Radio Station 101

You have probably arrived at our site, because you were interested in starting a Low Power FM community radio and either google directed you here when you searched for LPFM, or through word of mouth you found Prometheus.

And yes you have arrived at the right spot.  We are the general support center and clearinghouse of information  for community and cultural groups and social justice organizations who are trying to start radio stations.  We're excited that you are interested in starting a station as the majority of the airwaves are dominated by a few mega-corporations who are more focused on profits than on the needs of the communities they serve.  

That said there are currently no licenses available for Low Power FM Stations.  The FCC only makes licenses available for LPFM stations during short filing windows and currently there are no scheduled filing windows.

Also, it is important to note that if a filing window was to open there are very few channels that are available for LPFM stations. This is because of strict restrictions imposed by Congress on LPFM  stations. We are currently knee deep in a campaign to past a bill, The Local Community Radio Act, which would make hundreds to thousands of new channels open up for community radio.

If you are interested we would love for you to be involved in this campaign and you can find out more about it here.   It is  voices like yours, the people who are most interested in having LPFM stations, that are most crucial in helping pass this legislation and  having the prohibitive radio restrictions lifted.

Also you should know that there are many things you can do to prepare for a filing window.  The Prometheus Radio Project has issued a guide called  "Put your hands on the Radio" as well as info on the LPFM licensing process and info on alternative channels to LPFM.  Please write stations (at) prometheusradio.org with a description of your organization or the kind of radio station you are trying to start with an idea of what kind of programming you plan to have and who will be involved with the station.  Please be more descriptive than just telling us that you want  "a community radio station"  and we will be able to provide you with some important startup information.