Never ran across this site before, but this has the potential of helping create more radio jobs and more locally programmed radio. Have a look anyway...
http://lpfm.today/2015/08/19/corporate-radio-how-do-you-think-it-got-this-way/
TIB
I could not see where to sign this one. The really have some great points about jobs and why LPFM sould be allowed to have some advertisements. I think they should be allowed some not too many but some to help pay for the station. Radio costs thousands and only through financial support can you stay on the air.
Thanks for the link, Tim.
The writer, Dave Solomon, knows how to write a strong article that makes convincing points.
Maybe we need him on our Pro FM Initiative Team?
That's quite the petition!!!
Don't try IE to read it I had to use Firefox to view it.
It's still worth adding to it with a positive comment, you never know when you just might get the chance to put a LPFM on the air in your area.
Direct link:
Bruce.
Here's a clip you might find interesting, think of this statement in regards to part 15 FM instead of LPFM for a moment.
Snip:
LPFM competitors like NPR and the NAB do not have LPFM’s best interest
in mind. LPFM is made up of small FCC licensed FM radio stations. Full
power stations view us as potential competitors, which threatens our
existence. This gives us a vested interest to get involved due to the fact that
Full Power FM and its lobbyists do not reflect our interests and therefore, we
submit that many of the LPFM rules were written to forego future potential
competitive issues from LPFM toward commercial FM and NCE-FM. This
is our primary purpose even more so than as an aid toward furthering
LPFMs unique local ability to serve its audience. A large amount of the
rules actually prevent LPFMs’ ability to adequately serve the public interest.
Some rules even hinder LPFM stations from protecting their audiences
during emergencies, in favor of guarding profits for full power radio
interests.
Source and credit:> http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view;ECFSSESSION=gm61VpzXh9FP4Rn3mrrHptddGhTbBMLF6vJmBZWJN7n1JGTGTSQr!-442546878!1307243435?id=60001095736
Bruce.
Yes Bruce I was thinking of that as well. It sure gives the Commercial FM and Non Commercial Educational Radio an unfair advantage over LPFM. Part 15 FM would have to be able to play some ads if its expanded and made to have any special equipment like EAS. But like Canada we may fall within the same rules.
I didn't realize we'd have to hae a petition this long almost like reading a whole book in the Bible like Luke or John. Bruce are you good at writing petitions? You say you have lawyers in your family would they even take an interest in helping in a petition for increased power on FM say you, a member of your family of lawyers and Artisan Radio and maybe another person? Then we as a small group could come up with reasons (Good ones like what we see in this petition) assuming we still have this type of interest. Each positive point would have to be shown just like we see in this petition. Its a good thought.
Referecing your question TheLegacy
Hmm? My son works for a law firm that is currently specializing in the devorce proceedings of very RICH people.
MySon tells me that lawyers aren't any different than the average person, what they have acess to, we also have access to.
Yes, there is a difference, lawyers went to collage and law school to learn how to apply law and write research papers and yes, they learned how to look for weaknesses in the laws, where they can apply that weakness to win a case.
In order for a lawyer to do what you're asking, they would have to have current materials from the FCC and the FCC CFR title 47 parts 0 through 19. Part 15 is listed under that CFR.
Then they would have to research cases that have already came and went on the public agenda for past cases, that requires a lot of research to see how former cases were handled and if anything can be pulled out of that to present a case and a cause.
I'm not a lawyer, I believe my Son is pretty much tided up with his current carerier as it already is. Just Me trying to get Him to spend some time with me on the weekends is tough.
But that is what he would do if he was to handle the case, do lots of research and see where a loop-hole exists and take advantage of that. Case study is very important here.
We have to search the CFR title 47 first, for a possible advantage, then do studies on cases that have already been on the agenda and have passed or didn't pass and why.
Lawyers make things sound hard to get your business, but, you can pretty much do what they do for free if you really put your mind to it. They pretty much just know how to word things a bit better than us, becuase that is what they learned to do in law school, speak and understand the lingo of law.
(As a side note: Microsoft support still does not know why I can not use a spell check in Internet Explorer in Windows 10...can't you tell?????????)
Bruce.
Recent history, which means, since LPFM got its recent start, has quickly shown some realities of broadcasting with 100 Watts or less on the FM band.
Granted there are some LPFMs that are succesful right out of the gate (WCFI), but in large part they are like slightly larger part 15 stations that don't quite reach enough "next doors."
Within their comparatively small signal footprint will exist a relatively small number of potential listeners, and those few listeners will have varying difficulties receiving the signals.
An increase up to 250 Watts will seem attractive until it comes to pass, at which time it too will be a disappointment.
There is a good case for comparison here in town... a fine arts group broadcasting on a 250 Watt translator, very difficult to receive indoors even though I'm in their primary signal area.
Perhaps the most succesful LPFMs will be those who had a clear idea of what to expect, like MRAM Bob with WCFI.
Going commercial? Selling time on 100 kW stations is like climbing the face of a cliff. Small stations that play hide-and-seek on the dial might be like selling clouds.
My 10-foot pole (antenna) and I wouldn't touch it.
1st the reason MRAM knew what to expect was because HE started off as a part 15 broadcaster allowing you to LEARN the ropes by experimentation. This is a good sell for increasing part 15 to a point where you can get a little bit of an audience to play around with antennas at different angles to learn how to find a good location for a signal and learn about building Penetration. Hands on experience is the best teacher in any broadcasters ladder to a good career in Radio. This is why FREE learning is Essential. Allowing a few channels in an expanded FM service could provide this and in turn bring Radio to a better experience for everyone. Now Bruce for spell check Download Apache Open Office and write what you want there and it will spell check. After that copy/paste it to your replies. I do it and I have 8.0 as far as Windows. Even with the plug ins they don't work on all websites. Now I want to say this too Bruce what you described was a better explanation of what I meant by activist group. The type of reasearch and the determination to find holes in the laws and statements apposing sides make. That is what an activist does. They prove their cases in an arguement with the facts that be. If there is a loop hole they find it and prove cases where this was used in history. Sometimes you have to prove other examples. This is what is needed to win any case for increased part 15 on any band AM, FM, SW, LW. Thanks Bruce for that enlighten ed remark about how your son would have handled it if he were a lawyer for Hobby Radio. This may be something we'd have to have in our pocket if we really want to make that change. The organization I was part of had a lawyer that found loop holes in the copyright laws and proved cases where that law was abused to exploit what the apposing organizations who were there to fight us in every way had to say. Since FM is heavily guarded this is the only plan that will have any effect and have any chance of a winning case.