Radio & Music News Weekly
FCC Sets Deadline for Reinstating FM Duplication Rule
Last month, the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION voted to reinstate the radio duplication rule for commercial FM stations. This decision was in response to a petition from the MUSICFIRST COALITION, FUTURE OF MUSIC COALITION, and REC NETWORKS. The rule was originally enacted in 1992 and repealed in 2020.
It limits an owner with multiple radio stations, whose broadcast areas overlap, to duplicate no more than 25% of their programming.
The reinstated rule will take effect on AUGUST 2nd. Companies will have a six-month grace period (ending 2/3, 2025) to align their operations with the rule’s requirements.
Companies hoping for an exemption from this rule have until OCTOBER 31st to submit a waiver request. Companies will be able to continue to exceed the duplication limit while their waiver application is pending. If the waiver is denied, the FCC could grant companies an additional six months to comply.
FCC Chair JESSICA ROSENWORCEL said, “For decades, the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION has built its media policies around the values of localism, competition, and diversity. I believe in these values because over history they are the best guideposts we have for communications policymaking. I also believe we can modernize our rules while still honoring these principles. Here we do just that.”