The NAB has raised a wide variety of objections to implementing an LPFM service. NAB cites potential interference, financial harm and a lack of qualified applicants as reasons LPFM should be scrapped.
The NAB has raised a wide variety of objections to implementing an LPFM service. NAB cites potential interference, financial harm and a lack of qualified applicants as reasons LPFM should be scrapped.
A common objection is that is that local community groups cannot provide the necessary commitment and oversight keep an operation on the air over the long term.
Could the NAB be right about that?
I just learned of an LPFM operation in Washington State, near the Canadian border, that seems to make the NAB's case.
A local community group applied for and was granted permission to operate a station. It seemed like the perfect fit for LPFM - no local stations within miles, no local news or emergency info available, no broadcaster objections to the location and a long established, community based non-profit to operate the station.
So what's the problem? Seems like the license was the easy part - like the story of the Little Red Hen, no one wants to mix the flour or knead the dough or bake the bread. Problems finishing the site selection, problems with construction, problems finding volunteers and problems with continued funding have stopped this LPFM cold.
Could the NAB have over reacted to LPFM? If a community bassed non-profit and a license in hand aren't enough to get a station off the ground, what was all the fuss about?
If you live in NW Washington State and would like more information, or better yet would like to help this station get going, drop me a line - scwis at yahoo dot com
The interference problem comes up because the FCC has allowed the licensed station to get three channels for the price of one when using IBOC digital. They get the adjacent channels to their main frequency for the digital part. This effictively killed off the micro class FM which would have replaced the old class D stations, and changed the number of clear adjacent channels needed to operate so that we could get more stations on the dial. It's all up to money!
There will always be problems with doing things by committee. When we formed our community radio group we held meetings and invited everyone who was interested. The problem is a lot of people want to be the big boss and a lot of people won't carry through with what they promise. We ended up forming a non-profit corporation with three directors...basically the reliable, do-what's-needed people. For starters we had to repeat the same six hour programming block over and over on weekends. At a public event a person asked why we repeated our programming when a simple MP3 player could store 50 hours of programming. Our response? "How many of those hours do you want to do?" With three directors we can never have a tie vote on a decision and we've managed to delegate the authority for day to day activities. We've only disagreed on one programming decision. I thought some Impeach Bush PSAs were appropriate. The other two thought they were a little strong. As it turns out the technical production values of the of PSAs were pathetic...quality bad, timing was anywhere from 38 to 47 seconds...difficult to schedule...they didn't make it on the air. If we had more people as directors or decision-makers the whole affair could have developed into something that no one could have agree about and could have torn the organizatio apart. (And we're just using Part 15 transmitters.)
There have been many success stories about LPFM. You'll find information about them at www.prometheusradio.org There is a lot of demand for locally produced radio. The Prometheus website has details about planning stations, organizations, applications, etc. The secret of getting any station on the air is pre-planning. The time to decide about programming, studio or transmitter location, volunteers, chain-of-command, etc is before a license is issued (or in our case before we hit the airwaves). Prometheus also organizes "Barnraisings" for LPFMs. Volunteers and members from across the country converge on a site and build, wire, erect, test and get a station on the air in just a few days. Volunteers range from broadcast engineers, technical experts all the way to people who will help with anything needed. Their resources are invaluable. I would not be surprised if they had a number of people in NW Washington ready to help.
The part about qualified applicants is more of a created problem than a real one. LPFM's cannot be licensed to individuals. They can't sell advertising (thanks to NAB lobbying). Preference is given to non-profit corporations, but before you run out and form one the preference is given to those that have been formed two years or more AND which have at least two directors living within 15 miles of the proposed station. Imagine how the broadcast bands would change if the same licensee residency requirements applied to everyone equally! Our part 15 group formed as a non-profit over a year ago so if and when another LPFM window opens, we'll be ready.
The NAB's claims of interference and financial harm are completly self-serving and without basis.
A professional fund-raiser gave a presentation at one of our meetings. He told us to skip the bake sales, raffles, etc. According to him (and it does work) the best way to raise money is simply to ask people for it. Tell them what it's for, why it's important, and how much can you help us today?
I also disagree that there is a lack of committment by people to work for local radio. Look at all of the part 15 stations on the air. It takes work, often without much recognition, yet it is a passion and is usually done quite well.
No.
WDCX AM1610 Part 15
John
Owner-Operator-Chief Engineer-Program Manager
The NAB is a broadcasting industry group organized for the purpose of forwarding a specific agenda. The agenda is very licensed broadcasting specific to protect the interests of their membership. The NAB, several decades ago, discovered the effectiveness of political lobbying to gain better control of discussions and debates that would adversely affect their member's licenses.
Only recently has the NAB begun to reach out to LPTV and LPFM licensees to bring them into the fold. You see, by developing consensus and the influence of sheer numbers, the NAB can substantially influence the outcome of regulatory decision-making. Whether through Congressional legislation or FCC rulemaking, they are able to engage in the debate.
The Prometheus Project, as mention previously, has been instrumental in the "roll-out" of new LPFM stations. Both technical and community support has grown through the efforts of this dedicated group of community-oriented broadcast enthusiasts.
The main objections I have with the NAB's broad brush-stroke approach, is that they want to paint the entire body of LPFM supporters with the same brush. That is arrogant and ignorant. Lumping FM "mods" in with Part 15 community broadcasting is like saying that the use of WiFi and BPL are exactly the same in their character and scope. Hogwash! Are garage door openers and wireless telephones the same? NO.
Most of the members of the Federal Communications Commission are brand new. And now is the time to flood them with your comments on the direction Americans (you) want them to take with new policy concerning local community broacasting. The NAB lost the debate on third adjacent channel protection by LPFM'ers. We have have yet to see how that new law will shake out as a "Report and Order". The point being, the NAB doesn't get it right any more than anyone else. They are often fallible in their arguments, especially when their is little substance to their position.
With the analog TV stations vacating the lower end of the VHF TV band by 2009, now is also the time to move to influence the FCC to consider allocating a new local community broadcasting service away from the soon-to-be interference ridden digital FM channels.
The NAB is like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. As Part 15 local community broadcasters, now is the time to say, "Let's Rock".
Marshall Johnson, Sr.
Senior Pastor, President
Rhema Christian Fellowship, Inc.
Rhema Radio - The Word In Worship
AM 1660 - FM 93.5
http://www.rhemaradio.org
The LPFM station I referred to in the original post has gotten back on its feet and is preparing to go on the air!
Copyright 2006, Bellingham Herald, all rights reserved
Radio station prepares to go live
Van Zandt group is still looking for volunteers
LAST WE KNEW
The Van Zandt Community Hall Association acquired its Federal Communications Commission license in 2002, with plans to build a radio tower next to the community hall. Expensive, but required, updates to the property’s septic system have prevented the group from building the tower.
What’s happening: The group has solicited enough donations to buy the gear for a temporary radio transmission system.
What’s next: Organizers need volunteers to set up and run the radio station. Meetings are held every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Van Zandt Community Hall.
CALEB HEERINGA
VAN ZANDT — Organizers are looking for help launching KAVZ, a community-based radio station that will broadcast local programming throughout the South Fork Valley...
The full article is here:
www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/50323.html
Experimental broadcasting for a better tomorrow!