Arts >> Music >> Other Music

How to Find an Open FM Radio Slot

There is a great deal of demand for vacant FM frequencies to establish new radio broadcasting stations, but unfortunately this demand is matched with a very limited supply. During last year’s open application filing windows, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) received around 30,000 inquiries, which were competing for handful open FM radio frequency slots. So just because you apply for an FM radio slot, it by no means guarantees you are actually going to get it. Still, you have to begin somewhere. Before you can apply for a vacant FM radio frequency, you have to know what frequencies are available.

Things You'll Need

  • Internet access
Show More

Instructions

  1. Finding a Vacant FM Radio Frequency

    • 1

      Go to the “FM Radio Database Query” page in the FCC website. The FCC is, in part, responsible for licensing and regulating all of the broadcast stations in the United States. Any available FM radio slot will be listed in their records.

    • 2

      Select the state you’d like to find a vacant slot in. Under “Record Types” choose “Vacant Allotments.” Search for FM stations in “All Frequencies/Channels.” Then “Submit Data.” Leave all the other fields in the search form, such as “city” and “call sign,” open. With this type of search, it’s better to cast a wide net than it is to try to narrow the field from the onset. Start wide and see what is out there. Then you can narrow your focus.

    • 3

      Check out the competition for the open FM frequencies you may be interested in by selecting “Pending Applications” under “Record Types.” Then highlight your frequency of interest in the “search for FM stations” field.

Other Music

Related Categories