Prometheus Radio Project
Prometheus Radio Project is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit founded in 1998 that supports nonprofit organizations, schools, tribes, and public safety agencies in obtaining and operating Low Power FM community radio stations through engineering tools, application assistance, station-building services, and FCC advocacy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Prometheus Radio Project does
Prometheus Radio Project is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 that builds, supports, and advocates for Low Power FM (LPFM) community radio stations in the United States. The organization was established by activists from social-change movements — including housing, environmentalism, healthcare, anti-war, and criminal justice reform — and grew out of the pirate station Radio Mutiny in West Philadelphia. It serves nonprofit organizations, schools and educational institutions, federally recognized tribes, and public safety agencies seeking to obtain and operate LPFM licenses under FCC rules.
The organization's core offerings include RFree, a web-hosted free tool that helps applicants determine viable locations and frequencies for LPFM stations using FCC requirements, site elevation, antenna height-above-average-terrain (HAAT) calculations, and integrations with the FCC CDBS and LMS databases; LPFM Radio Impact Maps and Demographics, a paid product ($99 per map) that delivers Longley-Rice ITM-modeled FM coverage maps with interference analysis; LPFM Application Resources including guides, webinars, and Form 318 application support; LPFM Station Building Services for organizations that have received construction permits; and ongoing LPFM engineering support covering technical FCC policy, station design, and troubleshooting. The organization also pioneered the "radio barnraising" model — 12 large volunteer-driven events where stations are built in three days — and has cultivated a network of more than 120 interns and volunteers over 10+ years.
Prometheus generates revenue primarily through individual donations, foundation grants (notably two Knight Foundation Prototype Grants in 2013 for RFree and 2015 for LPFM Radio Impact Maps), and modest pay-as-you-go revenue from LPFM Radio Impact Maps at $99 per report. The organization has been involved as a plaintiff in three Supreme Court cases against the FCC regarding media ownership rules, and continues to support LPFM applicants through the December 2023 filing window and the prospective first-ever LPFM translator window flagged in February 2026 outreach.
Prometheus Radio Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Prometheus Radio Project
- Legal name
- Prometheus Radio Project
- Website
- https://prometheusradio.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Prometheus Radio Project is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit founded in 1998 that supports nonprofit organizations, schools, tribes, and public safety agencies in obtaining and operating Low Power FM community radio stations through engineering tools, application assistance, station-building services, and FCC advocacy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Prometheus Radio Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Radio Broadcasting Services
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio) (MPABADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG), Local Translator/Repeater & Low-Power Stations (LPTV, Translators, Fill-In) (MPABACAM)
Keywords
Where Prometheus Radio Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Prometheus Radio Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: The organization operates as a nonprofit and relies primarily on donations from individuals and supporters. They have a donate button on their website and accept contributions.
- LPFM Radio Impact Maps: Sale of LPFM Radio Impact Maps and demographics reports. One map with demographics for an existing LPFM station costs $99, with discounts for additional work on the same station.
- Grant Funding: The organization receives grant funding from foundations such as the Knight Foundation, which partially funded the LPFM Radio Impact Maps development with a Prototype Grant.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | LPFM Radio Impact Maps and Demographics |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Prometheus Radio Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Prometheus Radio Project is a nonprofit organization that builds, supports, and advocates for community Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations. It provides free FCC application engineering tools (RFree), paid coverage and demographic mapping reports (LPFM Radio Impact Maps), hands-on station-building and training services, and advocates at the FCC and Congress to expand LPFM opportunities. Services are targeted at nonprofit organizations, schools, federally recognized tribes, and public safety agencies seeking to establish community radio stations.
Product overview
Prometheus Radio Project offers a suite of services and tools supporting community organizations in obtaining and operating Low Power FM (LPFM) radio licenses. The core offerings include RFree, a web-based LPFM frequency and location search tool; LPFM Radio Impact Maps providing coverage prediction and demographic analysis; LPFM Application Resources including guides and webinars for FCC Form 318 submissions; and direct Station Building Services for organizations that have received construction permits. These offerings are designed for grassroots organizations, nonprofits, schools, and tribal entities seeking to establish community radio stations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- LPFM Radio Impact Maps and Demographics: Professional FM radio coverage maps with state-of-industry prediction accuracy, population counts and demographics for LPFM stations
- RFree
Products and services
- RFree Web-hosted software tool for engineers and LPFM applicants to locate and relocate potential LPFM sites and frequencies. Determines which locations and frequencies satisfy FCC requirements for filing LPFM applications, including site elevation and antenna height-above-average-terrain (HAAT) calculations. Provides a free-to-use service unavailable elsewhere in the market.
- LPFM Radio Impact Maps and Demographics FM radio coverage prediction maps with state-of-industry Longley-Rice mathematical modeling, population counts, and demographics. Delivered as PDF reports containing high-resolution maps in multiple styles, technical explanations, and interference analysis from potentially interfering stations. Priced at $99 per map with demographics for an existing LPFM (or class D) station.
- LPFM Station Building Services Direct support services helping organizations plan, fundraise, design, and build new LPFM radio stations after their applications are granted. Includes one-on-one engineering assistance and hands-on construction support.
- LPFM Application Resources Guides, webinars, and technical documentation helping nonprofit organizations prepare and submit LPFM license applications to the FCC during filing windows. Includes Form 318 application guides and engineering section documentation.
- LPFM Engineering Support Technical FCC policy analysis, station design, construction and troubleshooting support provided by broadcast and applications engineers. Includes one-on-one engineering consultations and technical assistance for stations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 800 LPFM stations on air as a result of Prometheus support
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Prometheus Radio Project
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Prometheus Radio Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Prometheus Radio Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Prometheus Radio Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WFMU: Long-running listener-supported freeform community radio station in New Jersey. Comparable as a model community station that Prometheus's applicants aspire to become, representing the type of independent nonprofit radio Prometheus helps create.
- REC Networks: LPFM and FM translator-focused advocacy and engineering organization frequently cited alongside Prometheus on LPFM policy matters. Operates in the same regulatory niche, providing LPFM application support and translator engineering tools.
- Media Mobilizing Project: Co-plaintiff with Prometheus in FCC v. Prometheus Radio Project Supreme Court case. A Philadelphia-based community media organization directly allied with Prometheus on broadcast policy and community radio advocacy.
- National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB): Trade association serving community radio stations across the U.S. Lisa Kettyle was previously Program Director at NFCB. Directly comparable as a national support organization for the same community radio constituency Prometheus serves.
Broad incumbents
- NPR (National Public Radio): Major public radio network. While Prometheus operates at the grassroots LPFM level rather than the NPR network level, both serve the noncommercial/community radio space and engage with FCC public file and licensing frameworks.
- Free Press: Larger national media reform and ownership advocacy organization. Comparable as a media-justice advocacy group pushing the FCC on ownership rules, though broader in scope than Prometheus's LPFM focus.
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB): Federal funding entity supporting public radio and television. Comparable as a funder/enabler of the public/community radio ecosystem, though CPB operates at much greater scale with federal appropriations.
- Pacifica Foundation: Listener-supported nonprofit radio network operating KPFA, KPFK, WPFW and others. Comparable as a community/grassroots nonprofit radio network whose mission and listener-funded model align with what Prometheus enables for LPFM applicants.
Others
- Future of Music Coalition: Advocacy organization for musicians and independent radio. Operates in the same broader media-policy/independent-radio advocacy space and engages the FCC on ownership and broadcast issues relevant to Prometheus.
Regional players
- KEXP: Listener-supported nonprofit community/indie radio station in Seattle. Comparable as a successful nonprofit community radio operation whose survival and growth path parallels what Prometheus helps new applicants pursue.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Prometheus Radio Project social profiles
Digital presencePrometheus Radio Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Prometheus Radio Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Prometheus Radio Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Prometheus Radio Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Prometheus Radio Project
What does Prometheus Radio Project do?
Prometheus Radio Project is a nonprofit organization that builds, supports, and advocates for community Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations. It provides free FCC application engineering tools (RFree), paid coverage and demographic mapping reports (LPFM Radio Impact Maps), hands-on station-building and training services, and advocates at the FCC and Congress to expand LPFM opportunities. Services are targeted at nonprofit organizations, schools, federally recognized tribes, and public safety agencies seeking to establish community radio stations.
Is Prometheus Radio Project a public or private company?
Prometheus Radio Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Prometheus Radio Project founded?
Prometheus Radio Project was founded in 1998. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Prometheus Radio Project based?
Prometheus Radio Project is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Prometheus Radio Project make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are LPFM Radio Impact Maps and grant Funding.
Who are Prometheus Radio Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WFMU, REC Networks, Media Mobilizing Project and National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB). Broad incumbents are NPR (National Public Radio), Free Press, Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and Pacifica Foundation. Future of Music Coalition is listed as an others. KEXP is listed as a regional player.
Does Prometheus Radio Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Prometheus Radio Project.
What industry is Prometheus Radio Project in?
Prometheus Radio Project's product category is Community Radio Broadcasting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABADAE, Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio), with a secondary code of MPABACAG, Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.