FCC Window for full-power non-commercial stations in 65 specific communities:  

CMAP has written or adapted fact sheets and maps to help you determine if your group qualifies for an allotment during this window. Check out these fact sheets and maps. If it looks like your group might qualify and is interested in applying for a radio station, give us a call, 503-245-2022, or send an email to info@c-map.org.

We'll be happy to help you.

  NOTE: See the full FCC announcement on the NEWS page

________________________________

The First Steps towards Starting a Community Radio Station

Compiled by the Staff of NFCB and

the Center for Native American Public Radio

1. Conduct a frequency search.  You must find out if there are any frequencies available.  The quick and dirty way is to run through the dial on your radio and see if there is space.  Ultimately you will have to hire an engineer.  NFCB can suggest several engineers to help.  Approximate cost:  $500.00.

2. Form a Board of Directors and incorporate as a non-profit organization, or find a non-profit organization which is willing to sponsor/house you.

3. With the Board, determine the need(s) for a radio station in your community and the mission of the station.

4. Find a tower or another place to put your antenna.

5. Start raising money.

6. Apply for a license from the FCC.  We recommend that you use a communications attorney for this process.  We can supply names.

7. Become a member of NFCB and start receiving benefits.

8. Find studio space.

9. Keep raising money.

10. With your Board, begin to outline as many policies as you can.  Think about: Volunteer management; underwriting policies; employment policies.  Think about Programming and programming policies.  What kinds of programs do you want?  Who will do them?  How will you find them?  Do you need to train them?  How will you change programming?  How will new programs get on the air?  Who will do program evaluations?

Think about bringing someone from NFCB to conduct planning session with your Board.

11. Raise more money.

We estimate that it will cost $200,000 just to get the station on the air, and a minimum of $100,000 per year to operate the station.

National Federation of Community Broadcasters

1970 Broadway,

Suite 1000

Oakland, CA94612

510 451-8200

www.nfcb.org

Coverage Maps 

Brown Broadcast Services and Prometheus Radio Project have produced maps showing the radio coverage the allotments in this upcoming window will likely cover. Some changes might be possible, but that is something you will need to work out with your engineer. The four regional maps are at the bottom of this page.

Included here is a list of the 66 allotments. Check to see if any of them are in your community, or nearby. The coverage contour will spread out into surrounding communities and might include yours.

We would be happy to send you a coverage map of your area if you are interested.   Contact us at info@c-map.org.

Here's the List:

                                                             60dbu 

ST  City                     Chan      Cls         pop

AL  Anniston                261     C3      235,886

AZ  Pima                       296      A          29,607

AZ  Somerton               260     C3      157,217

AZ  Willcox                   223     C3         11,120

CA  Hemet                    273      A       630,502

CA  McKinleyville      277     C3       89,769

CA  Sutter Creek         298      A       107,291

CA  Westley                  238      A        595,721

CO  Olathe                     270    C2        63,228

CO  Olathe                     293     C       237,008

FL   Big Pine Key          239     A          15,648

FL   Horseshoe Beach  234    C3         17,177

FL   Live Oak                 259     A          66,094

FL  Otter Creek             240    A          10,777

GA  Reynolds                 245    A          42,054

IA   Keosauqua               271   C3        40,204

IA   Moville                     246    A          54,944

IA   Rudd                         268    A          56,613

ID   Weiser                      247   C1       141,445

IL    Canton                     277    A          44,616

IL    Cedarville               258     A         74,568

IL    Clifton                      297     A         38,336

IL    Freeport                   295     A         67,347

IL   Pinckneyville          282    A          41,653

IN  Columbus                 228    A        130,516

IN  Farmersburg           242    A        115,598

IN  Fowler                        291    A          22,754

IN  Madison                     265    A          57,372

IN  Terre Haute              298    B      342,797

KS  Council Grove          281    C3       41,837

KY  Smith Mills               233    A         44,509

LA  Golden Meadow       289    C2       52,107

LA  Homer                        272    A                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

LA  Ringgold                    253    C3       63,796

MA West Tisbury           282     A         44,215

MI   Hubbardston           279     A         81,068

MO  Huntsville               278     C2       83,600

MO   Laurie                      265     C3        74,539

MT   Bozeman                  240    C3         65,595

NC    Dillsboro                  237     A         64,084

ND    Berthold                  264     C          81,790

NM   Alamo Community 298   A           1,638

NY    Amherst                  221       A  1,017,386

NY    Rhinebeck               273       A     267,123

OK    Cordell                      229       A       20,788

OK    Weatherford            286       A       28,328

OK    Wynnewood             283       A       32,513

OR     Dallas                        252      C3   506,849

OR     Madras                      251      C1       51,170

OR     The Dalles                268      C3      56,728

PA      Liberty                     298        A      31,463

PA      Susquehanna         227        A    100,858

SC      Barnwell                  256        C3    99,233

TX     Burnet                      240        A       31,363

TX     Denver City            248       C2      72,067

UT     Fountain Green      260        A       19,085

VA     Shenandoah            296        A        85,355

VI      Charlotte Amalie    226        A       55,378

WA   Chewelah                   274       C3      54,859

WA   Oak Harbor               233        A     118,008

WI     Ashland                      275        A       20,966

WI     Augusta                      268       C3     66,629

WI     Hayward                    232       C2      35,590

WI     Washburn                  284        A       20,299

WV   St. Marys                    287        A     131,893

WY   Jackson                        294      C2       27,995

Four regional maps showing the allotments and their approximate 60dbu contours.

We have more detailed maps of individual allotments. Contact CMAP and we will send you the one(s) you are interested in.