Local Radio might come back !

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 28 Feb 2009 10:07 am

There is an interesting bill in congress right now that might help diverse and local radio come back:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.2802:

Here is an editorial about it:

Seattle Times editorial

THE wait could soon be over for communities starved for locally produced radio. The U.S. Congress can provide a big boost for radio and its listeners by passing the Local Community Radio Act of 2009.

This bill might have a shot at passing, unlike similar bills that died in the last Congress. President Obama co-sponsored a Low-Power FM, or LPFM, bill while in the Senate and this year's version of the bill has strong bipartisan support. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers, R-Spokane, and Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island, have signed on as sponsors. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Seattle, voted for it last time and should do so again.

The Radio Act allows LPFM stations of 100 watts or less to use empty space on the radio dial. The stations would not reach more than a few miles but would open up a world of opportunities for listeners and communities because the programming would be produced locally.

Local radio took a big hit with the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. That piece of legislation allowed for massive consolidation of radio. The result was that most towns were left with a couple big conglomerates owning most everything transmitted over the airwaves.

Congress can help give radio back to listeners by dedicating these unused airwaves to local producers. The new voices can only strengthen communities.

Pretty interesting.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 28 Feb 2009 10:17 am

I don't think radio will ever come back to where it was before deregulation.
They are all planning on going to a national syndicated format with little or no local interaction except for traffic, weather , sports. They are polling and surveying right now across the country.
The problem with local radio low powered or not is the programming.
With all of the choices available now that compete for listeners and the revenue dollar, who would want to listen to the station owner reading the local news stories direct from the local newspaper or interview the town mayor.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 28 Feb 2009 10:58 am

I think small local radio will not be a profit based effort. It would be very small and limited and more about very local events. They have all these small pirate radio stations over in London and its pretty fun. You pass through one neighborhood and hear a great reggae show and go around the corner and find a local band broadcasting live.

Its not to replace anything. It just makes it so a local church or maybe a guy into old country music can broadcast on empty FM slots to his neighbors. I don't see how it would make any money but it could be a fun way of bringing local communities together. A radio yard sale show would be fun. Imagine tuning into a station to hear a breaking news story about somebody down the street who baked too many cookies so come over if you want some.

It could also be a big help if there was a local disaster.

Brian Kurlychek · Post by **Brian Kurlychek** » 28 Feb 2009 12:07 pm

People can just have radio shows that are internet based. radio is dying with the baby boomers. Its a new world now and a radio station that only reaches a few miles is going to be worthless IMO. There are much better mediums nowadays.

Fred Shannon · Post by **Fred Shannon** » 28 Feb 2009 12:14 pm

Bob, I love the thought of small town radio coverage. I only hope there are no sneaky politics involved. It's a known fact that there are efforts afoot to knock the blocks off big time conservative am radio by this administration.

I personally own an 85 watt transmitter and short tower (a little over 25 mile radius coverage) that could be on the air in 48 hours, but the expense the government currently has for its operation is outrageous, the reason we put the little fellow in the dumper.

The big time AM'ers and small time Fm'ers could certainly coexist but a lot of coordination would have to be involved at the local level. For sure the Federal Government will have to stay the hell out of any negotiations necessary to make it work.

Voice of experience.

phred

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 28 Feb 2009 1:05 pm

Imagine tuning into a station to hear a breaking news story about somebody down the street who baked too many cookies so come over if you want some.

That would be good news, indeed.

In the dwindling hillbilly nether regions of the US, there are still a few radio call-in segments called, as examples, "The Trading Post" or "The Swap Shop. They can make for rich listening.

Hello. Welcome to WCNT's Swap Shop.

Yessir. I got three tarrs. They've still got, oh, I'd say, pretty much the better part of haif their tread on 'em. I'd like to keep 'em together as a set and all, but I reckon I'd take five dollars a piece or let all three go for twenty. Call 877-3903. That's eight sebum sebum, thirty-nine oh three.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 28 Feb 2009 1:21 pm

HHHmmm, I read in the bill that the Gov will determine the communities "needs"??

"To each according to his needs"....Marx

Also the minority slant.....You can only imagine who will be first in line to get a permit, and who will not be getting one.

John P. Phillips · Post by **John P. Phillips** » 28 Feb 2009 1:34 pm

All I got to say is,
"It's about D*&% time !"

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 28 Feb 2009 1:34 pm

We recently had a local non-profit radio station start up in my little community, and it's a breath of fresh air. It's not polished, sometimes they play two songs at the same time, or leave the mic on by mistake, etc, but it's part of the charm. It's nice to get the local vibe with announcements and local ads. It mirrors a similar station just over the river on the Quebec side, on which I heard this announcement last year:

"And now, Community Bulletin Board:
'Dis message is from Alphonse to his brudder Pierre, who ain't got no phone dere, eh ? He want to know if Pierre would come over 'dis afternoon and 'elp him pile da wood, eh ?"

-John

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 28 Feb 2009 3:14 pm

Fred,
If you get your station going I will drive down there next time I'm in Texas and give it a listen !

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 28 Feb 2009 3:38 pm

It's a known fact that there are efforts afoot to knock the blocks off big time conservative am radio by this administration.

It may be a known fact, but I didn't know it... Fill me in, Phred.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 28 Feb 2009 4:35 pm

Come on guys ! Lets not drag this into politics. The low powered local radio will have no effect on the AM band or talk radio. Unless the 30 people listening to the local church talent show cut into NPR and Rush's ratings.
The bill is supported by both parties.

I'm looking forward to hearing what the guys in my neighborhood come up with. One thing for sure is that for music they will want local, home grown music so they don't need to pay the royalties.

Fred Shannon · Post by **Fred Shannon** » 28 Feb 2009 4:35 pm

Big time AM, after the fairness went down, was not made to carry equal time for adversaries. I understand, from one of my senators, this bill will require the Big Boys to load up with so much of local activity, the Rush Limbaugh's are going to be limited time wise. Of course the Liberals will suffer the same consequences but, they, nationwide really pack no punch so it is rumored.

Our little ditty was a self operated unit (hired hands ran it because of license requirements) and we did what we wanted, real country music, and like Jeff said a swap shop (no charge) and several local events; baseball games locally, basketball, and things like you would find in a small community. Some of the citizens here put it all together and donated the time and facility to just local causes.

Then gov't agencies like the FCC would pay the "annual" visits===which were more like monthly===and there was always a problem that required cash and soon we shut 'er down. But the big boy AM/FM stations in the city 8 miles away didn't have to do the things we were required to do.

XTAL controlled local oscillators are not the way to go btw. The feds will kill you. We're standing by to see what comes out of the Spendthrifts in DC.

phred

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 28 Feb 2009 4:58 pm

Fred,

I understand, from one of my senators, this bill will require the Big Boys to load up with so much of local activity.....

I didn't see anything in this bill concerning established radio stations.

Did I miss something ?

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 28 Feb 2009 5:00 pm

I'm excusing myself - way too political now.

Fred Shannon · Post by **Fred Shannon** » 28 Feb 2009 5:35 pm

Not the local b'cast bill Bob, the one attached to the old Fairness Doctrine of 1997. This bill I think has to do with nothing but local stations and provides authority for FCC to issue frequency allocations and call letters. Is that right?

Barry I tried to keep politics out of it but it's gonna' get very political before it's over I think. Gone too, I dont want Bob's thread boogered up.

phred

edited to add: If the price is right we'll certainly apply for licensing and it will again be straight up country and any local services we can provide.

Bob do you have any low power fm there now???

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 28 Feb 2009 10:53 pm

Fred,
There are no legal LPFM stations around that I know of in NYC. There are a few local internet radio stations that have an interesting role though and I know some guys planning for LPFM if it happens. One thing to keep in mind about Brooklyn and NYC is that this whole area is really a bunch of small towns and neighborhoods. A radio station that covered 10 blocks would be a pretty fun scene.

I am going to check into it more.

Fred Shannon · Post by **Fred Shannon** » 1 Mar 2009 8:21 am

Yeh, and you know the direct opposite environment is present here. Your closest neighbor may be over a mile away. That's the reason we all donated to the little thing we had going. It was really a boon but the requirements for operation became too stringent, relative to equipment specs, we just couldn't continue to support it. Of course, we could have gone bootleg like some areas did but we didnt'. It was just better to shut it down and put it in the dumper.

phred

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 1 Mar 2009 9:58 am

The program director on my local radio station says that the future of big time radio is on the internet. I think the LPFM thing may be the foot in the door for a big return to local broadcast radio in the not too distant future. I sure hope so.

Steve Alonzo Walker · Post by **Steve Alonzo Walker** » 1 Mar 2009 10:30 am

The "ONLY" way they can get listeners back is to get rid of the "Programming" and play what the listeners want!

Don Drummer · Post by **Don Drummer** » 1 Mar 2009 10:32 am

My local AM station has a great "Swap Shop" segment every morning. My favorite caller is a sweet ladie who calls looking to buy /sell banty hens and always ends her call with: ..."and I still got my duck eggs" Don D.

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 1 Mar 2009 10:43 am

Don — we're on the same frequency . . . and you may be my favourite Drummer.

Somewhat off topic, but how much is she gettin' on them aigs, anyway? Best eggs I've ever had came from a Muscovy duck hen. Mighty fine.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 2 Mar 2009 4:08 pm

I think this is long overdue. I don't think politics should have anything to do with this. The fairness doctrine is another issue completely. We own these damn airwaves, and anybody should be able to use them, IMHO. [Of course, I would love to see clear channel, viacom and the other big boys cut down to size too, but that's also another issue.]

I also disagree that nobody cares about radio. I teach at a major state university with 45,000 students, and about 10 years ago the student-oriented programming was cut off the main university PBS station and moved to their own station. It is heavily listened to, and far and away the best and most diverse radio station within at least 100 miles, if not farther. Sorry, no country music - this is Pennsylvania, not Texas. But if someone had time and wanted to do a country music show, I don't think there'd be a serious problem getting airtime. There is lots of folk, Americana, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country-rock, jazz, and a bunch of other stuff to go with the jam-band, classic-rock, and hip-hop stuff that many students listen to.

I think this would be cool either in metro or rural areas. There's a simple elegance to broadcast radio - no dancing orangutans, no idiotic "cultural" imagery, just words and music. If some normal people could actually run radio stations, who knows what might happen.

My opinions, naturally.

Don Drummer · Post by **Don Drummer** » 2 Mar 2009 8:09 pm

Jeff, howdy pardner. Don't know if they Muscovys but she is asking 2.00 dollars a dozen. I'll find out and get back with ya. The station is WRON. They have web site with listings. Don't know if they ship. Don D.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 3 Mar 2009 8:51 am

How about a "network" of 100-milliwatt (flea power) transmitters? A group of small repeaters, each with a range of about 1000 feet, could easily cover most small towns.

The low-power (100-watt) deal would probably be necessary in any big city, due to the presence and proximity of many high-power stations across the dial.