Most urban stations operate closer to 50,000. The commission could begin accepting applications this spring. The key debate facing commissioners is whether to reserve the licenses for exclusively non-commercial use. There are several reasons. First of all, radio is cheap.
Proponents also note that radio remains a far more accessible medium.
Those who live and work online tend to forget that not everyone can afford the kinds of technologies that make downloading streaming audio feasible or worthwhile. A radio station with a broadcast area of four miles has no choice but to root itself in the concerns of its community. Radio technology is also, by contrast, cheap, simple and easy to learn. People with diverse points of view airing them in a civilized forum of time slots. The FCC's position is that low-power stations won't clog the dial and won't cause interference if properly regulated.