FCC Commissioner Suggests Adding New Radio Frequencies

According to a Radio-Info.COM article Commissioner Mignon Clyburn has proposed informally when speaking to the Community Radio Conference in St. Paul, MN, that perhaps the frequencies from Channel 5 & 6 be allocated to the FM Broadcasting band.

Among reasons cited by Clyburn were a potential migration of AM stations to these frequencies, as well as possibly extending the LPFM service, as there is only 1 LPFM operating in a Top 50 Market. The Commissioner stated that these frequencies are not ideal for potential mobile broadband use, and there have been serious reception problems with stations which are broadcasting digitally on the lower VHF frequencies, particularly 76 - 87.7 MHz, where Channels 5 & 6 reside. Using current spacing rules, 15-16 Full Power Class B (50kW - East of the Mississippi River), and Class C (100kW West of the Mississippi) FM Stations, with the frequencies in between being fulled by rural and rimshot stations.

Due to the aural carrier of TV 6 being at 87.75, it can be tuned in on a digital radio at 87.7, or perfectly tuned on an analog tuner. Several operators have used Channel 6 Low Power TV stations as Radio Stations, getting roughly the equivalent coverage of a Class A 6 kW FM (About 30-40 Mile Radius). Most notably, this has been done with some success in Chicago with WLFM-LP Channel 6, which has been preforming well ratings wise. WLFM found an instant audience when Clear Channel pulled the plug on longtime Smooth Jazz outlet WNUA, which flipped to a Spanish Language music format last year.

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