FCC Reassigned Whitehall FM Radio Allocation
The Commission moved a vacant Whitehall, Michigan channel to 99.5 MHz to resolve long-standing spacing conflicts.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Telecommunications
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The FCC has officially reassigned a vacant Class A FM radio allocation in Whitehall, Michigan, moving it from 97.5 MHz to 99.5 MHz. This administrative shift follows the March 18, 2026, license cancellation of WLAW(FM) by Cumulus Media.
Why it matters
The reassignment resolves interference concerns identified through engineering reviews of minimum distance separation rules. By moving the frequency, the FCC clears spacing conflicts that previously hindered the allocation's viability.
The previous 97.5 MHz allocation faced distance constraints, sitting 101 miles from WKLT in Kalkaska, 111 miles from WJIM in Lansing, and 42 miles from WLAV in Grand Rapids. The new 99.5 MHz assignment mandates an 8-mile site restriction northwest of Whitehall to comply with technical spacing.
The players
FCC
The federal agency responsible for regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.
Cumulus Media
An American radio broadcasting company that operates hundreds of stations across the United States.
The details
The FCC determined the original frequency was incompatible with existing stations based on minimum distance separation, which requires specific spatial buffers to prevent signal overlap. Engineers analyzed the interference profiles between the Whitehall site and surrounding stations in Michigan to verify the safety of the 99.5 MHz move. Separately, the agency deleted a vacant 105.5 MHz Class A allotment in Selmer, Tennessee, after confirming it was short-spaced—meaning it fell below required signal-path distance thresholds—to WVNA in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
Timeline
March 18, 2026: Cumulus Media filed for the cancellation of WLAW(FM).
September 28, 2026: Official publication of the frequency reallocations.
The Tech Race
The FCC maintains strict spectral efficiency by continuously re-evaluating vacant allotments against updated engineering interference models. This ensures that unused spectrum can eventually be brought into service without disrupting existing regional broadcast coverage.
This regulatory change clears the way for future radio service in the Whitehall area once a license application window opens. Residents should watch for the upcoming FCC notice to determine when new broadcast service will be permitted on the 99.5 MHz frequency.
The takeaway
The FCC continues to audit vacant radio allotments to eliminate signal-spacing conflicts. Interested parties should monitor the FCC's official electronic comment filing system for the upcoming application window notice.
What happens next
The FCC will announce a competitive application window for the 99.5 MHz Whitehall allocation in a subsequent order.
Further reading
Learn more about federal spectrum management and radio infrastructure on our Telecommunications page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Radio World.
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Should government regulators prioritize keeping local radio frequencies available despite potential technical spacing conflicts?
