762601:0:1649772
58WLDJ-LPNew CastlePA201063YoungstownOH1762602:0:1750070
59WNUW-LPAstonPA201388WilmingtonDE1763111:0:1695116
60WMAA-LPMocaPR200821AguadillaPR1762238:2:1727442
61WRHJ-LPRock HillSC200549, 201607Rock Hill, YorkSC1761736:2:1036852, 1763589:2:1036852
62WXNW-LPSeven OaksSC201491ColumbiaSC1763335:1:1751687
63WXRY-LPColumbiaSC201491ColumbiaSC1763335:2:1291075
64WZFN-LPSandy SpringsSC200035EasleySC1759049:0:1677473
65WGSM-LPMadisonvilleTN200943LoudonTN1762440:0:1627700, 1762440:0:1764348
66WKNT-LPKingstonTN200350RockwoodTN1760891:2:1683593
67WLNB-LPAthensTN201429MadisonvilleTN1763203:2:1764350, 1763203:2:1654323
68WVMG-LPChattanoogaTN201253TrentonGA1762857:1:1746592
69KACB-LPCollege StationTX201375BryanTX1763087:2:1133443
70KHGV-LPHoustonTX201261HoustonTX1762876:0:1695043
71KJUK-LPHooksTX201625TexarkanaTX1763624:1:1624419
72KOYM-LPHoustonTX201261HoustonTX1762876:0:1589789
73KSAP-LPPort ArthurTX200843NederlandTX1762275:1:1512674
74KYEB-LPGarlandTX200346DallasTX1760851:1:1718789
75WCFC-LPRichmondVA201399RichmondVA1763137:2:1238943
76WERA-LPArlingtonVA201212BurkeVA1762793:0:1712307
77WRWK-LPMidlothianVA201399RichmondVA1763137:1:1761471
78KCSC-LPMukilteoWA201580EverettWA1763525:1:1680872
79KXRW-LPVancouverWA201738PortlandOR1763853:0:1752299
80WVMO-LPMononaWI201582DeforestWI1763527:1:1685968
81WSPW-LPParkersburgWV201252ParkersburgWV1762854:2:1398416