In an unprecedented move which appears to now be new policy, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai released the circulation version of the Second Report and Order on the Revitalization of the AM Radio Service.

Now that we are about a month in 2017, I have been answering many questions about AM Revitalization, the next FM translator window, LP-250 and the ongoing inquires about starting a new LPFM station.  

While Ajit Pai has been a major opponent of pro-consumer initatives such as network neutrality and has been a staunch supporter of the mega-mergers, he has been the first Commissioner in awhile to champion radio issues such as AM Revitalization and support for the proposed C4 service class.  While we will continue to oppose Pai on telecom related issues such as his opposition to net neutrality, we hope that he can see the value that LPFM stations provide to listeners on both sides of the aisle.

On an Order in MB Dockets 07-294 and 10-234, the FCC has announced the suspension of the filing deadline for biennial ownership reports that would be filed by full-power non-commercial educational (NCE) stations.  This order only applies to biennial filings that are due on the anniversary of renewal dates.

The Media Bureau and full Commission actions of the past 24 hours only demonstrate that the LPFM rules are broken and also that the agency is unwilling to enforce certain sections of the Communications Act when it is inconvenient or, like in this case, they were called out on it.