Palenville is one step closer to getting its own low-power FM radio station, while folks in Athens may have to wait longer to find out their fate on the dial. Last month the Maetreum of Cybele, Magna Mater, Inc., a pagan-oriented non-profit in Palenville, applied to the Federal Communications Commission for a low-power FM radio license, as did the jazz non-profit Planet Arts, from New York City/Athens. The Palenville group's application has been moved from "received" to "accepted for filing" by the FCC, and the group should receive a construction permit early next year. The FCC announced last week that it would grant construction permits as quickly as possible to applications without any competition. The group, led by Catherine Platine, was the only local non-profit group to apply for 102.9-FM. In Athens, the application process has not gone as smoothly. First, Planet Arts (run by Thomas Bellino of Catskill) applied twice, for two different frequencies, which is against the FCC's rules. On Nov. 26, the FCC dismissed the group's 93.9-FM application. The other application, for 96.7-FM, has just been "received," and so far not been moved along even without any other competition for the frequency. Stay tuned.