Divine intervention axes school station (FCC)

[CornField]

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=107694

Today's lesson: Don't cross Christian broadcasting.

Maynard High School's radio frequency, 91.7 FM, is being seized by a network of Christian broadcasting stations that the Federal Communications Commission has ruled is a better use of the public airwaves.

``People are furious,'' said faculty adviser Joe Magno.

Maynard High's WAVM, which has been broadcasting from the school for 35 years, found itself in this David vs. Goliath battle when it applied to increase its transmitter signal from 10 to 250 watts.

(more via link)

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Disgusting. But I've written numerous times to the FCC and have yet

to receive any answers.

[ramapo]

2. Not just the Christian broadcasters

In 2000, the FCC published rules allowing low-power FM stations. This provided in inexpensive method for getting local, community-oriented stations on the air.

However, NPR and NAB raised hell and today the rules lie gutted.

The low-end of the FM band is a potential goldmine as it is primarily occupied by educational and/or listener-supported stations. Many, as in this story, operate at low power. These licenses are prime pickings for the established, well-funded broadcasters with connections.

[Ezlivin]

3. Time for Pirate Radio

It's time for people to start their own low-power FM stations, pirate-style.

We need a new Voice of America, but really from the people, not from the puppetmasters.

[LizMoonstar]

4. yarr.

we do this with our college station. on the fm dial, it only reaches our dorms, but we broadcast on the internets. lots of fun.

http://waug.augustana.edu if anyone's interested; Barak and Roll, our buddy Tomzilla, who lurks here but isn't registered (I don't think) and I are on Thursday nights from 8 to 10 p.m. central time. we play bad dance music and shout about politics.

[Ezlivin]

5. Aye, matey! (n/t)

[TygrBright]

6. I feel sure that this has the blessing of His Noodly Appendage...

May the Sauce be with you...

sententiously,
Bright

[madrchsod]

7. you should do something constructive

for the amount of money you`re spending to go there...i`ll be listening thursday...i live just up the road

[madrchsod]

8. is that the george bush "internets" ?

just being a smart ass.....

[LizMoonstar]

9. 'internets' is comedy gold

and i spent comparatively little to go there :)

where are you at, may i ask?

[alfredo]

12. Podcasting is one way to go.

It's still in its infancy, but let's see what the future holds.

[BiggJawn]

10. Which "Christian broadcasting Network", I wonder?

S'Yeah, right..tell me, WHO'S the "persecuted" one here?

Sounds like the shit Marty Hensley tried to pull on every school station in the Indianpolis market.
In every action he's launched, the FCC has told him "GFY".
Need a few more hundred thousand to the RNC, Marty ol' boy....

[JPZenger]

11. Similar case in Eastern PA

There was a case in Eastern PA that was similar, I beleive it was Haverford High School's radio station. The radio station had operated for decades. Then a commercial radio received a license from the FCC to take their frequency. Fortunately, in that case it worked out, after two years of effort. The commercial radio company found a new frequency for the high school station and donated free equipment to them.

However, I don't understand how the rules allow one broadcaster to steal a frequency of an existing station.

[BiggJawn]

14. "Public Need and Necessity"

If an entity can come along and demonstrate to the FCC that the current license holder is not serving the public in accordance with their license, or that they can do a better job of serving the community, the FCC will vacate the existing license and grant it to the new group.

Every year a station has to put in its Public File a list of what it considers major concerns in the community they service, and a proposal of what kind of programming they're going to produce to answer those concerns.

Now why do these people pick on school stations?

Because Clear Channel has more money and meaner lawyers. The school systems are already strapped for cash, what with the court fights over "ID" and prayer in the classroom...

[Bzzzz]

13. A r/w fundie...

here in Indiana tried the exact same thing last year and was shot down. He tried with 3 or 4 high schools and a couple small colleges. He's also sued a local television station for access to their files of information. This same guy was recently banned from our local small community message board for basically trying to overtake it with his extreme fundamentalist views and rantings. :scared: