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Where
can I get information about building a new “non-commercial”
radio station?
There
are some very good websites that provide a lot of
information about non-commercial LPFM (low power,
licensed) and Part 15 (low power, unlicensed) radio
stations. Please visit these websites for a good
introduction to these types of radio stations –
LPFM - http://www.lpfm.ws/intro
Part 15 - http://www.part15.us
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What
about building a “commercial” radio station?
For
a commercial radio station to be successful, it
must be able to transmit to a large listening audience.
A commercially licensed radio station expects
to make a profit from the sale of advertising,
merchandise, and services, so the station must
be able to attract a large number of listeners
who are able to receive the radio signal.
Therefore, commercial radio stations are typically
located, either, within a community, or close
enough to cover the community from a nearby location.
It is extremely difficult to start a new commercial
FM station in most populated areas of the U.S.
The FM band, 88.1 107.9, only provides
about 100 different frequencies that can be used;
and, only frequencies from 92.1 107.9 can
be used for commercial purposes, further reducing
the available frequencies for commercial use.
Over the years, radio stations have already been
built on just about every available frequency,
in just about every community. So, the chances
of finding an available frequency in the location
you wish to serve are very low.
Buying an existing radio station in the community
you wish to serve is an obvious alternative, if
you are prepared to buy out an existing owner
who may be interested in selling.
In any case, we recommend you visit the FCCs
website dealing with commercial and other types
of radio broadcasting, at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/howtoapply.html
From there, you should be prepared to hire a
professional broadcast consultant to assist you
with searches for open frequencies or available
stations to buy. This consultant can also help
you with all aspects of filing documentation,
creating a list of needs (including broadcast
equipment needed), etc.
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Can
Broadcast Depot help me build a new radio station?
Yes.
We can supply you with all of the equipment necessary
to construct most types of radio stations.
But, please understand that, as a distributor
of professional audio and broadcast equipment,
any consultation we provide will be product and
application specific only.
Before requesting equipment quotes, we recommend
you review other websites to learn more about
the broadcast industry. You should also consider
hiring a professional broadcast consultant to
guide you through the time-consuming and expensive
($15,000.00-$20,000.00 or more) process of gaining
a broadcasting license.
Unless you have already become licensed by the
FCC (or a similar governing body, if overseas),
gathering equipment prices at this time will not
be very helpful.
To find out how to apply for a U.S. broadcast
license, please visit the following FCC webpage:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/howtoapply.html
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How
much will a new radio station cost?
Unfortunately,
this is like asking how much will a new house
cost? Some people may be happy living in a
house that costs only a few thousand of dollars.
But, others may want to live in a certain city,
perhaps on the beach, and would be willing to spend
millions of dollars on their new house. Once you
are licensed, equipment costs to outfit your new
station will depend on what you are authorized to
build and how basic, or how elaborately, you want
your new station to be equipped.
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What
would I need to transmit an FM signal, say, 10 miles?
The
distance FM radio signals travel away from the antenna
is, primarily, determined by the transmitter output
power, the antenna system gain/loss factors, and
the antenna height above average terrain (HAAT).
Until you have applied for and received a broadcast
license from the FCC, you will not be given a CP
(construction permit) by the FCC; so, you will not
know these things.
The CP provides the approved ERP (effective radiated
power) and HAAT. Once you have this information,
we can, then, help you determine the proper antenna
system and transmitter that will allow you to,
effectively, meet the ERP specification. Of course,
studio equipment can be determined at that time,
as well.
If you do not already have a CP, there is no
way for you to know what your ERP will be...so,
equipment quotes at this stage should not be requested.
Since you will need to apply for a license first,
you should consider hiring a professional broadcast
consultant to assist you during this process (which
can last for a year or two in many cases). Most
consultants will be able to give you budgetary
numbers for construction costs of most types of
radio stations. But, they are especially useful
in doing frequency searches for the area you wish
to locate your station, and for filing necessary
documentation with the FCC.
For more helpful information, please visit the
following FCC webpage:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/howtoapply.html
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Is
there any way to broadcast without a license?
The use of airspace in the U.S., for transmitting
any type of wireless signal, is tightly controlled
by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission).
Virtually every available frequency from DC to light
waves is controlled and already pre-determined for
specific uses by the FCC and/or other branches of
the U.S. government. The FM broadcast frequency
band, 88.1-107.9 MHz, is the only band that is licensable
for FM broadcasting. Broadcasting within this band
is licensed under FCC Part 73 rules and regulations
for use by commercial (92.1-107.9MHz), non-commercial/educational
(88.1-91.9MHz), and Low Power FM (LPFM) stations.
The only FM broadcasts that do not require FCC licensing
are those complying with FCC Part 15 rules/regulations.
To be Part 15 compliant…among several other requirements,
transmitters must be FCC certified for Part 15 use.
This means that the ERP will be well under 1 Watt,
which usually provides only about a 200’ radius
coverage area. For obvious reasons, unlicensed Part
15 transmissions must not interfere with licensed
transmissions in any way. Part 15 transmissions
have no legal standing over licensed transmissions,
and must always give way to licensed broadcast transmissions
if/when interference issues arise. Further, broadcasting
any signal outside of FCC rules and regulations
will usually result in confiscation of equipment
and severe fines. For more information on Part 73
and Part 15 requirements, please visit the following
FCC webpage: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/howtoapply.html
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Are
there any other ways for me to own/operate an FM
radio station?
Yes,
possibly.
1) You could buy an existing open CP (construction
permit) from someone who has already received
one, and is not planning to build (there are FCC
restrictions involved).
2) You could buy an existing radio station that
the current owner wants to sell.
Again, you should work with a professional broadcast
consultant to learn about available opportunities
of these kinds, what issues may be involved, for
help in filing necessary documents, etc.
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