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The purpose of this document is to provide you with answers to common questions regarding Low Power FM radio.
You can browse down the page or click on the FAQs index immediately below. Should you not find a Q&A that corresponds to your specific question, please e-mail lpfm@LifeTalk.net.
- Why is LifeTalk Radio helping others set up their own LPFM stations?
- Why should I get LifeTalk's help in starting my own LPFM station instead of using another organization?
- What are the different kinds of radio stations?
- What is low-power FM radio?
- When should I apply for an LPFM frequency?
- What is the benefit of low-power radio?
- How do I start up an LPFM station?
- Does my LPFM station have to broadcast a specific number of hours per day or week?
- Can LifeTalk Radio help with programming?
- What will it cost to operate an LPFM100 station?
- What's the minimum cost of LPFM100 Stations?
- How do I contact the LPFM team at LifeTalk?
1. Why is LifeTalk Radio helping others set up their own Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations?
LifeTalk believes that the more evangelism and ministry-focused LPFM radio stations available to our communities, the more Jesus will have access to the hearts and minds of men and women. Ror that reason LifeTalk Radio is actively fostering the development of Low Power FM stations
LifeTalk will provide all the necessary consulting services for applicants, including assistance in application preparation, frequency searches, engineering, and coordination of legal support for the application process.
LifeTalk has 24 hour programming developed with an evangelistic purpose, available to affiliate radio stations at no cost to them!
LifeTalk will also make available equipment for station development at special pricing made possible by volume purchase (LifeTalk Radio negotiates equipment purchases at the lowest possible prices.) LifeTalk Radio is in the process of developing a Broadcast Academy for training LPFM station managers.
2. Why should I look to LifeTalk for help in starting and operating my own LPFM station instead of using another organization?
Because LifeTalk provides much that no one else provides in both station development and programming plus support to the local station management in effectively reaching out to their community in the following areas:
 Help for applying for and building an LPFM station, as well as 24 hour programming support for local station operations.
On-call Engineering, once the station is on the air
Group Purchasing
Made4Radio Content.
Re-cycled materials from TV or other sources other than that prepared for radio requires a great deal of editing and preparation, on a content and an engineering level.
Other LPFM programming sources, have had difficulties with materials originally designed for other venues, causing up and down volumn levels at the local station, plus other characteristic problems.
All LTR programming is prepared for radio. LifeTalk Radio frequently receives acolades from professionals for the quality of its programming, both technically and content-wise.
Training for operating the local station will be provided.
LTR staff have many years of experience in all aspects of radio.
3. What are the different kinds of radio stations?
To give you a better understanding of the three levels of radio stations, a short description is provided below:
* Full Power radio varies in power from 100 Watts to 100,000 Watts with basically five classes in this group.
* Low Power FM radio, a new class that the FCC has just established, allows for local programming, between 1 Watt and 100 Watts.
* Secondary Stations are divided into two kinds:
1) Satellators are stations that provide programming from a flagship station fed from satellite. There is no possibility of doing any local programming.
2) Translators are stations that pick up a signal from a nearby station, and rebroadcast that exact signal. No local programming is possible.
In view of the fact the FCC has closed all windows for AM and FM radio except that of Low Power FM stations, this document focuses on that area.
At the same time, we include some information regarding possible future opportunities that may become available, that could be superior in some of the less congested regions of the country even though the FCC.
4. What is low-power FM radio?
Low-power FM radio is a new class of radio station designated by the FCC to allow local entities to provide radio programming for their communities, based on their local interests and goals.
It is an opportunity for communities to broadcast programming not controlled by the big national radio conglomerates.
This is a special opportunity for our churches, schools and hospitals to minister in a more powerful way to the people right around them.
Low-Power FM radio is divided into two classes:
1) LPFM100 with a maximum power of 100 Watts with an antenna height of about 100 feet (30 meters), and a service radius of about 3.5 to 6 miles.
2) LPFM10 with a maximum power of 10 Watts with an antenna height of about 100 feet (30 meters), and a service radius of about 1 to 2 miles.
This class is not available at the present time!
5. When should I apply for an LPFM frequency?
The FCC divided the 50 States and dependencies into five equal groups. The plan is to designate a window to apply for Low Power FM 100 stations, one group at a time, with about three months between each window.
The FCC has chosen, by lot, the order for opening these windows. The first and second windows have come and gone. Time slips by so quickly. Time is of the essence, especially for the third group, opening in December! What you do, you MUST DO QUICKLY!
The first group consisted of Alaska, California, Wash DC, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Utah. Of 722 applications, 50 applications were made with the aid of LifeTalk Radio.
The second Group included Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, Virginia and Wyoming. Of 473 applications, 55 applications will likely be made available due to LifeTalk's help.
Group 3 (December 2000) Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Missouri, New York, Ohio, S Carolina, S Dakota and Wisconsin.
Group 4 (February 2001) Arizona, Florida, Iowa, New Jersey, N Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and W Virginia.
Group 5 (May 2001) Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, N Carolina, Pennsylvania and Washington.
Note: There is pending legislation in Congress that may require the FCC to modify the present spacing requirements. If this bill becomes law, it may change the results of some of the frequency searches.
6. What is the benefit of low-power radio?
Low-power radio gives a local organization, such as a church, a school, or medical institution, the privilege to minister to the needs of their community and bring them hope, leading men and women to the Blessed Hope. It allows them to share Bible answers to the issues faced by the people of that community.
Local organizations can develop programming designed to meet the specific needs of the immediate community, without needing to focus on a score or more of communities, which a larger station is forced to do.
The local management can integrate character-building and family-strengthening programs into a mix of material designed to bring men and women to the foot of the cross and into fellowship with those who have committed their lives to the Everlasting Gospel.
7. How do I develop an LPFM station?
There are several steps to develop a low-power FM radio station, briefly outlined below. The details are dealt with in another document entitled "Steps to get your Application Processed."
1) Send the appropriate fee for application to LifeTalk Radio, POBox 209, Vonore, TN 37885.
2) Select the antenna site. Determine:
a) coordinates (latitude and longitude)
b) elevation above sea level
3) Identify an appropriate non-profit entity to be the applicant and licensee.
a) an existing corporation
b) form a new non-profit corporation, if necessary
4) Develop a budget for construction of the station and the first three months of operation. Plan funding in appropriate steps:
a. Preparation of Application. Cost varies from $1,200 to $400, depending on the level of support you need from LifeTalk Radio.
b. Construction of station (Funds needed after construction permit is in hand will vary from $20,000 to $24,000, depending on tower needs, and needs of technical support.
The FCC allows 18 months after it issues the construction permit, to fund and build the station, and get it on the air.
5) Work with the LifeTalk Radio engineering department and the broadcast attorney to prepare the application. Fill out Exhibits 1, 2 and 3 and sign the signature page.
LifeTalk Radio is actively fostering the development of Low Power FM stations. It will provide all the necessary consulting services for applicants, including assistance in application preparation, frequency searches, engineering, and coordination of legal support for the application process.
LifeTalk will also make available equipment for station development at special pricing made possible by volume purchase (LifeTalk Radio is negotiating equipment purchases at the lowest possible prices.) LifeTalk Radio is in the process of developing a Broadcast Academy to train in station operations.
8. Does my LPFM station have to broadcast a specific number of hours per day or week?
The FCC requires a minimum time of operations per week of 36 hours, with a minimum of 5 hours per day, 6 days per week.
The FCC encourages at least 12 hours per day, with 8 hours a day of local programming.
While the FCC's rules do not require stations to air local programming, if two or more applicants compete for the same frequency, the applicant that proposes to provide at least eight hours per day of locally-produced programming will be given priority.
In the first window, all of those which we know about who did not commit to the 8 hours per day appear to have been trumped by other applicants and wasted their time and money.
9. Can LifeTalk Radio help with programming?
LifeTalk Radio can help in two ways:
a. Provide raw program elements to assist local stations in creating eight hours per day of local programming. They include:
1) LTR's entire Music Library (worshipful music designed for creating a peaceful sound) on a hard drive.
2) Assortment of 30 second to 1.5 minute programs to be chosen for local programming.
3) Spots, jingles, liners for playing at local management's timing
b. From its 24 hour a day programming cycle, LifeTalk Radio can provide 16 hours per day, or more, of regular programming to enable 24 hour programming for the local station..
The local station management is responsible for deciding what programming to use, but LifeTalk Radio offers 24 hour programming that the station can use for any portion of the broadcast day.
Local stations may use the programming as received, adding their own spots, underwriting announcements, PSAs or local programs, as they desire, in harmony with their expressed intentions to the FCC. LifeTalk Radio programming will dramatically lessen local time investment and costs.
Note: LifeTalk Radio is committed to providing consistent, clear programming that is faithful to our Christian heritage. It is committed never to use any program that is not fully in harmony with the teachings, ideals and principles of Scripture. We screen all programs on two levels:
1) Is the program content fully in harmony with Bible teaching?
2) Are all other materials that the program provider would place in the hands of listeners fully in harmony with the teachings, ideals and principles of Scripture?
LISTEN LIVE AT: www.lifetalk.net!
10. What will it cost to operate an LPFM100 station?
Expected Minimum Costs Per Month
- Electricity (varies according to cost per kilowatt) Est. maximum $7.00 to $17.00
- Office expenses vary from 0 to $100 per month. Generally less than highest.
- LTR produced Programming Free!
- Hourly News ( LifeTalk Radio has negotiated this down to $50 per month and is available directly through LTR Programming by satellite. )
- Music royalties required by law (estimated) $45
- Music I software lease $50
Total $155 to $200 per Month. If the local community wants to do a lot of mailing, advertising, etc., it could go significantly higher.
Note: The above costs are estimated. For a Low Power FM station it will almost always be necessary to have a volunteer team to operate the station because of its small financial base.
It is possible to develop a significant income from listeners, to enable you to cover advertising and local production costs, and other material that will enhance your local sound.
Possible Income Sources Per Month
- Sharathons: $200 to $2,000 after first year. This can be a significant source of income and is a wonderful way to establish relationships with listeners. LifeTalk Radio will train you in how to conduct these successfully, as well as provide support in other areas.
- Underwriting: $200 to $1,000. This will require someone focused on securing support from businesses. Normally a commission of 15% to 30% is paid to the person doing the work of soliciting underwriters.
- Church Support: Plan an annual or semi-annual offering.
Total Possible Monthly Income: $400 to $3,000+
11.What's the minimum cost of LPFM100 Stations?
Costs associated with LPFM100 stations really depend on choices made by local management. Due to this, we would need to consult with you to be able to give you an accurate estimate.
12. For specific information contact:
Low Power FM Offices, LifeTalk Radio
PO Box 209, Vonore, TN 37885
Phone: (423) 884-2800
Fax: (423) 884-2802
Email: LPFM@LifeTalk.net
Site: www.lifetalk.net/lpfm | 
