On July 26, 2016 the Federal Communications Commission granted a broadcast license to the San Francisco Public Press for a low-power FM (LPFM) radio station on the frequency 102.5 FM. The station will be on air seven days a week, 12 hours a day, in two six-hour blocks.The frequency will be shared with another nonprofit organization, San Francisco Community Radio.
The two organizations intend to collaborate on building a transmitter in San Francisco that will reach most households in the city and possibly reach parts of the Peninsula and the East Bay. For the time being the plan is to maintain two separate studios. Our aim is to start broadcasting within 18 months.
The Public Press, which currently produces a website and quarterly print newspaper focused on in-depth news and investigative reporting about public policy, plans to create its own news and public-affairs programs for the LPFM radio station and run programming from other nonprofit partners.
We have pledged to work with San Francisco Community Radio on the joint construction and maintenance of a broadcast tower, and also will engage in some joint marketing, cross-promotion and exchange of technical knowledge and volunteer capabilities. We jointly have pledged to stay on the air 24 hours a day every day. The Public Press will be on the air every day from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. San Francisco Community Radio will broadcast from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
The San Francisco Public Press is not currently engaged in radio broadcasting, and we expect that it will take at least 12 months to build our transmitter, set up a studio and begin broadcasting on our LPFM station.
If you would like to participate in community planning conversations about the new LPFM station, send an email to radio [at] sfpublicpress [dot] org and ask to be added to the LPFM planning list.
