Catholics Hope to get in on Religious Radio Boom

[SOURCE: Associated Press 1/1, AUTHOR: Emily Fredrix]
The Roman Catholic Church is the largest denomination in America, but you wouldn't know it from religious radio. The format is huge -- behind news talk and country it was the third-most numerous format among U.S. radio stations in 2003, according to the radio research firm Arbitron. Yet the number of Catholic stations is only about 120, according to the Catholic Radio Association, and there are about 2,000 religious stations nationwide. The Catholic Radio Association has several dozen members, and is hoping to add as many as 200 more if a so-called "window of opportunity" from the Federal Communications Commission opens in the next year, which the association expects. The window is the only time that non-profit groups, including churches, universities and public safety groups, can apply for low-power FM stations. The association is appealing to the faithful to raise $150,000 in the next two months so as many as 200 new stations could apply to the FCC. It's not clear when the filing window will open. The FCC is considering changing the rules that govern the stations, which reach listeners within a 3½-mile radius in underserved areas, usually rural or midsize markets. The first and only open window for low-power FM stations, held in 2000 and 2001, prompted 3,300 applications, the FCC said. More than 1,200 of the stations were authorized, and 700 are on the air, with several dozen applications still pending, the FCC said.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2006-01-01-catholic-radio_x.htm