November 2014 Broadcast

Hello friends,

 

Oh my, what an exciting time in the world of community radio! With the passage of the Local Community Radio Act almost three years ago, thousands of low power FM (LPFM) stations will soon go on the air all around the country. Schools, churches, unions, local artists, and social justice activists will all have an unprecedented voice on the FM dial. Such an expansion of diverse and local voices in our media is an incredible feat. Still, we keep on the fight for a powerful and sustainable grassroots media.

 

Check out what the Prometheus Radio Project has been up to—from advocating in Washington to building radio stations in the Southwest to launching a new network of community radio stations.

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 Inside this issue:

The Community Radio Solidarity Network (CORASON)

We didn't fight for a new law, but for a growing movement. In order to transform the promise of the Local Community Radio Act from words on paper into a reality on the air, community radio stations not only have to get up and running, but must also use their voices to make an impact locally, regionally and nationally. The movement we envision is made up of strong, sustainable, and powerful community radio stations working in solidarity across issues, across regions, and across the dial. That is why we are launching the Community Radio Solidarity Network, or CORASON. With CORASON, Prometheus aims to:

  • Create a sustainable relationship with and between community radio stations across the country.
  • Mobilize our collective experience to support new and existing community radio stations through trainings and innovative resources.
  • Build a bridge between many organizations fighting for social justice.
  • Coordinate the development of relevant and powerful content.
  • Amplify the power of all the new voices hitting the airwaves.

Starting in 2015, CORASON will launch with its inaugural batch of members. Please stay tuned, and consider supporting the network by making a donation or volunteering. Your participation makes our work possible.

Update on LPFM Applicants

Already a year has passed since local organizations had the opportunity to apply for low power FM (LPFM) licenses. Since then, the FCC has moved quickly to deal with 3,000 LPFM applications - over 1,200 organizations have received their construction permits, and 115 are on the air! To deal with competition situations between applicants, especially in major cities, the FCC is moving region by region. This past summer, they started in the western states; in the fall, they moved to the midwest and northeast; and this winter, they will start issuing licenses in the South. Within the next six months, some 2,000 local groups in 50 states and Puerto Rico will be licensed to build their LPFM station. Oh boy!

The Policy Fight Never Ends 

Just when we thought we were out, they pull us back in...to Washington DC, that is. Even with the passage of the Local Community Radio Act in 2011, there is still so much work to be done to make sure the grassroots has a voice in today’s media. While large (huge!) corporate interests are using their power to dominate every aspect of the information we consume, Prometheus and our allies are keeping up the fight for the public interest. This year, with our friends at the Institute for Public Representation, we’ve taken the FCC and National Association of Broadcasters to court to rein in media consolidation. Meanwhile, we’ve fought to preserve the Open Internet and prevent the merger between Comcast and Time Warner. And lastly, we’ve been working with LPFM stations to make sure community radio stations have a voice at the FCC. Stay tuned as Prometheus leads the fight to make the low power service even more impactful, starting with 250 Watt LPFM!

LPFM Spotlight: Radio NOLA HIV

Among the thousands of groups that will take the air in the next few years is Radio NOLA HIV in New Orleans. Founded by the New Orleans Society for Infectious Disease Awareness (NOSIDA), the low power station WHIV will raise awareness about the HIV epidemic that has hit New Orleans and neighboring Baton Rouge.

WHIV plans to air youth-oriented and youth-created programming, promote broadcasting skills, and provide space on the airwaves for peer-to-peer education about safe sex and healthy choices. In addition to public health-related broadcasts, WHIV will air Spanish-language programming directed at New Orleans’ large immigrant populations. The station plans to broadcast programming in multiple languages for communities targeted by hate crimes and police harassment, particularly for undocumented and transgender communities. The station will also be a resource for the city in the event of another environmental disaster. WHIV will place its transmitter in a building with a generator and make the antenna highly wind resistant, ensuring continued broadcast ability in the case of power outages. Click here to read more about WHIV and other inspiring examples of community radio stations.

Prometheus in the News 

Get Involved!

We at the Prometheus Radio Project have never been more excited about the work ahead. We know it won't be easy, so please consider volunteering or donating today. After all, everything we do is made possible by the participation of our friends and allies, including you.

The present opportunity to create relevant, engaging, and powerful media alternatives is in your hands. Go forth, and seize the airwaves!