Pathway Licences · 1 min
Start a community radio station
Broadcasting to your town: the licences that exist for community stations, and what it takes to hold one.
Draft. Not yet checked by an editor.
A community station is run by and for the people of a place or a community of interest, usually not for profit. Most countries set aside a licence for it, separate from commercial and public broadcasting, and most open applications only at certain times.
Examples
- United States: Low Power FM (LPFM) stations of up to 100 watts, licensed by the FCC to non-commercial educational organisations. Applications are accepted only in filing windows the FCC announces.
- United Kingdom: community radio licences awarded by Ofcom, for stations providing social benefit to a specific community.
- Many other countries have their own schemes; the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) connects stations across them.
What every scheme asks
- A legal organisation, usually non-profit, to hold the licence.
- A clear community to serve and a plan for local programming.
- Technical details: a site, an antenna, a frequency that does not interfere with others.
Lessons for this pathway are in preparation.