This is from the Oregonian

METROEAST COMMUNITY MEDIA AND COALITION OF COMMUNITY GROUPS ACQUIRE
RADIO LICENSE

GRESHAM, Ore., May 16, 2008-MetroEast Community Media, in collaboration with a coalition of community groups, received word this week that its application for a non-commercial educational (NCE) radio station has been approved by the Federal Communications Commission. With its transmitter located on Mt. Hood, the signal of the new station - 91.1 on the FM dial - will reach most of the East Metro area as well as much of Portland east of the Willamette.

The license was granted as part of a rare opening of non-commercial radio licenses available to non-profit organizations. The coalition has been working for more than a year to acquire the
construction permit. According to Common Frequency representative Todd Urick "This is a once in a generation opportunity. This may well be the last time we have a window like this where community organizations can get a full power non-commercial FM radio license." Common Frequency assists non-profits in acquiring NCE radio licenses.

As a non-commercial station, 91.1 will run no advertising and will be supported by its listeners and underwriting.

While decisions about the new station's format are still being made, Bruce Fife, President of Musicians Local 99, said, "We're hopeful that Portland's diverse and vibrant local music scene will be well-represented on this new station. It's long past time for these talented musicians to share valuable space on the air waves."

Jeff Simmons, of the web-based Portland Radio Authority, looks forward to hearing local music on the FM dial. "Portland has one of the strongest independent music communities in the country. We have an international reputation for our music, but you wouldn't know it listening to FM radio in Portland. 91.1 will give access to this vibrant cultural asset, and will open outsiders' ears to the amazing things happening in Portland."

Rob Brading, CEO of MetroEast said, "We're thrilled to have acquired this license on behalf of the community. Other than our founding, this license is probably the most important event in MetroEast's 25-year history. We're very excited with the opportunity to offer radio with an east side emphasis and to give voice to the vibrant local music scene."

Brading expects the station to go on the air sometime in 2009. "Next year is MetroEast's 25th anniversary. What better way to celebrate than by going on the air with this new station?"

-- Luciana Lopez, the Oregonian

Coverage in Portland will be weaker than KPFR from the same transmitter site... How well is KPFR received in Portland ?

From the FCC site:

KPFR 89.5 (7000 watts):
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=FM1067958.html

New 91.1 Station (380 watts):
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=FM1213888.html

Hopefully,they would apply for a translator license after this goes on the air--that is if there is any place on the dial that a translator could be placed then.

The story seems to imply that the station is being put on the air for the purposes of broadcasting music and this is why it is important that it be on FM. If this is their intent, then (I can see the arrows coming at me right now) I can understand why AM would not be a good fit for them. However, I'm curious, has anyone in the US been able to buy a failing AM station cheaply and turn it into a volunteer-run community station? With the legal wrangling that some of these groups have to do to get those prized FM licenses, it almost seems like it would be easier and cheaper to buy out an existing radio station that is not profitable for its current owner, than to have to have to spend years in court and then be stuck with building all the facilities. Example: the group that put Austin's KOOP on the air fought the University of Texas in court for years over a license for 91.7 MHz, the last available full-power FM allotment in that area. The court decided that both groups would have to share the frequency, with KOOP broadcasting during the day and KVRX (the UT station) broadcasting at night. Broadcasting was done from a common transmitter site with a low antenna and an ERP of 3,000 Watts. Meanwhile, there was a 10,000 Watt daytime-only station on 1530 kHz that had gone silent. The Lower Colorado River Authority snapped this one up, and one summer day in 1995, KWTR was born, which featured non-stop weather forecasts, stream flow information, and brief science features. Due to the high ground conductivity in central Texas, this signal had pretty good coverage ( http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=KZNX&service=AM&status=L&hours=D )

Hmm, this station appears to be on FM. Ergo, FM = SCA bandwidth~

Paging Jerry Delaunay, please proceed to the nearest courtesy telephone........................ ;o)

(Seriously tho, I wonder how well that would work out from a relations standpoint? I mean, with Omni's recent "falling out" from OPB. KOPB broadcasts on 91.5, and 91.1 really isn't that far away on the dial........)

"I'm curious, has anyone in the US been able to buy a failing AM station cheaply and turn it into a volunteer-run community station?"

Good thought! Scanning this list reveals a few volunteer NCE AM stations... could be that more will be added to the list as hard times really hit the broadcasting industry? (perhaps FMs too?)

http://www.gumbopages.com/other-radio.html#AL

How about "Golden Hours" AM?

"How about "Golden Hours" AM?"

Jr, "In the Clear" radio reading services aren't completely "unheard-of" (no pun intended.) WRBH in New Orleans operates ITC on 88.3 FM and I have read about a couple on AM that operate this way as well. (Can't remember where at this moment, I will post links once I can figure it out.)

I've thought for some time that Golden Hours (or something like it) could be a PERFECT fit on AM. ;o)