Is it a requirement for an organization to have been established for more than two years to be eligible to apply during the LPFM window?

No, it is not required.

However, it’s important to note that organizations established less than 2 years (720 days) before the LPFM window’s closing date will not be eligible to claim the “established community presence” point. Consequently, their application will only be able to earn up to 4 points, putting them at a disadvantage compared to the 5-point applicants.

It’s worth mentioning that the FCC considers the date of incorporation with the state’s Secretary of State (or equivalent) as the starting point to determine the two-year local presence requirement. For example, if a group has been functioning as an organization since 2004 but did not file their incorporation until 2022, they would not be recognized as an established local organization for a filing window in 2023. They can still submit an application during the window, but they would not qualify for the “established community presence” point.