Who What Where When How (Proposed Programming etc.)    Low Power Radio Service (LPRS) will get us on the air sooner... if enough people support it.  Frequently Asked Questions     Pirate vs Legal Community radio Index of documents on this website: LIS (Listener Information Series)

Radio Free Richmond seeks to be a light unto those who are not illuminated  by existing commercial,  religious or public  radio stations.  We will play the News Views  Jazz and Blues other radio  stations would rather not use. In this way we will contribute  to a stable and just society  where everyone can become  who they want to be.  We seek to enable the weakest links in our society to become  strong  so that no-one can  thrive on the pain and weakness of others.  We are  "Radio For  The Rest Of Us." Get on the air before 2000:  sign petition   More information on the LPRS EMAIL YOUR CONGRESMAN/SENATOR Ask them to support the Low Power Radio Service (LPRS)   Read more details on the LPRS in Spring'99 Newsletter "Murrow's Hope"

.......                 (click on LPFM "grapevine")

ALERTS as of  1/14/00 (last updated)

• January 20th 2000 : The FCC moved up the vote for the LPRS from its expected time in March. Will the FCC vote to revive participatory democracy by allowing us an alternative to the building Broadcasting Trusts?
• More people (3,232 entries) have commented in FORMAL comments about the Low Power Radio Service than any other proposal in FCC history!!!!!!!! THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, will the FCC listen?
• The LPRS is a proposal of the Federal Communications Commission for a new set of regulatory rules (called "MM Docket 99-25")... that would get us on the air sooner rather than later ... by legalizing three to 58 new legal radio slots on Richmond's FM dial!
• Read how corruption and racism can destroy this opportunity if we do not convince our Congressmen/Senators to support the Low Power Radio Service!!
• Call your Congressman/Senator [lookup by zip code]
• Print out and fill out the petition in support of the LPRS ... mail it back to us!
• [Now have 1055 signatures!!!]

 
• 11/2/99 FCC has finally released their proposal for a new "Digital Audio Broadcast" service

... which can either help or hinder our chances of getting on the air.
To read more about this and what to tell your Congressman and Senators,
click HERE.
 
 
• 10/17/99 WDYL 101.1 FM is the new "alternative" ...

came back on the air this week with the new format.
NOTE:] Used to be the 7th Christian programming station ... earning less than a "one share". This is an excellent demonstration of the fact that radio owners usually will stick to a "comfortable" format that they personally identify with ... even if a "fringe" format would make more money!!

This is how there were three news/talk stations ... all conservative. The progressive news talk has an audience, but the advertisers and station ownership is uncomfortable with that programming ... and so it rarely shows up on commercial stations.
This is how there could be 6 or 7 "oldies" stations ... and no techno stations.
 
 

• 10/19/99--End Of Millenia :

  

Start limited programming. NEED DJs and Talk Show Hosts!!  More Information ...

Every Tuesday 10pm-12Midnight LIVE
Also two canned half-hour shows playing on a semi-random basis throughout the rest of the week.
 
 
• FUN RAISER ... Radio Free Richmond pledges to you the listener

NO INTURRUPTIONS for fundraising over 60 seconds ...
 

Pubcasters: Ask Less, Make More "When WAMU-FM/Washington wrapped up its fall pledge drive last  week, it had crossed the million-dollar mark ($1.15 million, to be  more precise) for the first time. Interestingly, the station had spent  less time asking for donations on the air. That's thanks to a new  strategy by public radio stations, which insiders say are focusing  more on reaching potential donors through direct mail and Internet  campaigns. WAMU, for instance, featured "CyberMonday," in  which the station encouraged listeners to pledge online. As  WAMU GM Kim Hodgson states, 'Drives may become shorter  and less intrusive as more listeners turn to the Internet to pledge.' "  News item 10/11/99 From RRonline.com

• 9/16/99 GRIP article coming up ...

 
• Also check out VOICE article, 9x from Plan 9 and Punchline.

 
• 9/15/99 World has been using digital radio for years ... laughs at U.S. (for good reason)

The world chose a pure digital system called "Eureka 147" back in 1992 ... and has already implemented and started using it years ago. Ironically, the National Association of Broadcasters (the main opponents to the LPRS because supposedly giving us a frequency would destroy digital radio) supported Eureka ... until ... well, read more here.
 
• 9/13/99 Richmond Mayor Timothy Kaine's staff verifies that the City of Richmond's resolution in favor of the Low Power Radio Service was sent to Senators/Congressmen.

Please call/email your councilperson and thank them!!
Read more on Richmond's unanimous support for community radio here.
(and why that is important).
 
• 9/13/99 LATimes Editorial supports LPRS ... points out NEXT THREAT: Coopting/Absorbption of the LPRS stations by the large corporate chain station owners.

Please call back your Congressmen/Senators and repeat the need for strong local only and new local only ownership restrictions!
 
• 9/3/99 Punchline Interview in Amassed Media. Due to space limitations, the print version is edited, check out the full text here!! Thank-you Punchline.

 
• 9/2/99 Met with Congressman Bobby Scott ... stay tuned!

 
• STYLE article: ... a mixed blessing, Style 7/20/99

Click here for responding letter to the editor here
(with links to more information). "What's The Frequency Richmond":
Left off half of the criticism of WCVE 'public' radio:
That is that the primary frequency of 88.9FM become full-time-classical and a second station (like in Norfolk) be built for the eclectic interests in Richmond. (read the more on the story below and above under "Frequently Asked Questions" and "Index of documents ..."
Also does not mention the:

• Petitions (863) signed to reinstate the environmental news show "Living On Earth" on WCVE.
• Petitions (1200+) signed to reinstate Henry Wailes, Jazz host on WCVE.
• Richmond City Council's unanimous resolution in support of the Low Power Radio Service that would help Radio Free Richmond get on the air.
• Petitions (about 500) signed most recently in support of the Low Power Radio Service
• The Low Power Radio Service that would open 3 to 58 new slots on the FM dial for Radio Free Richmond (and/or you for that matter) to use ...

THANK-YOU ALL SUPPORTERS OF RADIO FREE RICHMOND!

• Ownership=Programming: Opposition to the Low Power Radio Service (that would open 58 new slots on Richmond's FM dial) say that "you'll have to prove there's a relationship between diversity of ownership and diversity of viewpoints."
• PROOF: ITEM: It's a White, White World on Network TV , Washington Post, July 13, 1999; Page A1.
• Excerpt:  "Here's one thing you won't be seeing much of when the big TV networks

roll out their new sitcoms and drama series this fall: black people.
      In what is likely to be the whitest television season in a generation,
      not one of the 26 new shows set to debut on ABC, CBS, NBC
      and Fox will star an African American. Blacks, along with
      Hispanics and Asian Americans,
      will occupy few secondary roles as well."

• In spite of a more diverse US population, the electronic media ownership and programming has become continually less representative since the 1996 Telecommunications Act that was a keystone to the Republican "Contract With America."

 
• For example; many African-Americans have lactose intolerance, but where are the stories about cow milk not being good for you (a human)? The stories that would counter the milk mustache commercials are censored! Since most media owners are white, they lack the personal experience and motivation to reveal news about such a profitable advertiser, the diary industry.

 
• FCC  Commissioner Gloria Tristani has noted that, "less than 3% of radio stations are minority-owned, and that number is dropping. On the more desirable FM band, black-owned stations dropped 26% and Hispanic-owned stations dropped 9% between 1995 and 1997. Those numbers mean that existing minority broadcasters are selling out and they're not being replaced."

 
• Larry Irving at the U.S. Department of Commerce noted, "The loss of minority owners is particularly alarming because of its ramifications for programming. The decline in minority ownership means a decline in diverse voices and viewpoints. Such diversity is essential to a rich culture and a vibrant democracy. When I was in Memphis, for example, I was told that the Black-owned radio station called upon listeners to go to the polls, which helped get an African-American mayor elected. That radio station is now majority-owned and no longer makes such appeals."

 
• And those minority owned and/or programmed radio stations left from the rush to consolidation are suffering from advertising blacklisting that reduces their average revenues by 63%  thus pushing minority owned or stations programming for minorities to sell even more stations to majoritarian owners/programmers. Blacks are not the only minority culture suffering, many whites without a huge voting stock portfolio and a cozy relationship with management have also been pushed out.

 
• The June  3rd. 1999 PR Newswire reports that "BIA Companies estimates radio station revenues at $13.8 billion for 1998, up 12.6% from $12.3 billion for 1997. ... At the end of 1998, the number of unique radio station owners had dropped from 5,222 controlling 10,246 stations, to 4,241 controlling 10,636 commercial stations. Consolidation has led to more efficient revenue generation and cost cutting measures, thus increasing cash flow margins to the 35%-45% range for public groups. BIA estimates that more than half, or about 54%, of the estimated $13.8 billion of radio advertising dollars generated in 1998 were attributed to the 25 largest radio owners. The top three billers alone (Chancellor Media/Capstar, CBS Radio/Infinity Broadcasting and Clear Channel/Jacor Communications combined) accounted for almost 35% of total industry revenues."

 
• Public Radio has been no refuge as of late. Public confidence is being undermined by increased reliance on large sugar daddies like Pfizer Inc. etc. that are beginning to have a visible effect of self-censorship and whitewashing stock market dangers for children and ignoring the interests of the majority of Americans that do not have significant stock holdings.

 
• News and Commentary contain unquestioned premises such as:
• "Anyone can become rich,

all you need to do is 'play by the rules.'" Whose rules, written for who?
• "Everyone" is invested in stocks these days!
• How does this affect the interests of those who don't own stocks?
• What of those who only own a pittance?
• What of the majority of stockholders who's "B" stocks exercise no votes on the boards of directors that set the policies of corporations that effect our daily lives?
• If the price of gas, college education or cereal goes up ... its called inflation.If the price of a mortgage or rent goes up, that increase is called a "Real Estate 'Boom'" Boom for whom?
• Who gains if everyone's house goes up 30%?
• If your house went from $100,000 to $130,000 ... and so did your neighbors
• and then you sell yours and try to buy your neighbors, you have earned NO net gain but you do pay more in property taxes and more in capitol gains taxes.
• The only one's who profit are the people who restore slums and those who own lots of property that they don't live in.
• Public PBS radio stations have pioneered new levels of double standards in allowing corporate backed stories on issues of interest to them, but rejecting a documentary called "Out at Work" funded by the Unions.

Many PBS stations are in violation of the founding reasons for the taxpayer funded Corporation for Public Broadcasting, "to create forums for voices that would otherwise be unheard." by playing commercially viable or rebroadcasting commerically broadcast shows at the expense of more eclectic content.
 
• Public TV stations are now starting to go out of their way to censor democratic debate between candidates on the ballot; They now are only allowing what they feel are "viable" candidates debate each other on the air they have been given voter supported (FCC) protected use of.

 
• And unfortunately the for-profit media is encouraged to gut democracy as well. The worse job they do covering political campaigns, the more advertising the candidates have to buy to get their ideas out to the voters. This costs so much that the auction of the candidate's soul begins immediately and never ends

 
• The Free Press must be free of any undue concentrated control ... from Government but also from overly concentrated private power as well. The Free Press is designed to serve as that feedback loop between those who create policy and those who suffer from policy. Since the radio/TV stations use of the public resource (the airwaves) is protected at taxpayer expense (the FCC) ... unrepresentative media that misrepresents subcultures and interest groups or simply edits them out of existence ... is literally taxation without representation!

 
• As a result, Americans are losing confidence in public life.

Voting participation rates keep dropping . As this proceeds, it becomes harder to form a consensus of opinion of what constitutes the American Dream ... soon people do not have respect for authority, only fear. When the pain of ignorant exploitative policies is more than what the authorities provide ... scofflawlessness develops and grows into total contempt and then anarchy.

• Forces of monopoly realize LPRS stands a chance of succeeding ...         ATTEMPT TO COOPT LPRS and water it down at key weak point:
June 11, 1999, PUBLIC BROADCASTING REPORT

"FCC's low-power FM (LPFM) order shouldn't create "schism" between existing small and minority broadcasters and new LPFM broadcasters by restricting full-power broadcasters' access to LPFM licenses, Metro Detroit Bcstg. said in comments."
 
• The LPRS weak spot is that if the large chain station owners are allowed any ownership of LPRS at all, they can snap them up. They realize that the technical argument against the LPRS is recognized now as a sham (see below) of a political argument in the sheep's clothing of a supposedly agenda-free technical argument. They realize that the loss of diversity of viewpoints and culture is the engine driving the demand for the LPRS ... attempt to weasel themselves in by putting on a "black coat" as a wolf would put on a "sheep coat".
• They will now argue that the few black broadcasters left should also be allowed to own additional stations ... to apply for LPRS stations ... and then they will sweep in and grab those LPRS stations with front organizations populated by puppet blacks that are as different from the lobbyists at the National Association of Broadcaster bosses as Clarence Thomas is different from Rush Limbaugh.
• The bias will remain the same no matter what the color of the skin. Even worse, the directors of one corporation sit on each other's board of directors, in effect removing what little competition there was. Even the stockholders are taking it on the chin, with the management cozying up to the board at the expense of the stockholders.

 
• Peter Phillips, Director of Project Censored pointed out,

"... eleven major corporations with 157 people sitting on the boards of directors own almost all media ...
those 157 people are corporate America .. "
Those are the same 157 people who sit  on 14% of all [not just media] corporations in America."
 
• In other words, the media watchdogs are actually the lapdogs of the burglars at whom they are supposed to barking.

• Yet another oldies station (107.3FM) comes on to Richmond radio dial.
• Now we have 4 oldies, 5 country and 6 Gospel stations ... no eclectic.
• Techno/Dance is 20% of Plan9's pop music sales ...

yet no techno radio station.
• WDYL 101.1 has gone off the air.

Apparently it was cheaper to turn it off and continue paying bills for its existence than continue to program for the overserved and saturated Christian radio market.
• NOTE:] Those who enjoy current near-monopoly radio market conditions (such as WCVE management) have been saying for years that "there are no more frequencies" ... yet since then:
• The American Family Association has applied for a frequency at 89.7FM

(NOTE2:] WCVE 88.9FM public radio was given the technical information needed to apply to 89.7FM less than a year before the AFA applied for the frequency. WCVE could have applied for a frequency to start a second eclectic station)
• And now a new commercial station started this year at 107.3FM.
• Norfolk has 41 radio stations
• Washington DC has 58 radio stations
• Atlanta GA. has 56 radio stations
• And Richmond is still only up to 34 radio stations.
 
 
• Key corrupt and racist Republicans are trying to kill new radio access opportunities.

 
• Conrad Burns (R-Mont) Chair of Senate Telecom subcommittee said, "...we don't need all these small radio stations, I've had about all the diversity that I can stand!"

 
• "Billy" Tauzin (R-LA) Chair of the House Telecom Subcommittee opposes the LPRS ...which would create competitive pressures for the chain radio stations represented by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) ... that employs Tauzin's daughter.

This is like a judge hearing a case where the prosecutor is the judge's daughter!
 
• Battle over new opportunities to open new frequencies goes to the next level. Now that the public comment period on the Low Power Radio Service (RM-99-25) has been extended a third time ...

 
• POLITICAL SUPPORT IS MORE  IMPORTANT THAN EVER!
Now that the end of the Public Comment Period on proposed new regulations (MM-99-25) has been extended from April 12th to November 5th . ... this means that Congress can hold the threat of massive "restructuring" over the head of the FCC as Congress considers FCC reauthorization for the 2000-2004 term. The budget reauthorizations are to be considered this summer and voted on in the fall of '99!
Previously, the LPRS was mostly a technical debate since it was to have been decided before Congress would consider any bills that would specifically prohibit the LPRS or the funding (authorization) and/or scope of the FCC's duties (reauthorization language).

Previously the debate would have mostly occurred in the halls of the FCC as a regulatory issue;
but now those who oppose our chances have politicized the process.

A legislative body (Congress) will create a regulatory body to deal with the nitty-gritty of implementing a law ... so when "Billy" Tauzin (R-LA, Chair of House Telecom Subcommittee) demands that the FCC not move forward on a regulatory debate until it can be debated in his (political) subcommittee, that is counter to the entire reason for the process being the way it was set up.

Certain key politicians have been upset that the regulatory bureaucrats are not as sold out to the doners and relatives of those key politicians ... and are threatening to defang or nit-pick and micromanage the FCC into nonexistence.

The broadcasters are some of THE most important lobbyists in politics ...you have to be on TV to win an election and they DON'T have to sell you ads or cover your campaign!

CALL/EMAIL YOUR CONGRESSMAN/SENATOR!!
(Click here to lookup by zip code, or hit 'home' and lookup by state.)

ALSO please click here to send comments to the FCC in support of strong local only and new local only ownership restrictions for the Low Power Radio Service stations ... or we are even worse off than before!

You have to act by exercising your right of assembly and join together to form a coalition of the various Communities-Of-Interest that are ignored by the other existing commercial, noncommercial and religious radio stations. We must petition for redress of grievances and not wait for those who profit from our loss to come to our aid.
 
 

or write
Radio Free Richmond Project
Wrfr@aol.com
PO Box 4263
Richmond, Va. 23220

..................................

The Communities of Interest
(Interest groups, cultures etc.)
ignored by other radio stations ...
AKA those who are trying to make Richmond more supportive of a broader range of cultures.
(a small selection, please email us if you feel you should be here also)
 

SUPPORT RADIO FREE RICHMOND ...
here is our "Wish List"
of what we need
to get on the air ...
 

PS: Don't forget to sign the petition!!