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FCC considers low power FM licenses
V for Victory writes "Would you like to run your very own over-the-air radio station with a real, legal license to broadcast? The FCC is currently considering a plan to license low power FM band broadcasters with 10, 100, or 1000 watt power ratings. Naturally, this proposal is being opposed by Big Radio Companies and the National Association of Broadcasters. However, at the moment the FCC is accepting comments from the public. Read more about it here. The deadline for comments is September 1, 1999. "
Walmart sells small FM stereo transmitters for the purpose of allowing your cd player to work over your car stereo. Cost? $20.00 It is a low power transmitter and I won't tell you which two resistors to replace with lower values to increase the output power, because I'd get in trouble and you can easily guess which two they are. Those things normally transmit about 20 feet, but with the illegal mod and a few feet of the antenna, they go a few blocks or more.
Have fun, get one for each mp3 player and monopolize the frequency band with music people actually want to listen.
After the 1996 Telecommunications Act was passed into law, the media focused mainly on cable TV and cell phones with no coverage of the potential impact on radio. According to ARD by the end of 1997 over 4000 of the nation's 11,000 radio stations had been sold and in the 50 largest markets three firms controlled over 50% of the ad revenue (in 23 of those markets 3 firms controlled over 80% of revenues.)
This buying frenzy sent the cost of radio skyrocketing. The Rev, a radio station with a weak signal and less than a 2% market share, sold for over $17 million! More than ever, when you travel around the country, you hear the same songs, the same voices, the same commercials -- no matter what station you listen to.
While MP3 streaming radio has helped to fill the gap for me, it's only a moderately reasonable alternative because of my DSL connection.
To me, this falls in line with some of the same goals of the Open Source movement. More and better access for everyone, and less of an opportunity for special interest control. Control of the airwaves by media conglomerates means less artistic freedom and more packaged and processed drivel.
-djH
As always, the devil will be in the details. If 1-10, 100, and 1000 watt stations are licensed it could be a wonderful opening of radio to all points of view. Just don't count on it.
My pessimistic inner self keeps screaming two things: First, the FCC is a bureaucracy that might easily be persuaded into burdening these new classes of station with enough regulations, fees, and hoops to jump through as to make the whole concept meaningless. Second, the big broadcasters will fight a genuinely liberal small station policy to the death.
My fear on this is that the micro station classes will be created but only one or two percent of people who would like to run one will be able to get by the red tape and costs. It will be a big P.R. victory for the FCC. Perhaps even the big broadcasters will "support" it and claim some high moral ground. Just remember, when the red drains from the faces of the radio establishment honchos and is replaced by benevolent smiles, be very, very suspicious!
Geeky modern art T-shirts
A couple of other links: You can search the FCC's database for already filed comments in this proceeding (there are 974 of them as I write this), and file comments from your web browser.
One thing to note when commenting to the FCC: The FCC is especially unswayed by the kind of rhetoric folks around here tend to sling. Go read the Linux Advocacy HOWTO, and then be even more reserved than it recommends.
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Disinfect the GNU General Public Virus!
Sorry guys. Don't be so dumb as to believe this crap, this proposal is designed to *kill* micropower radio and it was drafted by the broadcast industry. And it's goal is to *stop* free DIGITAL radio for a few more years... (Ever read Brer Rabbit "Dont throw me in that bramble bush" ? Well, it applies..)
Some points.. How would these new micropower stations support themselves if ALL advertising is banned?
How come the proposal says that any micropower station can be taken off the air if it "interferes" with *any* commercial station, *anywhere*?
Why do existing broadcast outlets get first dibs on *all* the available frequencies?
....
Just a HEADS-UP.
This is just a very carefully-drafted plan to KILL micropower and ESPECIALLY, hold off what the broadcasters see as the real threat. Spread-spectrum *DIGITAL* radio like they have in Europe and the rest of the world.. Why? Because with spead-spectrum, their big arguement, that spectrum is scarce and there are only a limited amount of channels, is completely deflated.
(The big thing they always hold up to hold off the liberals, that the equipment is more expensive, is also completely full of crap.. )
You can have *many* *many* digital radio channels operating in the same slice of spectrum, and ultimately the radios can actually be *cheaper* to make in quantities than current, analog equipment..
Say no to the crumb thrown by the FCC.. say YES to UNLIMITED channels of FREE DIGITAL RADIO.
(The NAB hates the idea of micropower because "Their property" -OUR airwaves- has in the last few years, appreciated in value and is now VERY costly for all but the very rich...Basically-
four years ago, when the Republicans took over the house, Newt had a special meeting with the broadcast industry to ask what they could do for them, Result: they started selling licenses to the highest bidder, the mega-corporations, who had the money to buy up all the local stations and replace them with satellite spewed crap, and we lost out. Dont let their whining about "return on investment" win.. the airwaves are owned by EVERYBODY.. They are taking advantage of our ignorance on these issues. the FCC is not our friend.
For a ALTERNATIVE view on this issue, please read
http://www.radio4all.org/news/cdcreply. html
Just a heads-up. (Thank you Mike, for opening my eyes.)
ZXCV MBONE.