2026 NCE Filing Window Policy: REC Limited Offering and Priorities
REC announces bandwidth cap for limited offering and processing priorities for the August NCE filing window.
Reprinted from REC Networks Facebook post on June 22, 2026 at 5:00PM EDT.
For this filing window, REC is limiting the number of original construction permit applications to 40 FM translator facilities. REC will provide priority handling to requests made by full-service FM requests received by a date designated by REC (the priority request date) (which will be announced on the REC Networks Facebook Page). After that date, we will review requests from LPFM applicants received before the priority request date. From that point, we will review requests in the order received but may still provide priority to full-service requests.
The decision to provide priority to full-service is based mainly on the fact that full-service is not subject to the §73.860(b) limitations that apply to LPFM licensees thus giving them much more flexibility for the placement of translators and based on the nature of the LPFM requests already received, are more likely to be successful in the window because of resources available for the placement of translators. (It is important to realize that all full-service requests received by REC have been from small full-service stations that are within the purview of the advocacy and not from the major names. So far, there should be room to handle some LPFM requests.)
Once we have received payment on 40 requests, then we will cut off all intake. Unless subsequently announced by REC Networks through Facebook post, we will not accept any additional requests after July 31, 2026.
Through this Facebook post, REC Networks is announcing that the “priority request date” as mentioned in this policy will be Monday, June 29, 2026. We ask that any full-service broadcast licensees that fall in the purview of small community based licensees to:
(1) go to recnet.com/translators and download the “Information Packet”; and
(2) send an email to lpfm@recnet.com providing the information that was requested in the information packet.
LPFM licensees can also submit requests during this period following this same 2-step procedure.
Just a reminder, we are NOT accepting requests:
(1) through Facebook Messenger (either REC Networks or Michelle Bradley’s personal page)
(2) through phone calls
(3) through simple “are there translators available in <city name>” requests, regardless of how they come in
Requests that do not have the information packet information included will be sent a copy of the information packet in order to identify locations and site parameters.
FM Translators are much more complex than LPFM to do availability searches and those searches do take time.
LPFMs, please make sure you are using the §73.860(b) compliance check tool (link at recnet.com/translators) before sending requests to assure that there is even a remote chance that the site can be used for an LPFM translator.