Washington - Jan 5, 2012 - The Local Community Radio Act of 2010 (LCRA), signed into law by President Obama on Jan. 4, 2011, seeks to expand licensing opportunities for low-power FM (LPFM) stations. Section 8 of the LCRA requires the FCC to conduct an economic study assessing the effect that LPFM stations will have on full-service commercial FM stations and to submit a report to the appropriate Congressional committees on the study by Jan. 4, 2012.

The FCC Media Bureau conducted an economic study, entitled “Economic Study of the Impact of LPFM Stations on Full-Service Commercial FM Stations.” In a summary, the FCC says LPFM stations do not currently have, and in the future are unlikely to have, a demonstrable economic impact on full-service commercial FM radio stations.

The Economic Study is comprised of four sections: A description of LPFM, summary of findings including case studies of eight LPFM stations, overview of the legal and regulatory background, and a summary of the public comments.

Read the report at the FCC website.

MB Docket No. 11-83