Community Issues

Rattan · 2007-02-16T23:46:56Z

Looking through some of the FCC Citations/NAL/NOV page, I noted that a thing some of the licensed stations are getting hit for includes the failure to provide: Looking through some of the FCC Citations/NAL/NOV page, I noted that a thing some of the licensed stations are getting hit for includes the failure to provide: "a list of programs that have provided the station's most significant treatment of community issues during the preceding three month period. This list is known as the Radio Issues/Programs List." ..and it got me to thinking it might be interesting to try and get a brainstorming session going on here about what sort of community issues part 15 stations can do "significant treatment" of, and what sort of things some of us maybe already do in that regard for listeners. I know, it's not a requirement for part15. But if it's important enough that the licensed stations get hit for not doing it, perhaps it's a good thing to consider having at least a bit of in our programming. I don't assume it would give us any extra consideration if we were in violation or anything, but if we make some efforts in that direction it *might* help to shape opinions a bit of part 15 stations as potentially being a desirable part of a community rather than just a potential source of interference. Having a record or statement onhand of things in our programming that fall under "community issues" would be neat to have ready when somebody asks about our stations, rather than saying "oh, it's just sort of a hobby" and leaving it at that. It'd fit in nice with the explanation of how we aren't running a pirate station. (Note: I am not saying that some pirate stations may not be community oriented and of great value to their community, but this forum focusses on legal part15, and I'm sure most of us have explained to a neighbor or visitor at least a few times how legal part15 stations aren't pirates.) So, thinking of my own programming.. Well, there's weather. Especially in the winter up her in the northern part of the country, that's something some of my listeners need to know for safety. Beyond the automated weather, I also can just take a look out at the street from my front door (since almost all my listeners are within 2 houses of mine) and say "Well, the plow hasn't been through yet, so there's about 6 inches of loose powder snow on the street. Looks to be about 9 to 10 inches on vehicles that were parked overnight, so allow yourself some extra time this morning." Then there's *very* local news. Like when a neighbor had her car sideswiped at night when it was parked and I let her go on the air and talk about it for a few minutes and vent a little and ask anyone who was listening who might have heard or seen anything get in touch. She didn't know about the station at all, but one of my neighbors suggested she ask when she was going door to door asking if anyone had seen or heard anything. She might have become a listener, but she's about 4 houses up the street and her home stereo doesn't pick up the station. On another occassion, one of the neighbor girls (6 yrs old I think) wasn't home yet when it was getting dark and her mom called and asked if I could ask anyone who saw her to call and keep her there and she'd come and get her. Her daughter came home while she was talking to me on the phone and giving the info though, she'd just been playing with other kids in a snow fort in a yard a few houses down. Now, in neither case was my station the solution to the problem. But it kind of established that the station is an option/resource that *can* be brought in for those kinds of situations. A few more pairs of eyes and ears are good in such cases. Other than that, morning time announcements are scheduled to be near when particular neighbors have to get up or be heading out the door soon, and since I have kids in school, my highschool daughter takes a personal delight in taking the mic when school is closed for the day to announce it. During the 2006 Nov elections we also ran a PSA every hour on election day to encourage people to get out and vote for their candidate of choice. Now, I recall seeing here that some folks have their stations set up to broadcast emergency weather warnings. That'd be another thing a part 15 could do for the safety of their listeners. What else do folks here do? Or what things could we work into our programming for that "treatment of community issues"? Now, the licensed stations have their thousands of watts to serve a large part of the area/populace. For them, "local community" is probably city-wide or at least a good sized chunk in bigger cities. Maybe our focus would be tighter, since our listening range is smaller. But still, having some regular bits in our programming to serve even the small listener bases we have could be a good thing, I think. What are your thoughts on the matter? Daniel

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That makes you stop and think.

Bruce, DOGRADIO

Posted : 16/07/2013 2:47 pm

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