How to Start a Local Radio Station

All new local radio stations have to be approved by the Federal Communications Commission.

To start and operate a local radio station, you have to decide which of four types of stations that you want to run, then apply for approval from the Federal Communications Commission. The process is straightforward if you follow the guidelines on the FCC's website, but licensing can take a minimum of several months to complete. The type of application you'll fill out and fees you'll have to pay will vary depending on which of the four different types of station license you seek.

Instructions

1. Decide which type of frequency and format you want for your station. Decide whether it will be an AM or FM station, and the format - talk radio, music, public radio, or otherwise. Make these choices before filling out the station application and submitting your paperwork to the FCC.

2. Download the station application from the FCC website, www.fcc.gov. There are four types of licenses you can apply for - commercial (ad-supported radio); non-commercial (i.e. public radio and college/university stations); low-power (stations that cover a radius of about 3.5 miles); or translator. Translator stations rebroadcast larger stations' signals to areas outside the larger stations' regional broadcast area.

3. Complete the application. Unless you already have some expertise in law and/or engineering, you'll probably need at least one consultant to help you with the technical aspects of the forms. Some attorneys specialize in this type of work, but finding them is entirely up to the applicant; the FCC doesn't make consultant recommendations.

4. Upload the application to the FCC's website and pay the filing fees. The fees, which are due the same time as the application, will vary depending on the type of station you want to operate.

5. Wait to hear back from the FCC. The licensing process can take take many months--or even years--depending on certain circumstances. Therefore, it's crucial that your application paperwork is thorough, accurate and complete.

References

• FCC: How to Apply for a Broadcast Station
• FCC: Application Processing Fees