LEWISTON — Maine Public Broadcasting Network recently announced its success in being awarded seven new noncommercial FM station licenses by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). These new signals will be used to expand the reach of Maine Public Radio and Maine Public Classical into areas of Maine that currently do not have or have limited access, including Bethel.
Last year, the FCC announced a filing window for noncommercial educational FM stations to request construction permits for new noncommercial FM broadcast signals. This marked the first time in more than 10 years that the FCC accepted applications for new noncommercial FM station licenses.
Due to congested airwaves in urban areas, most available channels are in rural areas across the U.S. Maine Public applied for multiple noncommercial FM licenses and were awarded seven. Station construction permits were approved for Bethel, Calais, Fort Kent, two in Greenville, Mars Hill, and Millinocket. Maine Public has earmarked Bethel, Greenville, and Millinocket to extend its Maine Public Radio footprint and Calais, Fort Kent, Greenville, and Mars Hill as areas of growth for Maine Public Classical.
Maine Public already operates 10 radio transmitters and four translators. Seven transmitters broadcast an FM signal and HD1 and HD2 channels. FM on those seven channels and HD1 is Maine Public Radio programming. Three of the transmitters and the four translators are dedicated to Maine Public Classical, which contains a large amount of Classical 24 and other classical and music programming.
According to Cory Morrissey, chief Business Development Officer for Maine Public, “We have an existing tower and a building in Bethel for a television translator site. Our new FM signal is licensed to that existing tower and the necessary equipment would be installed on that tower. We would follow all the applicable state and local laws and procedures should we find the funding to make this new Bethel radio signal happen. Nothing will happen unless we are successful in fundraising for this endeavor.”
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