FM Stations That Don’t Reach Far, but Reach Deep

Nearly 2,000 FM stations across the country have received new licenses from the Federal Communications Commission over the last two years. All are classified as Low Power FM — operating at 100 watts with a broadcast range of roughly five to 15 miles, depending on the surrounding terrain and the proximity of other FM transmissions. About a third are already on the air. All of these new stations have received their licenses free. The FCC’s only requirement was that the applicants be nonprofit organizations committed to broadcasting locally originating programs. The recipients encompass an array of churches, schools, municipal governments, artist collectives and activist groups. Their 100-watt signals pale in comparison to the 50,000 watts that many big commercial stations possess.