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FM NCE Station Count Grows

Noncommercial educational licenses are at their highest historic total

The number of licensed noncommercial FM radio stations in the United States has increased by 114 in the past 12 months to its highest total ever.

The Federal Communications Commission released its quarterly totals of broadcast licenses. It reports that there are now 4,377 FM educational stations. 

The 2.6% growth in the past year probably reflects results of the FM NCE application window in 2021, though the number has crept up more generally over time. By comparison there were 4,085 NCE stations a decade ago.

Looking at other radio broadcast categories: 

The number of licensed AM stations is 4,400, which is down by 52 stations from a year ago, and down by 315 from 10 years ago. In the 1990s there were close to 5,000 AMs.

FM commercial stations amount to 6,618, also down 52 from last year. Ten years ago their number was 6,633.

The current tally of low-power FM stations is 1,967, down by 11 stations from this time last year, but the category is poised to grow again once the impact of the 2023 LPFM filing window is felt.

Finally, the FM translator/booster class now has 8,894, down by 34 from a year ago, though still far more than the 6,186 of 10 years back. We’ll be watching this category too to see if the recent FCC action to allow limited geotargeting on boosters will drive the number up. 

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