The Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act of 2000 requires the commission to solicit bids from an "independent entity" that will study the impact of LPFM broadcasters in up to 10 markets. "This is not going to be an inexpensive process," acknowledges the FCC's Peter Doyle, who tells R&R ONLINE the agency is still developing the bid. "I just don't know how close we are to finishing it," he says. The process, which bypasses the FCC's own qualified engineering staff, will likely force the commission to appeal to legislators for additional funding to cover the cost of getting the contract.