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How would your life be different if you had a radio station?

NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Links Galore!

Virginia Center for the Public Press: Radio Free Richmond Project
 

What different music would be played...

    different people would be interviewed ...
     
        events would be "newsworthy" ?

    You are probably one of the third of America that so-often cannot find the programming they  want on the FM dial.

    You are probably getting tired of having to "make do" with spreadsheet-driven programming.

    Well, that is about to change ...
     
     
    Solution One: (preferable)

    Support "Low Power FM" and start your own Community radio station or help another nonprofit build one.



    On February 20th, 2000, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 in favor of creating new opportunities for "The Rest Of US" not heard on the radio dial to build "Low Power FM" radio stations to serve our neighborhoods.

    LPFM is specifically designed by the FCC to be simple enough and affordable enough that a coalition of civic organizations, small churches and advocacy/ educational organizations could apply for them over the Internet. LPFM stations are estimated to cost less than a mid-range new car. 100 watt LPFM stations would cover a 7 mile diameter. During the first round of applications, only the 100 Watt applications will be accepted. After this first round, 10 Watt applications will be accepted.


    PLUS:
    FM radio is an established and robust technology. Just about everyone has an FM radio. 

    Thus LPFM's new and new local voices will help re-invigorate American's engagement with government and corporate policies.

    Bottom Line: If people don't feel represented by their government, do we have the will to collectively pull through the next war or national tragedy?

    LPFM will help re-establish a republic with room at the table for everyone's stories , culture and music.

    MINUS:
    An African Proverb comes to mind, "When the Elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers." 

    The "Big Dogs" , the "Elephants" of "Government radio" (National Public Radio, NPR) and the larger commercial radio groups represented by their lobbyists (National Association of Broadcasters, NAB) are opposed to Low Power FM. 

    If there was ever any question, the LPFM issue has demonstrated once and for all that a politician that votes purely in the public interest is rare and Congress is largely a building full of wind-vanes. 

    It really comes down to who blows harder, the money of the big institutional lobbyists, or you and I?

    MORE INFO BELOW ...
    Jump straight to "How Do I Start My Own Station?" 

    ... or if you don't have the time or inclination to go to the substantial pain the *** to do any of your own programming on your own station ... 
    you just want to hear some  programs that speak to your soul, "What Can little ol' I Do?"

    Solution Two: (AltToFM) 
    Help us build the "Alternative to the FM dial 'reverse network' "

    This will draw off listeners until the FM stations are as devalued as the AM dial then we can move in and buy the stations at bankruptcy auctions. THEN we can get the diverse local radio we really wanted. 


    Here's how it works.

    Technology such as MP3 players and 56+kbaud Internet access has brought us to the point where your favorite new programming could be downloaded nightly to your Diamond Rio player, or  Minijam MP3 Player for your Handspring Visor Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). You could also download the MP3 files directly to your Casio PDA for play. Then again, there will soon be devices that download programming like the Internet, but without a computer or phone line ... wireless subscription services like Command Audio and Cue Corporation products.

    What is different this time ...
    Unlike other "virtual radio networks" such as Command Audio, Audible and Webactive, or for that matter the new direct audio satellite broadcast services of Sirius and XM Corporation, the Radio 4 The Rest Of US Network would provide programming that is :

    1. free to the listener ...
    2. controlled by  the listener ...
    3. downloads to your MP3 player for one-button playing the next day whether portably or on your desktop.
    4. creates a new opportunity for new and niche interest programming providers to find listeners outside the traditional networks.
    5. And is of-course a good meeting place for programmer providers to get uploaded by smaller radio stations.


    PLUS: 
    This kind of network puts an unprecedented amount of power in the hands of the listener

    This turns the traditional programming network on its head

    This is the "information revolution" brought to life "for the rest of us" ignored by the traditional networks. 

    MINUS: 
    Not everyone has a good enough computer to enjoy audio on the Internet. Not everyone has a good enough Internet connection. Not everyone has an MP3 player. Not everyone by a long ways. 

    This will unfortunately contribute the the further balkanization of America ... an America of those with choices and the tools to create and accept opportunity and those who are largely left out and left behind. 

    ALSO: There is unlikely to be any local component to this network. At least at first

    Only after MP3 players are as cheap as a simple walkman for $30 and the fast and stable Internet connections and this kind of network has been established for a while can we establish local studios that will have a significant audience for that local area. 

    And even then, the programming will be often delayed, not live. 

    Already there are some interesting efforts in that direction at the A-Infos Radio Project and at the Independent Media Center that provides an alternative to a so-called "objective" centralized press. 

    We hope that our effort would be more like an internet based version of Command Audio ... but unlike Command, with a broader selection of programming that is often not already available on your local FM dial. 

    For more information visit our AltToFM page ... 

    and for chuckles read Why LPFM is the best thing that ever happened to FM (for broadcasters no less!) 

    Gives pause for thought that the NAB and NPR opposition is not entirely a matter of cold logic alone.


     

    RESOURCES:



    • Virginia Center for the Public Press testified with Amherst Alliance for LPFM in the HR3439 hearings. This testimony preceeded by one week the now famous reply by the FCC that the NAB and NPR 's testimony was misleading. In other words, citizen action created room for sympathetic bureaucracy to move forward.

    "Elephants" oppose "grass"(roots) creating alternative to their centralized FM radio networks:
     
     
    African Proverb:
    "When Elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers."

    The Big Broadcasters represented by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and National Public Radio (NPR) don't want the competition and are pressuring Congress with misleading testimony! 
     

    Their contention: 

    That you receiver will not be able to separate the signal from their multi-thousand watt stations and our little 100 watt stations. 
     

    The only problem with this testimony: 

    If this were going to be a problem, it would already have been  a problem for over 30 years!
     
     
    FAQ

    What
    Does
    All
    This 
    Jargon
    Mean?

    FAQ

    There are already existing hundreds of hugely powerful "Short Spaced" stations that have been transmitting for 30 years spaced the same (and sometimes even less) distance apart as the LPFM stations would be. There has been no substantial problem for these 20,000 and 50,000 watt stations … there won't be for our 100 watt stations either.

    Similarly, NPR is contending that the "Subcarrier" based Reading Services for the Blind will be disrupted by LPFM stations. Again, if that were true, then it would already be a problem. It is not and if it were, you can bet the companies that serve business services over the "subcarrier" channels would also be strongly opposing LPFM. 

    They are not. 

    The big broadcasters claim that they are simply serving the marketplace and if your story, your music and culture, your values are not reflected on the radio dial, it is because there are not enough of you to justify creation of programming. 

    That is true only because the big broadcasters are lazy and have created and are now trying to enforce an artificial scarcity of channels that would have created competition on the radio dial.
     

    Bottom line: This struggle makes it all the clearer that if you want your story and cultural values to be heard on your local radio dial you'll have to do it yourself.

    The National LPFM Applicants Committee (NLPFMAC) is formed to provide a group and a collection point for resources for those of us who have decided to address the lack of diversity and representation on the radio dial by jumping through all the many hoops that are required for a legal radio station. Luckily, the FCC has really tried quite hard to make this process under the LPFM application quite doable for smaller civic and educational volunteer organizations.

    The NLPFMAC also exists to provide a place where policy recommendations and critiques of policies can be created that are presented from their perspective of those who are trying to work with the system ... yet do not accept the current status quo in radio.
     

    RESOURCES:

    In the US House of Representatives, bill number HR3439, "Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act of 1999" has only one purpose ... to cripple LPFM and thereby to "preserve" the status quo in radio where 30% of America is ignored. The Senate version of the "Broadcasting Preservation Act" is SB2068. 

    On 4/13/00 just under 2/3rds of the US House of Representatives voted for HR3439, the "Broadcast Preservation Act" based on the misleading testimony of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and National Public Radio (NPR). President Clinton has publicly declared he "strongly opposes" the Broadcast Preservation Acts that the Senate (Bill # S2068) is expected to be considering in May.

    HR3439 reduces the number of LPFM stations from over 400 to about 70 (and none in major cities) by unfairly disallowing LPFMs fair use of the same spacing rules allowed hundreds of existing "Short Spaced" full powered stations.

    In the Senate, The Senate version of the "Broadcast Preservation Act", S2068 outlaws LPFM entirely

    Codifying into law this favoritism to the big broadcasters violates the 14th Amendment that guarantees equal treatment for all. 

    ALSO IN THE SENATE: the latest move was to introduce a "compromise" called the "FM Radio Act of 2000" that would essentially require that anyone alleging an LPFM is causing interference must bury that LPFM under lawsuits. This is not to be required of Full Power Broadcasters alleged to cause interference and thus is once again a violation of the 14th Amendment that guarantees us all equal treatment under the law.
     

    In order to claim an opportunity to create free airtime, you must spread the word and persuade your Senator and Congressmen you will support them if they support you. The larger broadcasters are working to persuade your Senator or Congressman to kill your opportunity to be on the air. The broadcasters have the money and the space on public property, the FM dial, but you have the vote!

    "Broadcast Preservation" has picked up a substantial number of co-sponsors and without your help getting the word out, LPFM may be just a barely remembered dream.


    TACTICS: TO GET YOUR OWN STATION:

       
    1. CONTACT PRESIDENT CLINTON ... ask him to follow up on his threat to veto the "Broadcast Preservation Acts" and also ask for Clinton to Veto the "FM Radio Act of 2000" as well.

    2.  
    3. CONTACT YOUR SENATORS ... ask that they vote NO on "Broadcast Preservation Act" (SB2068) and "FM Radio Act of 2000" (SB2518) as well.

    4.  
    5. CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSCRITTER ... ask that they vote NO on HR3439, the "Broadcast Preservation Act" in the US House of Representatives when the bill comes back from a Veto for another vote. If your Congresscritter already stood up for freedom by voting NO on HR3439 the first time through ... THANK THEM!!!!

    6.  
    7. Please fill out our partner's Letter of Intention form now. We along with New Horizon's Radio and thousands of others need your support to help secure the future of the Low Power FM (LPFM) Radio Service that will enable millions of Americans to hear thousands of new free radio stations  This Letter of Intention will be packaged with our request to the President of the United States and Members of Congress to indicate need for this type of community service. 

    8.  
    9. Leave us your email. Tell us what state and town you live in and what organization you work with. We can then tailor our response to your area. BE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER.

    10.  

       

      Ask us to mail you our videotape to play on your Cable Public Access Channel. A local version of this ran in Richmond Virginia and brought 60 hits a day to that website! The tape consists of an MS Powerpoint slideshow on the visual portion that discusses LPFM and related issues and  provides viewers with phone numbers and web resources to gain more information and places to take action such as writing to their Senator and the President. Then you put whatever soundtrack you want on the audio portion of this tape. You can re-submit the tape to the Cable Public Access station with a new audio content, a kind of "radio on your TV" as often as you can arrange with your Cable station. The Richmond version had both local content as well as examples of other community radio programs downloaded over the Internet or passed along by tape. This was the single most effective education tool we have found yet.
      We can insert a video page with your local contact information as well.
       

    11. Join other organizations in your area so you can influence the FCC to give you the license as well as prove to your elected officials that they should support you. The Low Power FM service is designed by the FCC for nonprofits. In order to win the stiff competition you will need to form a coalition of groups in your area. You will need to show the FCC that you have Letters Of Intent from your neighboring nonprofits and interest groups and churches to demonstrate that you will provide community service and value.

    12.  
    13. Have these organizations write Letters Of Intention to help you build the station and create programming that is relevant to your community. It will help if the programming and the sources of programming are identifiably different from that which is already on the air on other stations.

    14.  
    15. Send these letters to the President of the United States. Ask that President Clinton veto the "Broadcast Preservation Act".

    16.  
    17. Send these letters to your Senators and Congressmen.

    18.  
    19. And educate yourself and others about this effort to create at least one station in each area that allows you to tell your story! You can start my clicking Links Galore!
    20. FINALLY ... yes APPLY for the LPFM license. Some basic instructions to get you started HERE 
 
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THANK-YOU for 
contacting your 
Senator/Congressperson.

THANK-YOU for
contacting your FCC Commissioners

Thank-you for reading all this 
and considering helping us 
create a radio dial as diverse 
as the population that listens 
and pays taxes to regulate it.


 
Contact Information
for Congress HERE
National LPFM Applicants Committee of the 
Virginia Center for the Public Press 
1621 W Broad St. 
Richmond, Va. 23220 
804-649-9737
NLPFMAC eZine
VIRGINIA CENTER FOR THE PUBLIC PRESS PRESENTS:
FM4U.S.
This is an effort to ensure that the public's airwaves are kept open for the benefit of all, not just the beautiful, rich or popular. 

This site is designed to address efforts by a powerful minority to bend public policy to their aide and benefit at our expense and loss of liberty and access to the many voices of a healthy democratic republic. 
 
 
 

RESOURCES:

I JUST WANT  RADIO THAT SPEAKS TO MY SOUL

You don't want to start a station or even do a show, you just want to listen to something new, something that speaks to your soul and values. 

WHAT CAN YOU DO? 

  1. Educate yourself. Click around here. Email us with questions.
  2. Contact your Senators. Ask them to oppose the "Broadcast Preservation Act" (SB2068)  and also oppose the "FM RadioAct of 2000" (SB2518).
  3. Contact President Clinton ... ask him to follow through on his threat to veto the "Broadcast Preservation Acts".
  4. Contact your Congressperson from the US House of Representatives ... ask him if he voted for LPFM  by voting against, that is did he vote no on HR3439, the House "Broadcast Preservation Act."
  5. Contact organizations in your area and get them to write letters (or even just prominent members) just as you have done above. You can also get these organizations to fill out our Letter Of Intent form.
  6. Help us retain what few independent broadcasters are left! Help us battle IBOC-DAB (what's that?)
  7. Help us show how LPFM is the best thing that can happen to most smaller broadcasters!
  8. Help us create a "reverse network" for programming to get to your ears from new sources outside the control of the traditional corporate, religious and government networks..

 

VIRGINIA CENTER FOR THE PUBLIC PRESS PRESENTS:

FM4U.S.A

This is an effort to ensure that the public's airwaves are kept open for the benefit of all, not just the beautiful, rich or popular. 

This site is designed to address efforts by a powerful minority to bend public policy to their aide and benefit at our expense and loss of liberty and access to the many voices of a healthy Democratic Republic. 
 
 

The Basic Plan: Destroy the remaining stations that have resisted consolidation including any new LPFM stations that are started.

How? Force  a new standard for Digital Audio Broadcasting (IBOC-DAB) * that destroys your ability to hear weaker and/or more distant stations. 
 

Eliminating LPFM in only the beginning to the longer range plan. 

Eliminating LPFM only  makes it easier to convert the FM dial into a huge wireless Broadband Internet pipeline at the expense of your favorite programming. IBOC-DAB will double the width of radio stations thereby legally jamming any lower power or more distant station that formerly competed for your attention. 

With IBOC-DAB in place, you will have less and fewer of the smaller independent stations to choose from.. 

And that is ultimately the real goal, have all advertising and underwriting go through just a few owners hands, to simplify and reduce the number of different radio programming providers. 
 

Saving LPFM is only the beginning.


Please call your Congressmen and Senators ... make sure they know you know that you want to hear your favorite station on the radios you already own! 

Lookup 
Your Congressmen
and Senators
by ZIP Code HERE
 

Ask your Federal Representatives and Senators to send a letter to the FCC Commissioners that we must:

1) Keep the FM dial FM
 (no "mandatory sunsetting" [prohibition] of affordable analog FM broadcasting) 

2)  We want access to more choices in program values and sources [stations], not less.
Tell them to tell the FCC not to force a new standard for the FM dial for Digital Audio that will block your ability to hear the LPFM and smaller stations. 

3) Help Digital Audio find a third separate "Digital Band" just as we moved FM to a different band from AM in the 1950s. 


* What is "IBOC-DAB"? ("In Band On Channel--Digital Audio Broadcasting")
  

Digital Audio Broadcasting sends the sound out coded the same way a fax machine codes a picture, as little blocks that are "on" or "off" (the binary language of computers and other digital devices).

In Band On Channel describes where that digital signal is placed, in this case IN the FM BAND and centered ON their original signal  center location "CHANNEL"  on the FM dial.

If you drive up toward Washington DC and tune your radio to 106.5, then get within 20 miles of the test IBOC-DAB station, WJFK 106.7 in Alexandria, Va., you will hear a "buzz saw " sound, that is the digital carrier of the on-off-on encoded signal.

(NOTE: This station has turned off the IBOC test since this website went up.)

MORE INFO on how IBOC-DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) will have effects similar to Nazi single-channel radio of the 1930s.
 
 
 
 


 

 
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