-
- Vox
populi, vox dei
- FCC to open
airwaves for noncommercial radio stations
- SUNNYSIDE (Monday 1-24-00)---Councilman Chad
Werkhoven is excited because the FCC will soon make it
possible for the city to use its radio equipment to
broadcast what's happening in city council
meetings.
-
- He cited a New York Times story that the
"Federal Communications Commission will adopt
licensing rules that will permit the addition of
noncommercial stations with broadcasting ranges of as
much as seven miles."
-
- Stations can be set up for around $1,000.
Sunnyside already has some of the equipment, reducing
new costs even further.
-
- Matt Drudge (Drudge Report) says:
-
- "Times scribe Steven Labaton writes that
religious, educational and community groups will be
able to create inexpensive radio stations on the FM
dial with a range of 7 miles.
-
- "William Kennard, the chairman of the FCC,
explains the move to Labaton:
-
- "'This will bring many new voices to the
airwaves that have not had an outlet for expression,
and it happens at a time when the radio business has
consolidated in very dramatic fashion.
-
- "'I've been struck by the outpouring of
interest on this issue as I've talked to people around
the country. From cops and clergy and community groups
of all kinds. Local governments, Indian tribes and a
whole range of subcultures, such as the Creole
community in Florida, zydeco fans in New Orleans, and
others who would love to have an outlet'."
-
- "The FCC's bold move, which has been in the
works for a year, has been fought every step of the
way by major broadcasters led by the National
Association of Broadcasters which argues that such
"micro stations" will create interference and static
for the big boys on the block.
-
- "Argues NAB spokesman Dennis Wharton:
-
- "'In our view this comes down to one issue:
interference. If tens of thousands of people cannot
hear their hometown radio station, it's hard to
understand how this benefits the public.
-
- "'The FCC has come up with a way to confound
the law of physics. We've documented in an
unassailable case that this will result in additional
interference on already crowded airways'."
-
- "An FCC study for the top three national
markets, L.A., New York and Chicago showed that such
100-watt stations -- which would have a 7 mile range
-- could not work due to the crowded dial.
-
- "Instead, those markets will likely get 10-watt
stations that can cover a 2 to 4 mile range.
-
- "Supporters of the FCC's move included Bonnie
Raitt, the Indigo Girls, the U.S. Catholic Conference
and the United Church of Christ.
-
- "The paper reports that the most expensive
aspect of a high powered FM station is the antenna
tower. In the case of 10 to 100 watt stations, one is
not needed, making a radio station as affordable as
$1000 to start up.
-
- "Let the future begin."
-
- Councilman Werkhoven indicated the future will
begin in Sunnyside as soon as the FCC cuts the leash.
-
-
|
