Perhaps you're an aspiring media mogul or maybe just want to start a neighborhood news service. Broadcasting over FM radio can be done on a variety of levels involving different equipment and government licenses based on your signal strength and location. Commercial and nonprofit educational broadcasting require fees and licenses through the Federal Communications Commision. The FCC also offers free Low Power FM licenses that can allow you to broadcast within your immediate area.

Instructions Commercial Stations

1.Select a frequency in the range of 92.1 to 107.9 that is available where you would like to broadcast. The FCC offers an online "Allotment Finder" to assist with this task. Your tower may need to be located anywhere from 10 to 290 kilometers away from another station with the same frequency.

2.File the main application online, FCC Form 301. At this time you must also pay the FCC rulemaking fee, which goes along with FCC Form 159 for certifying the payment.

3.Submit Form 301 on paper to the Office of the Secretary for the FCC. They require an original and two copies of the letter to be mailed to their Washington, DC address.

4.Bid at a public auction conducted by the FCC for the rights to the frequency. The application process essentially requests the FCC to change their rules to allow use of the frequency and the station must now be purchased.

5.Apply for construction permits to build your broadcasting tower. In some locations the tower can be limited by the average height of nearby buildings or other technical restrictions.

6.Construct your tower and set up your audio software and hardware. This itself can be done either simply or extravagantly, but with the license and basic hardware assembled you're ready to start broadcasting on prime FM frequencies.

Educational and Noncommercial

7.Select a frequency in the range of 88.1 to 101.9, the FCC's range for noncommercial FM frequencies. To avoid interference, your broadcasting radius must not overlap the coverage of existing stations with the same or adjacent frequencies.

8.File the application, FCC Form 340, and pay the filing fee for noncommercial FM use.

9.Obtain construction permits for your location and construct your broadcasting tower.

10.Assemble your audio equipment and finalize your hardware setup, which involves technical details with a high level of specialized expertise.

Low Power FM

11.Choose between a 100-watt station which can reach a 3.5 mile radius or a 10-watt station that can cover about a one or two mile radius.

12.Find a channel to use by entering your coordinates to the FCC Audio Division's LPFM Channel Finder guide on their website.

13.Establish a nonprofit organization with a purpose of some sort within your community or contact such a group about your plans.

14.Submit a free application for your license to use Low Power FM. The FCC grants these licenses to nonprofit entities and makes their decision in part on community service. Requirements include broadcasting at least 12 hours per day and participation in the Emergency Alert Service.

15.Install an audio transmitter to an appropriate computer system or otherwise set up your audio equipment. As LPFM is limited to 100 watts, the hardware requirements for broadcasting can be relatively simple compared to other broadcasting. However, the setup does require some technical knowledge and equipment that individuals usually don't already own.

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