Thousands of Radio Stations Up for GrabsOne Could Be Yours
This is the largest expansion of community radio in
U.S. history. It’s also the biggestand maybe the lastchance for
grassroots groups to get on air.
by
Jeff
Rousset
posted Jun 18, 2013
Nonprofits, labor unions, and community groups have a one-time-only
chance this year to own the broadcast airwaves. The FCC has just released
free applications for thousands of new noncommercial FM radio licenses.
These community radio stations can reach listeners in a radius of 2 to 10
miles, and generate their broadcast signal on just 100 wattsthe amount
of power consumed by a light bulb. If you’re interested in
starting a station or supporting others to get on air, now is the time to
do it.
In some citieslike Chicago, Miami, and Philadelphiaa single low power
FM station could reach more than 100,000 listeners. Across the country,
millions of people will be tuning into these new stations as they go on
air over the next few years. Integrating new technology like video and
web streaming could give these local radio stations global multimedia
reach.
This is the largest expansion of community radio in United States
history. It’s also the biggest chance, and probably the final major
opportunity, for grassroots groups to get on air.
FCC Applications Available Now!
Prometheus Radio Project, a Philly-based nonprofit where I serve
as national organizer, has led a 15-year campaign to challenge corporate
control of the media and open up this space on the dial. If you’re
potentially interested in starting a station or supporting others to get
on air, we want you to sign
up for updates. We'll help you navigate the FCC process, and connect
you with resources, training materials, and others in your area who you
could collaborate with.
We are supporting
hundreds of groups to build community radio stations across the country.
We’re working with some big partnerslike the NAACP, Greenpeace, the
National Council of La Raza, and the Communications Workers of Americato
get the word out to their constituencies. Prometheus has already helped
hundreds of groups, including the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, to
build stations as tools for social justice organizing and community
expression. We're ready to help more groups get on air.
Jeff Rousset wrote this article for
YES! Magazine, a national,
nonprofit media organization that fuses powerful ideas with practical
actions. He's the national organizer for Prometheus Radio
Project.
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