During the recent filing window (Jan. 16 - 22, 2001), over 500 applications for LPFM stations filed with the Federal Communications Commission in Washington D.C. sent a message that the dream for LPFM is alive and well in communities throughout the nation.

This figure also demonstrates that community and civic organizations, churches, faith communities, government agencies, and academic institutions were not discouraged by the misinformation campaign led by the national corporate and public radio broadcasters, nor by the new technical requirements mandated by Congress to limit LPFM.

Here is the breakdown by state and territories for the third filing window:

New York - 109
Ohio - 100
Wisconsin - 99
Missouri - 55
Colorado - 49
South Carolina - 44
Hawaii - 39
Delaware - 16
Idaho - 15
South Dakota - 8
American Samoa - 2

What is also significant about this window is it shows a growing diversity in comparison to the first round of applicants last June where local churches were in the majority. Coalitions of community groups, schools, state emergency communications and transportation services, ethnic minority and cultural groups are further engaged in LPFM development. [See the news story about Yellow Springs Community Radio]

In mutually exclusive situations, where groups are competing for the same frequency, it is anticipated that applications points will be accumulated and creative working agreements will be fostered among them to make the best use of that frequency for their communities; therefore, parties not wanting to collaborate with the groups will need to bow out gracefully.

The staff of the Microradio Implementation Project - Andrea Cano Vargas (executive director,) and Jill Krymkowski, Cecil Prescod, and Bill Van Vleck (outreach and promotion specialists) - under the auspices of the United Church of Christ, in consultation with its national partners - Prometheus Project, Center for Democratic Communications, Media Access Project, Americans for Radio Diversity, the United Methodist Church, Christian Community FM, among many others, plus a group of dedicated engineers, including Nan Rubin, Michael Brown, and David Maxson - has focused on extensive outreach to communities via the internet and postal mailings, and follow-up consultations.

Current activity is now directed to Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Guam, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Tezas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia, because filing windows for these state will occur in the next few months.

All of this in the midst of changes at the Federal Communications Commission which recently saw the exit of Chairman William Kennard, the major proponent of LPFM, and the appointment of Michael Powell by the new administration as his replacement (www.fcc.gov) . Powell will need to learn about the impact of LPFM from the public's point of view, not just from the corporate broadcasters' perspective.

Powell should also honor the extraordinary work that FCC staff hasdone to enable this new radio service to be implemented, in spite of the political machinations in Washington and the technical glitches which consumed time and energy in the last seven months.

He will also have to give immediate attention to 1) sorting out the mutually exclusive situations that arose out of the 1,200 applications from the first two windows, and 2) delineate application amendment processes to the folks who concientiously complied with the original FCC filing instructions for an existing frequency. Now with new frequency spacings, these groups should be given the chance to amend tower sites or seek an available frequency under the new guidelines.

Powell should also 3) celebrate the 255 grantable licenses for LPFM, 4) give visible and vocal acknowledgement of the groundswell of support and application for LPFM throughout the nation, 5) offer his own unconditional affirmation for LPFM and assure that the FCC will serve the interests of the people and not just the corporations, and 6) realize that urban, suburban and rural communities will continue to directly inform their Congressional representatives and senators as well as the local press and media about the critical need for and application of LPFM in their communities.

The Microradio Implementation Project renews its commitment to serve this nation and its territories in promoting the concept and implementation of LPFM and citizens' participation in and advocacy for responsive and responsible broadcast media.

All of the nearly 2,000 LPFM applications to date can be accessed on the FCC website via here. An easier way to see the list is through www.christiancommunityfm.com.