The Federal Communications Commission will auction off 144 FM frequencies this week all across the country. 117 applicants have made up-front payments to participate in the auction which will take place Wednesday.  Unfortunately there are no frequencies available in the New City, New Jersey area. 

The construction permits to be auctioned are for 144 new FM allotments, including 37 construction permits that were offered but not sold in auction 79. The CP’s are for vacant FM allotments, reflecting FM channels assigned to the FM table of allotments. A mock auction will be held today by the commission to get the applicants ready for Wednesday. Everything is done online or by telephone.

Here are a few of the highlights of the upcoming auction. In Erie, PA bidding on a construction permit for Class A 92.7-FM starts at 10 a.m. Wednesday. That’s when the FCC opens Auction 91 where there are just under 120 qualified applicants bidding on 144 FM frequencies nationwide. The Erie- PA signal is 6,000 watts. This is the first time since 1999, a new FM radio frequency is up for sale in the Erie market. The signal is based in Lawrence Park Township.

In Michigan there are 7 signals up for grabs. Here are the signals, the city, opening bid and number of bidders.
Class A   93.1 Ferrysburg, $100,000; 16
Class C3  95.9 Fife Lake, $75,000; 15
Class C3  97.7 Cheboygan, $15,000; 20
Class C2  103.9 Crystal Falls, $25,000; 17
Class A   103.9 Harrison, $25,000; 19
Class A   103.9 Pentwater, $15,000; 21
Class C2  106.3 Onaway, $20,000; 20