Guys I'm not very too good at creating a useful support page, so I am pitching an idea here and hopefully someone will read this and create such a page.
My idea is create a page at Facebook that clearly focuses on people who'd like to see the rules changed and lift the restrictions imposed on part 15 transmitter users.
We all know the current restrictions are costing people a lot of money in lost equipment and fines.
I truly can understand a licensed broadcaster's concerns regarding an invasion of unlicensed broadcast stations, some which unfortunately interfere with their business, which is broadcasting.
I sit here thinking of the array of transmitters that are currently available on the market today, some are FCC certified and some are Chinese imports manufactured with dis-regard of interference issues with other licensed radio services.
I also believe that a new radio service can be developed if we get a large enough support group put together nationwide.
I've seen many group pages on Facebook that relate to different forms of radio communications, there are groups for LPFM, broadcast equipment, audio processing and engineers, there are none out there that I have found that cover part 15 AM or FM broadcasting.
Discussions go a long ways and also gets recognition from the general public.
Now true as it is, that part15.us draws in a crowed of people for part 15 radio, I have also seen the success of social media such as Facebook and I truly believe creating an account on Facebook related to this site and part 15 radio may get the word out to a larger crowd that might help lead us in the right direction of getting public recognition and support for rule change.
Is anyone out there willing to start a page and publish the link to it?
Bruce.
This is really a matter that would be good to bring to the ALPB Meeting for discussion, but I have an immediate reaction and will share it now.
Facebook is an informal medium. You can go on Facebook and ask for a $10,000 Grant to cure cancer, but it's not a formal request, and no philanthropic granting agency is likely to notify you that the grant will be forth coming.
The FCC does not include Facebook pages in their decisions to change rules.
But that's just me saying this, perhaps someone else sees it differently.
Thanks for the response Carl.
My intentions were not to have the FCC visit that facebook page, my intent was using such to gain a support group of people, once that group grows large enough, you take it to the next step.
My personal example of success with facebook is my radio station, 50% of our station's popularity was related to public exposure on Facebook. People seen the suggested page and joined it, based on the tags we used such as Norwich etc. Those very same people would be more then willing to join such a page and support it.
After all, a public air wave is a public air wave and those people are the public it is there for.
Bruce.
MrBruce, your explanation improves my understanding of why a well written Facebook page could promote the idea of upgrading Part 15 rules for FM. We are taking about propaganda, and that's the engine that makes the world run.
Almost everyone taps into Facebook, it's the social medium of our time.
So we are now talking about finding a willing writer to get that page started.
ALPB stuff for Saturday night.
When you think about it, the ALPB could probably use a Facebook page as well...
Now we're talking!!
Create those pages and I'll join, then I'll have the people who want WXTZ back on the air join and the support will blossom faster then you think.
Keep the page easy for our general public to join and understand why it's there and the support will flow in faster then you realize.
Edited to add: You can still create a page that part 15 station operators would be interested in that would work out well to.
But I'd like something where we can draw in the general public so they can hear our ideas and how they can benefit from it as a consumer.
When I read the responses to this article: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/fcc_shuts_down_folksy_low-powe.html
I seen a lot of support for those people who ran KENC radio and I know how they felt.
My public feels the same way as their public, but has no voice to support us with.
Bruce.
A couple of things:
"My idea is create a page at Facebook that clearly focuses on people who'd like to see the rules changed and lift the restrictions imposed on part 15 transmitter users."
The restrictions aren't going to be lifted. They need to be changed, or a new class created. Remember, Part 15 does server a purpose for small devices. We're piggy-backing off of it.
"We all know the current restrictions are costing people a lot of money in lost equipment and fines."
I'm not sure what this means. You speed, you get a ticket.
The petition has to be written in a way where it shows that it's a benefit to the community, the FCC, and the NAB. Sob stories won't help.
Thanks macdev you worded it better than I did, but you understood my point. That is why I'd like someone else to create those pages as their abilities are most likely more creative than my own.
That part about fines etc. was just something I threw in there based on that article for KENC and what they went through.
Bruce.
I really like this idea. It also has the potential to get general Part 15 information to the public, showing them that not all unlicensed broadcasters are pirates.
Perhaps an ALPB Facebook page, which can link to other pages/websites concerning specific initiatives (whatever those turn out to be).
I'd like to see our stations be able to at least legally go 1 mile or at least the same distance advertised on the SainSonic and know its written in Stone its legal. A regular portable Radio should be OK to measure as long as it is Digital like the Sony CFD-S50 or CFD-550. This again would be a Rubber Duck or Inside antenna connected to the FM Transmitter. For AM I'd like to see it written in stone that it is legal to transmit up to 1/4 to 1 Mile. Doesn't matter the watts, antenna, whatever you get 1/4 to 1 mile. This should be written in this support page as well. This would free up the confusion and the NAB would know that our stations will only go 1/4 to 1 mile and that we would be interference FREE. I also want FM transmitters to only transmit on .1.3.5.7.9 after the decimal in the USA. This also clears up interference as well. Also the force scan for blank frequency and not allowing the user to transmit if the frequency is used. The scanner should be super sensitive 1-2 mV as well as super selective. We need to have a support group that proves responsible and mature and shows intent to curb any interference to licensed Broadcast and other Radio services.
Pert 15 is so twisted and the FCC can change on a dime. We've seen the NOUO's. Now putting it straightforward and allowing something usable is what we really need.
Not to mention many personal Part 15 pages
An ALPB Facebook Page would, to be a true reflection of the ALPB, necessarilly be planned and written by approval of the Membership of the ALPB, a process that would take place at Meetings.
The "good writer" assigned to speak on the ALPB Facebook page would not be writing for himself, but would take instructions from the ALPB based on decisions made at meetings.
Many people get frustrated by the slowness of the committee method of writing a page, or become disgruntled when the group doesn't agree over a particular point.
As Druid Hills (WDCX) says, there are many PERSONAL part 15 Facebook pages, but these are written by sole individuals and not membership organizations.
Next ALPB Meeting Saturday, July 4th, for instructions visit
Those Facebook pages said I had to log in, heh. Don't know if it's my browser or if they have it locked.
It does make sense to have an outreach there, it seems that most radio stations have Facebook/Twitter, and you can shoot them requests through it or Like the station. Lots of people have been getting in trouble recently due to the amplification factor of social media, it might be good to use it for something worthwhile.
Id just love for Facebook to be used for constructive awareness of micro broadcasters as well as trying to make a positive change. The FCC needs to look at this as an inportant service.
I would view an ALPB Facebook page as part of the natural growth of the ALPB.
While the objectives, policies and content of the page(s) would of course have to be approved by the ALPB in whole (according to its charter), there's no reason that every aspect has to be written by the entire membership every step of the way. Generally, what happens in these circumstances is that a small group is formed to do the detailed work, and this group reports back to the ALPB.
Similarly, if it's decided to move forward with the plan to ask for either a relaxing of the FM Part 15 rules, or another service, the details of that could be handled by another smaller group.
While these processes do take longer than one individual doing whatever he/she wants, there's no reason for it to take excessive periods of time.
You get the policies and objectives done first. You get some (any) content up as quickly as possible. And then you let it evolve.