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LP-250
The petition for a 250-watt LPFM class, its latest filings, and your station's service contour at the proposed power.
Status of the petition
Proposed, not yet a rule
So far the FCC has invited comments without proposing a rule. LPFM stations remain at 100 watts until a rule is proposed and then adopted.
| Docket | RM-11909 |
|---|---|
| Asks for | Amendment of Parts 73 and 74 of the Commission's Rules to create a second class of service for Low Power FM broadcast stations |
| Filed by | REC Networks, May 28, 2020 |
| Put out for comment | May 21, 2021 |
| FCC proposal (NPRM) | None yet |
| Filings so far | 207, the latest on June 17, 2025 |
Latest filings
| Filed by | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Common Frequency, Inc. | Notice of exparte | June 17, 2025 |
| REC Networks | Reply to comments | April 29, 2025 |
| REC Networks | Comment | April 14, 2025 |
| REC Networks | Reply to comments | August 20, 2024 |
| Common Frequency, Inc. | Comment | July 23, 2024 |
| REC Networks | Comment | July 19, 2024 |
| REC Networks | Comment | March 11, 2024 |
| REC Networks | Notice of exparte | November 7, 2023 |
| REC Networks | Notice of exparte | June 26, 2023 |
| REC Networks | Notice of exparte | September 14, 2022 |
| REC Networks | Notice of exparte | October 22, 2021 |
| Las Vegas Public Radio Inc. | Comment | July 13, 2021 |
All filings: RM-11909 in Docket Filings.
The LP-250 proposal
The "Simple 250" petition from REC Networks seeks a second LPFM class next to the existing 100-watt stations, designed to be as easy to use as LP-100. The short version:
- Up to 250 watts at 30 meters of antenna height, giving a service contour near 7.1 km, or 4.4 miles, instead of 5.6 km. As with LP-100 now, higher antennas would be allowed lower power to cover the same distance.
- No contour study required for the upgrade. Qualification would rest on distance to other stations, using its own LP-250 spacing table and keeping the 20 km buffer from full-power stations.
- Switching from LP-100 to LP-250 or back would count as a minor change, and an opening window would give all stations an equal first shot at upgrading.
- By REC's own estimates, roughly 39% of LPFM stations might move up on their current channel with no showing, and 17% more given a waiver showing for second-adjacent; most of them serve rural areas and small towns.
A summary of the REC Networks petition. REC's upgrade reports and the complete proposal are on REC's LP-250 page.
How would LP-250 change your coverage?
Enter the call sign of your LPFM (or its antenna height and power) to see its present coverage beside the coverage LP-250 would permit from that same antenna.
Support LP-250
- Comment to the FCC. Open ECFS Express, type RM-11909 in the proceeding field, and explain why your community needs the change: the listeners you would reach past 3.5 miles, and what the 100-watt limit keeps your station from doing. The formal comment period is over, yet the FCC still accepts supporting comments.
- Contact your Representative and Senators and say you back the petition. Upgrading LPFM helps radio in rural areas and small towns, and it has support from both parties.
Prepared for the rule change
From an improved antenna now to an upgrade application once the FCC permits it, Nexus Broadcast handles LPFM engineering and FCC filings.
Petition status comes from the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) at the FCC and is refreshed every hour. The proposal summary is from REC Networks. The FCC did not make this tool.