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Alaska: FCC approves 19 Alaska applications for low-power FM

Copyright 2000 Associated Press 
All Rights Reserved

 
The Associated Press State & Local Wire

 View Related Topics 

December 28, 2000, Thursday, BC cycle

SECTION: State and Regional

LENGTH: 351 words

HEADLINE: FCC approves 19 Alaska applications for low-power FM stations

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

BODY:
The federal government recently approved 19 Alaska applications for new low-power, noncommercial FM radio licenses.

A number of school, church, tribal, community and other groups around the state will use the stations for what they believe are gaps in local radio programming and to reach underserved audiences.

The license applications were approved under restrictions Congress laid down in a wrap-up federal funding bill President Clinton signed late last week.

They will broadcast at power of 100 watts or less. The new signals will not interfere with current FM stations, officials said.

Six of the licenses are for schools or school districts at Bethel, Delta Junction, Eagle, Point Hope, Shishmaref and St. Michael.

Four are for churches or religious groups at Juneau, Fairbanks, Dillingham and Wrangell.

Other low-power FM licenses have been granted the Native villages of Savoonga, Gambell and to the Sitka tribe.

Yet another has gone to the City and Borough of Sitka. The others are going to community or incorporated groups at Juneau, Hyder, Galena, Tok and Ninilchik.

None of the licenses went to individuals or groups that have run illegal 'pirate' radio stations.

A 30-day "contest period" is underway, so people objecting to the new Alaska licenses can raise their concerns with the FCC.

Meantime, licensees can move ahead with construction and testing plans to get their new low-power stations up and running.

Alaska had been one of 10 states chosen by lottery for the initial low-power FM radio broadcasts.

The Federal Communications Commission is allowing two classes of low-power stations - 10 watts and 100 watts.

The 100-watt stations were licensed in this first round of applications. The 10-watt stations will follow.

The 100-watt stations will be audible about 3 1/2 miles from the transmitter. The 10-watt transmissions will go out one- to two miles.

Other states in the first group were California, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Utah, as well as the District of Columbia and the Mariana Islands.
 


LOAD-DATE: December 29, 2000