[Scpg] Community Radio/Thousands of Radio Stations Up for Grabs­One Could Be Yours

[Margie Bushman, Coordinator, SBCC Center for Sustainability]

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 <http://www.yesmagazine.org/@@also-by?author=Jeff+Rousset>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.

<http://www.fcc.gov/document/lpfm-window-open-october-2013-revised-form-318-released>
Radio, photo by Three Sixteen
<http://www.fcc.gov/document/lpfm-window-open-october-2013-revised-form-318-released>
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 
<http://prometheusradio.org/getradio>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 
<http://prometheusradio.org/support>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 
<http://www.yesmagazine.org>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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