2023 LPFM MX Group Update

With the deadline for time sharing agreements now passed, we now look at what has happened and what will happen to mutually exclusive LPFM applicants.

The deadline for applicants identified as mutually exclusive (MX) to reach voluntary time share agreements has passed on January 14. On October 14, 2024, the FCC released the list of tentative selectees and their point determinations. Applicants were given until December 15 to make technical changes in order to break out of the MX Group resulting in one or more “singleton” applications. Some applicants took advantage of this and after December 15, we were left with 48 remaining MX Groups. There were originally 109 MX Groups from this filing window.

Applicants with the leading number of points could enter into a time share agreement with one or two other applicants with the same score in the same MX Group. If those applicants are the only ones in their MX Group, then the agreement would be considered as universal and there would be no point pledges for main studio and local program origination as no other applicants were eliminated as points were not used to leverage the win. In other cases, the points of the applicants in the agreement would be aggregated to leverage the win and make them subject to the point pledges. There were two MX Groups where point aggregation was used.

Those groups that are still tied after January 14, 2025 are now subject to involuntary time sharing. With involuntary time sharing, the group with the oldest established community presence (ECP) date will have first choice of the FCC designated time slots followed by the next oldest group. The winning applicants will be subject to the point pledge obligations. Construction permits awarded through the involuntary method will be conditioned to have non-renewable licenses unless a voluntary time share agreement (even if for the same hours) is subsequently reached.

Normally, if there are more than three tied applicants, the youngest applicants over the three oldest would be eliminated. There are no currently MX Groups from the 2023 filing window with more than three leading applicants.

Applicants identified as involuntary time sharing should watch the email addresses for the applicant and contact representative for correspondence from the FCC Media Bureau staff to get your confidential selection of time slot.

The following is the current status of each of the 48 MX Groups that went through these processes:

Group 2 (Little Rock, AR 93.7) - The LAM Foundation was granted with pledge requirements eliminating Oliver Lewis Inner City Thoroughbred Jockey Club.

Group 4 (Springdale 2, AR 92.7/92.9) - Christ Followers Marshallese Full Gospel Church was granted with pledge requirements eliminating Iglesia Ciudad de Refugio y Restauracion.

Group 6 (Phoenix Metro Area, AZ 92.9) - Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community was granted with pledge requirements eliminating Kiddos Educational Foundation.

Group 9 (Antioch, CA 92.9) - Delta 2000 and Antioch Community Radio remain tied. Antioch is one of many controversial applications that were filed through Wade Rathke’s Affiliated Media Movement (AMM). All of these AMM applications, including singletons, are currently being held by the FCC due to issues questioning the method for which these applications were filed and raising the question of whether these applicants (based on the records and past precedence) are truly local. If the FCC rules against the AMM applications, Delta 2000 would be the sole winner without pledge requirements. Otherwise, it will be a two-way involuntary time share with Delta 2000 having time slot priority.

Group 12 (Southern California 101.5) - Iglesia Ministerios Voz de Jublio is the only lead applicant however, they are facing an informal objection questioning their localism. If the FCC determines that the objection has merit and Iglesia is dismissed, this will leave Heme Aqui CA Church and Mena Coalition as two grantable singletons due to distance. If the FCC denies the objection, Iglesia will be granted with point pledges eliminating Heme and Mena.

Group 19 (San Diego, CA 96.9) - A three-way voluntary time share agreement has been reached between Labors Training and Community Development Alliance, Football Camp for Kids and Justice Overcoming Boundaries in San Diego County. There are no other members of this MX Group. Since this is a universal agreement, there would be no pledge point obligations for any of these three applicants.

Group 20 (Denver Metro Area 1, CO 105.5) - African Chamber of Commerce Colorado USA was granted with pledge requirements eliminating Denver Community Radio (AMM).

Group 21 (Denver Metro Area 2, CO 97.9) - Hippie Hop Radio and CPC of the WMM-Thornton One will go to an involuntary time share with CPC having time slot priority. They will eliminate Thornton Community Radio (AMM) thus subjecting both Hippie Hop and CPC to point pledge requirements.

Group 25 (Citrus Springs & Rainbow Springs, FL 102.9) - Lion of Judah Prophetic Worship Center was granted with pledge requirements eliminating Rainbow Springs Community Radio.

Group 28 (Fort Lauderdale 1, FL 93.5) - This group is currently tied and will go into an involuntary time share with YJP Las Olas otherwise having time slot priority over The Reme Foundation. The Reme application is currently faced with an informal objection as well as statements made on their application that may suggest past pirate radio involvement which would otherwise eliminate Reme. If Reme is dismissed, YJP could be granted with unlimited hours and a renewable license.

Group 29 (Miami Metro Area, FL 99.5) - La Familia de Fe and Doral Voice are tied and will go into an involuntary time share with La Familia having time slot priority. There are petitions to deny filed against both applicants. The issues against La Famila stem around site assurance, pirate radio involvement and board structure. The issues against Doral question their localism. If the FCC grants of these applicants and not the other, it will result in a renewable license and point pledge obligations. If both applicants are dismissed, then the attention will turn to Cristo te Ama Ministry, which would then go to a 30 day public notice period for a potential grant. Cristo is already facing an informal objection alleging full-service cross ownership. This MX Group is still very fluid.

Group 31 (Ocala 1, FL 93.3) - Ocala Broadcasting Foundation and Education Through Media Foundation reached a two-way voluntary time share to aggregate their points to eliminate Ministerio Casa de Oracion Para Las Naciones. Ocala and Education will both have point pledge obligations.

Group 32 (Ocala 2, FL 95.1) - Ocala Pride was granted with pledge requirements eliminating Ocala Community Communications Network.

Group 39 (Des Moines, IA 107.9) - Climate March and CPC of the WMM-Des Moines are both tied and will go into an involuntary time share with Climate March having time slot priority. CPC is facing an informal objection relating to the alien ownership rule and the point claim for their main studio allegedly not being local. If the FCC eliminates CPC (for the alien ownership issue), Climate will have unlimited hours with no pledge obligations. If the FCC only adjusts CPC’s score due to the main studio, Climate will still have unlimited hours, but will also have pledge obligations.

Group 41 (Rockford, IL 93.1) - Rockford Community Radio and Northern Illinois Radio Broadcasting Association reached a voluntary time share agreement. There are no other applicants in the group thus, no point pledge obligations. Rockford is an AMM handled filing and an informal objection has been filed against it. If Rockford is dismissed, then Northern will have unlimited hours. Otherwise, the time share agreement will be followed.

Group 45 (Monroe, LA 94.7/94.9) - Centro Compasion was granted with pledge obligations eliminating Monroe Community Radio (AMM).

Group 46 (New Orleans, LA 99.9) - Light City Church is the only lead applicant in this MX Group but they have not been granted yet. We suspect the holdup is tower registration related (too close to an airport). 4-point applicant Made in New Orleans also remains pending. If Light City is granted, eliminating Made In, there will be point pledge obligations.

Group 47 (Springfield, MA 107.5) - Above the Rim and the City of Westfield are tied in this group. City of Westfield made a minor modification to move 24 km away from Above. Above had faced an informal objection, which was withdrawn. What should come out of this group is both Above and Westfield being both granted with unlimited hours and pledge requirements as Easthampton Community Radio (AMM) and Holyoke Community College would be eliminated.

Group 48 (Foxboro & Taunton, MA 96.5) - Casa de Adoracion is the lead applicant in this group, but is facing a Petition to Deny questioning their localism. A past analysis by REC finds this petition as not having any merit. If Casa is granted, they will have point pledge requirements as they would eliminate Foxboro Cable Access. If the petition is granted, Foxboro would become singleton and would go to public notice for a grant.

Group 50 (Worcester, MA 97.5) - Expresso Latin Radio and Worcester Community Radio are tied and will go into an involuntary time share with Expresso having time slot priority. Worcester is facing a Petition to Deny, mainly stemming around the controversies involving AMM handled applications. If Worcester, being an AMM applicant, is dismissed, then Expresso would have unlimited hours and no point pledge obligations.

Group 52 (Holland, MI 95.1) - Ministerio Ondas de Amor was granted with pledge obligations eliminating West Michigan Substitute Teacher Advisory.

Group 56 (St. Louis, MO 94.1) - African People’s Education and Defense Fund and All-African People’s Development and Empowerment Project reach a voluntary time share. There are no other applicants to eliminate thus, no point pledge obligations.

Group 57 (Jackson, etc., MS 107.1) - People’s Advocacy Institute was eliminated due to a violation of the signature rule. Mississippi College was granted with pledge obligations eliminating Crazy Faith Foundation.

Group 58 (Clayton, NC 95.5) - Clarksville Theological Seminary and Calvary Chapel of Clayton are tied and will go into an involuntary time share with Clarksville having time slot priority. A Petition to Deny was filed against Clarksville raising the question of cross-ownership. If the petition is upheld, Calvary will be granted unlimited hours with no point pledge obligation. Otherwise, it will be an involuntary time share.

Group 59 (Huntersville/Moorsville, NC 101.3) - Hermitage Media was granted with pledge obligations eliminating Ambassador Christian School.

Group 60 (Atlantic City, NJ 107.9) - Transmission Communications Network is the lead applicant in this group however they are facing an informal objection questioning the ECP point claim. If that objection is upheld, it will result in a new opportunity for Transmission and the other applicants, Yoelkie Media Foundation and Chinese Church of Atlantic City to reach a two or three way time share agreement. If the objection is denied, Transmission will be granted unlimited hours with point pledge obligations eliminating Yoelkie and Chinese.

Group 61 (Glen Mills & Newton Square, PA 106.5) - Corelink Ministries and Radio Phila reached a two-way voluntary time share agreement. There are no point pledge obligations as there are no other group members.

Group 63 (Las Vegas 3, NV 94.9) - Las Vegas Community Radio (which, despite the name, is not an AMM application) was granted with pledge obligations eliminating Alpha Omar Zainab Media.

Group 65 (Cleveland, OH 101.7) - Latinos International Festival and International Community Development Corporation are tied and will go into an involuntary time share with International having time slot priority. There are petitions to deny filed against both applicants. The overall outcome will depend on the disposition of those petitions.

Group 66 (Lorain & Sheffield Lake OH 100.1) - Radio Revelacion FM was granted with point pledge obligations eliminating Iglesia Pentecostal Cristo Misionera.

Group 67 (Marion, OH 106.7) - Marion Education Exchange and My Community Church are tied and will go into an involuntary time share with My Church having time slot priority. MEE’s application is controversial as the applicant is subject to a disclosure of past adverse actions regarding a past LPFM license held by the applicant. MEE also faces objections regarding site ownership. My Church faces objections in respect to alleged cross-ownership. There are no other applicants in this group.

Group 69 (Tulsa, OK 91.7) - TulsaRISE and Friends of the Jazz Depot are tied and will go to involuntary time sharing with TulsaRISE having time slot priority.

Group 70 (Abbottstown & New Oxford, PA 95.7) - The Intersection Church and Community Media of South Central PA are tied and will go to involuntary time sharing with Community having time slot priority.

Group 73 (Indiana, PA 94.9) - Worldwide Pants (no relationship to David Letterman) was granted with pledge obligations eliminating Indiana Radio Syndicate.

Group 75 (Puerto Rico 2, 91.7) - This is, by far, our most complex MX Group from this past window (MX 47 came in second place). Iglesia Cristiana Pentecostal, Iglesia Generacion de Fuego and Foundacion Hazlos Sonreir Complices de Amor are all tied and will go into an involuntary time share with Pentecostal having time slot priority, followed by Fuego with second choice. Similar Petitions to Deny were filed against Generacion and Cristiana, both located in Caguas alleging issues related to Section 307(b) of the Communications Act regarding fair distribution of licenses as well as other issues. REC had found absolutely no merit in those pleadings. If the petition is denied, then all three of the tied applicants will be in a three-way involuntary time share. Points pledges will apply as it will eliminate Ministerio Dios Cumple El Proposito en Mi, New Beginnings Communications and Gigante Communications.

Group 79 (Ponce, PR 89.3) - Iglesia Pabellion de la Victoria Ponce and Imparcial, Inc. are tied and will go into an involuntary time share with Iglesia having time slot priority. Iglesia filed an informal objection against Imparcial claiming that their corporation was dissolved after the close of the window. Unless it is determined that Imparcial has reinstated their corporation status, they Iglesia will get unlimited hours. Otherwise, it will be an involuntary time share.

Group 83 (Bath & North Augusta, SC 93.3) - Faith Baptist Church was granted with pledge point obligations eliminating Christian Sounds Media.

Group 86 (Memphis, TN 100.1) - Citizens Against Unfair Financial Practices is currently the lead applicant in this group. They are facing a petition to deny challenging the ECP point. If the petition prevails, it will result in an involuntary time share with Universidad Internacional Cristiana de Ministerios with Citizens having time slot priority. Otherwise, Citizens will get unlimited hours and point pledge obligations as Universidad would be eliminated for insufficient points.

Group 90 (Fort Worth, TX 99.9) - CPC of the WMM Fort Worth and LGBTQ Saves are tied and will go into an involuntary time share with LGBTQ Saves having time slot priority. An informal objection has been filed against CPC challenging the ECP point. In the objection prevails, LGBTQ will win the channel with pledge point obligations, eliminating CPC. Otherwise, it will be an involuntary time share.

Group 92 (Carrollton & Lancaster, TX 92.1) - CPC of the WMM Carrollton and Cedars Community Development are both tied and will go into an involuntary time share with Cedars having time slot priority. An informal objection has been filed against CPC questioning their localism as well as their main studio point claim. If the objection prevails, Cedars will have unlimited hours. Point pledge obligations will hinge on whether the FCC only adjusts points from CPC or dismisses their application outright. If CPC prevails, then it will be a two-way involuntary time share.

Group 95 (San Antonio 1, TX 97.9/98.1) - Bexar County Public Safety Association was disqualified due to a false claim of public safety leaving New Vessels Ministry. New Vessels was granted, eliminating Violet Broadcasting, thus subjecting them to a point pledge obligation.

Group 96 (Rio Grande Valley, TX 98.3) - Trucha and Pharr Center Church were tied and will go into an involuntary time share with Pharr Center having time slot priority. An informal objection was filed against Truncha questioning localism. If the objection is upheld, Pharr Center will be granted with no pledge obligations. Otherwise, it will be an involuntary time share.

Group 100 (Charlottesville, VA 94.7) - Virginia College & Community Radio Alliance was granted with point pledge obligations eliminating La Hora Final Ministry and Air Mix Virginia.

Group 103 (Pasco, WA 100.5) - God’s New Generation and Casa de Avivamiento are tied and will go into an involuntary time share with God’s New Generation having time slot priority.

Group 104 (Spokane, WA 107.5) - Latinos en Spokane and Spokane Word reached a two-way voluntary time share aggregating their points eliminating lead applicant Living Stone Church of Spokane as well as lower-scoring applicant School of Music Spokane. Latinos and Spokane Word will have point pledge obligations.

Group 106 (McFarland & Monona, WI 103.7) - Iglesia Pentecostal Jehova Rafa and Madison Christian LPFM Radio are tied and will go into an involuntary time share with Madison having time slot priority.

Group 107 (Milwaukee, WI 90.1) - Souls Harbor Baptist Church and CPP of the WMM Milwaukee are tied and will go into an involuntary time share with Souls Harbor having time slot priority.