An application for a low-power FM construction permit in Georgia has been dismissed by the FCC for failing to meet its localism requirements by less than two miles.
The Norcross, Ga. church, Casa de Dios Para las Naciones Atlanta, applied for an LPFM on 93.5 FM during the 2023 window, licensed to Roswell. Originally, the church sought to broadcast from a site in the northern reaches of Roswell, along Lackey Road.
Last May, the church filed an amendment to its application, changing its proposed antenna location to approximately five miles to the southeast near an industrial park in Alpharetta.
Triangle Access Broadcasting filed an informal objection to the application after the church proposed the modification. It cited the FCC’s localism requirements and argued the application should be dismissed.
For locations within a top 50 Nielsen market like Atlanta, FCC rules require either an LPFM’s headquarters to be within 10 miles of the proposed transmitting antenna site or 75% of its board members to reside within the same proximity.
The new broadcast location the church proposed is 11.89 miles from its listed local headquarters according to the Media Bureau, falling less than two miles from the 10 mile requirement. None of its five listed directors, meanwhile, fall within the needed proximity, with the closest residing approximately 23 miles from the proposed antenna.
[Related: “FCC Dismisses Louisiana LPFM Hopeful Over Failed Localism Requirement”]
Casa de Dios did not file an opposition to the objection, according to the Media Bureau’s report.
As a result, the church’s application was dismissed by the commission. Due to the distances involved, the commission determined that the church does not qualify as local under FCC rules, making it ineligible for an LPFM license.
The church wanted to use the LPFM station to broadcast worship music and Bible teachings, along with a morning program called “Waking Up Atlanta.”
