My town has a low power FM station. The experience has been terrible.
1. They provide no contact info of any kind and don't take requests. The operator plays soft jazz and only soft jazz. LPFM is his ego project and the fact that he is using public airwaves doesn't bother him.
2. Commercial radio stations are more responsive than LPFM. I can request a song. I can request a format change. I can buy the station if I want to change it myself. Commercial radio has to please listeners to keep them and sell ads. LPFM people can do whatever they want without any recourse from the public.
3. The jamming impact is very real. There is a station I've listened to for years that is jammed by the LPFM station. The LPFM wipes out the station I like within 20 miles introduces distortions within 40 miles. Again, there is no recourse.
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My town has a low power FM station. The experience has been terrible. 1. They provide no contact info of any kind and don't take requests. The operator plays soft jazz and only soft jazz. LPFM is his ego project and the fact that he is using public airwaves doesn't bother him. 2. Commercial radio stations are more responsive than LPFM. I can request a song. I can request a format change. I can buy the station if I want to change it myself. Commercial radio has to please listeners to keep them and sell ads. LPFM people can do whatever they want without any recourse from the public. 3. The jamming impact is very real. There is a station I've listened to for years that is jammed by the LPFM station. The LPFM wipes out the station I like within 20 miles introduces distortions within 40 miles. Again, there is no recourse.