The number of licensed low-power FM stations has gone up dramatically in one quarter.
There were 873 LPFMs as of Sept. 30, according to the latest totals from the FCC, nearly 60 more than there had been as of June 30 at 814 LPFMs. A year ago at this time there were 788 LPFMs.
Noncommercial FMs are holding steady at 4,085 stations as of Sept. 30, compared to 4,082 in the third quarter. However, looking to the same time last year, the number has increased from 3,989 as of Sept. 30, 2013.
Commercial FMs are rising as well: 6,633 this quarter, compared to 6,622 in the third quarter and 6,613 a year ago.
Commercial AMs continue a steady decline. There were 4,715 commercial AMs as of Sept. 30; that compares to 4,721 in the third quarter, and 4,728 a year ago. For context, there were 4,763 commercial AMs as of Sept. 30, 2011 and 4,789 for the same period in 2009.
