Staff from the FCC Media Bureau demonstrated use...

licenses. Applicants can use the Channel Finder to search for available frequencies in their communities, said Gary Loehrs, an Audio Division staff member. “It will show you channels that meet spacing requirements,” he said. Before selecting the available channels, “there should be more investigation to see if these channels are suitable and that would require an engineering study,” he said. The tool also can help applicants determine their distance to AM stations and airports, “or if the structure your antenna is mounted on requires FCC analysis,” he said. Eligibility for applying for an LPFM construction permit requires qualification as a noncommercial, nonprofit educational entity, said Parul Desai, also of the Audio Division. Tribes, tribal organizations and entities providing public safety radio services also are eligible, she said. Applicants who are part of a university must find out if the university already has a broadcast station, Desai said. “In which case, the local chapter of the university can apply if you're separately incorporated” and there is a separate local mission that the applicant can qualify for, she said. If the university has a full-power station that isn’t run by students, then an applicant can apply for an LPFM station as long as it will be student-run, she said. Applications must be filed in the Oct. 15-29 filing window and the next webinar will be held in early October (CD Aug 12 p15).