The FCC tentatively selected mutually exclusive low-power FM applications...

The FCC tentatively selected mutually exclusive low-power FM applications for grant in some western states using a point system, the agency said in a public notice released in Thursday’s Daily Digest (http://bit.ly/1kagUE3). The point system favored stations with an established community presence, local programming and diverse ownership, among other considerations, the PN said. The release of the notice kicks off a 30-day period for petitions to deny to be filed against the applicants, and a 90-day window for major change amendments and for applicants who are tied under the point system to file applications to “time-share” on the same frequency, the PN said. Full-power TV station owners should be aware of those dates, because many LPFM stations have asked for waivers of channel spacing rules, said Wilkinson Barker broadcast attorney David Oxenford in a blog post (http://bit.ly/1mOIFaV). “Full-power stations need to be vigilant to make sure that none of these applications (or any amendments subsequently filed by these LPFM applicants) will cause interference to their operation."