October 2012 Broadcast

Greetings,

In these last few weeks leading up to the election, and more recently with the arrival of extreme weather conditions all along the east coast, we have all been reminded of our reliance on radio to provide thought-provoking, timely and potentially life-saving information.

Many communities stayed strong throughout this emergency by having access to hyper-local information. Imagine a media landscape where even more communities have this same opportunity. That moment is coming very soon!

By year's end, the FCC will announce the dates when groups can apply for a low power FM license and an application window will likely be in Summer 2013. How is your community preparing for this historic opportunity?  Prometheus has a multitude of resources to help you along the process! 

We’ve been working with groups all across the country to help them organize and launch successful community radio stations. By mid-November, we’ll be on a multi-state tour to continue our outreach and the reality of a diverse and balanced media landscape will be just on the horizon. Thousands of community radio stations will claim spots on the dial to share their local news, music and culture. Cities and towns across the country will answer a resounding YES We Got Radio.  How will you contribute to this moment? 

Prometheus is building the future of community radio.  Join us today! 

• Upcoming Trainings

• Support for Local Programming Expands

• "Reclaim the Airwaves" Tour Kicks Off

• Applicant Spotlight - Takoma Radio

• New Video Amplifies Opportunity

• Open House Recap

• Transitions

Upcoming Trainings

Want an easy way to get information on starting a Low Power Community Radio Station or preparing your group for the application process? Need some help finding an available frequency and want to use our RFree site? Then check out our webinars! We have several scheduled for November and December and they are all free. Now is the perfect time to get acquainted with the ins and outs of station management and organization. We will also cover topics such as internet streaming and podcasting, promoting your radio station and more!

You can view the schedule and sign up here.

Support for Local Programming Expands

Clergy and people of faith tell FCC to keep low power radio local!

Seventy clergy and nearly 250 people of faith called on the FCC on Tuesday to ensure that low power radio licenses go to genuinely local groups. In a petition filed on Oct 30, the United Church of Christ and religious people of diverse faiths asked the FCC to require new low power stations to broadcast some local programming each week.

Why is a local programming requirement so important?  Read more . . .

"Reclaim the Airwaves" Tour Kicks Off

Prometheus National Organizer Jeff Rousset is heading South in mid-November for a month long prometheusradio.org/2012tourReclaim the Airwaves Tour.  Jeff will connect with social justice and community groups from North Carolina to Florida and beyond to start new community radio stations! Groups like Project South, Southerners on New Ground, the Southeast Immigrant Rights Network, and many more are partnering with Prometheus to get the word out to communities across the South about this opportunity to build long-term movement infrastructure. We'll be discussing nuts and bolts of the application process as well as the role of independent media in an era of increasing corporate consolidation. We are excited to collaborate with groups across the South, and hopefully offer them a tool that can support the great work that's already happening in the region. prometheusradio.org/2012tourClick here for more information on the tour! 

Applicant Spotlight:Takoma Radio

Meet our friends Takoma Radio in Takoma Park, MD who have been preparing for over a year for the LPFM opportunity! Takoma Radio is excited to provide an outlet for community voices and creativity on the airwaves. They have partnered with Art For the People, a local non-profit organization, and have begun holding community meetings and fund raisers. They are well on their way to having a successful LPFM application. You can read more here. . . 

New Video to Amplify Community Radio

"Let's Amplify!" Karas Lamb, Prometheus volunteer extraordinaire, produced this short video to get folks excited about being involved in community media and the LPFM opportunity. How will your community use LPFM? Will you cover local news and issues affecting your region? Will you highlight local culture and music? With LPFM, we have the chance to raise our voices up and be heard in communities where local viewpoints have been crowded out by nationally syndicated programming. See the video and read more . . .    

Transitions

Welcome New Staff and Interns:

Prometheus is pleased to welcome Julia Wierski as the new Director of Development and Communications.  Julia joined our full-time staff in October 2012 after several years of working with the organization. In 2010, she worked on encroachment notification for LPFMs, and more recently she worked with our Policy Director, Brandy Doyle, as a campaign associate. She is excited to connect supporters with Prometheus and ensure that our great work will continue for many years to come!

Read more . . .

Thank You Donors!

The following people contributed to Prometheus between 1/1/12 and 9/12/12.