|
Dec 16, 1998
ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOSTON TEA PARTY
This day marks that historic event where normal everyday citizens (like yourself)
took back control of their lives and dumped tea into the Boston Harbor. This "direct
action campaign" wasn't something brought about by some great military commander
or even some massive rallying cry put out on the internet. People just got fed up
with how things were and decided to do something about it! How 'bout it? Are
you upset enough yet?
We salute our ancestral American activists today.
FCC's LPFM WEBPAGE
Visit the FCC's Low Power FM (LPFM) webpage: http://www.fcc.gov/mmb/prd/lpfm/
And send them lots of email at: lpfm@fcc.gov
NTIA REPORT ON MINORITY OWNERSHIP
full links located at: NTIA Report
The NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) recently published
a report on minority broadcast ownership in the USA.Their report is detailed and
hard-hitting. The numbers are very very low. Here's a brief excerpt from the conclusion
of the report:
If media concentration continues at its current rate, small and less well capitalized
minority broadcasters will find it increasingly difficult to compete with group owners
and will be more likely to sell their stations and exit the industry. Financial barriers,
increased competition, and higher station prices, are likely to be significant obstacles
to new minority entrants to this marketplace. A significant loss in the number of
minority broadcast owners may result in fewer employment opportunities for minorities
in broadcasting and a less diverse broadcast media.
Ensuring a diversity of viewpoints is a cornerstone of our nation's broadcast policy.
The continuing and emerging trends in minority commercial radio and televison are
chipping away at a valuable, indeed essential, means of achieving this goal and our
nation's historic commitment to localism.
FCC FILES REPORT ON MIAMI RADIO BUSTS
The FCC's Daily
Digest for today makes note of a new report:
FCC SHUTS DOWN 19 UNLICENSED RADIO STATIONS IN MIAMI AREA. Report No: CI-98-30.
News Media Contact: David Fiske (202) 418-0500. CIB Contact: Pamera Hairston at (202)-418-1160.
POLITICOS LOBBYING AGAINST KENNARD
full story online at Broadcasting and Cable
Dingell Blasts Kennard
John Dingell (D-Mich.) all but called for FCC Chairman William Kennard's resignation
in a speech to the Practising Law Institute in Washington Friday. The ranking member
of the House Commerce Committee wondered what Kennard's successes were during his
past year in office. And, Dingell announced plans to introduce next year a bill,
in conjunction with House Telecommunications Subcommittee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-La.),
that would reopen the 1996 Telecommunications Act. "[It] may have been a mistake"
to assign the FCC the task of administering the 1996 Telecommunications Act, Dingell
said. The Dingell-Tauzin bill would give states more power to administer local telephone
companies, allow local phone companies to enter long distance markets immediately,
and let telecommunications companies provide Internet services across state and regional
boundaries.
-----------------
McCain Joins In
FCC Chairman William Kennard received his third scathing letter in two weeks from
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) -- this time questioning
the competence of the commission's public affairs staff. McCain was incensed over
comments by commission staff that appeared in the Wall Street Journal. "As a
former General Counsel of the agency, I am sure you are aware that it is absolutely
essential that Commission staff be circumspect in any discussion of pending matters,"
McCain wrote.
"I would hope that your Office of Public Affairs possesses enough baseline competence
to assist you in this endeavor ... ." McCain also has written Kennard letters
criticizing his plans to change the broadcast ownership rules.
----------------
Kennard Fires Back
FCC Chairman William Kennard Monday fired back at congressional critics who last
week charged that the agency is releasing too many details about its reviews of major
telecommunications mergers. "The public has a huge stake in the outcome of our
decisions," he said. "I absolutely reject the notion that these decisions
should be made by bureaucrats working in silence or talking only to lawyers, lobbyists,
and corporate executives," he said. Kennard was responding to scathing comments
last week by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) about Kennard's
management of the agency.
---------------
'BIGWIGS' WEIGH IN ON OWNERSHIP
Pressure is mounting for Federal Communications Commission Chairman William Kennard
to ease ownership restrictions on broadcasters. Both industry officials and Republican
congressmen have vehemently protested Chairman Kennard's proposal to eliminate local
marking agreements (LMAs), which allow one station to manage another without actually
owning it. Wall Street executives are concerned about the effect the proposed rules
might have on capital markets. While other expected changes will liberalize the current
limitations on cross-ownership, broadcasters are not satisfied. Chairman Kennard
has already put off a commission vote on the ownership rules, and has said that he
will continue to listen to "all interested parties". The elimination of
LMAs is intended to curb the increasing consolidation trend in broadcasting.
Dec 11, 1998
FCC AGENTS ALMOST BUSTED!
full story online at RFV
On Tuesday, December 8th, at 12 noon, two agents from the Quincy Massachusetts
office of the FCC narrowly avoided arrest in the Town of Rutland by an officer of
the Vermont State Police.
In defiance of legal and lawful Order to Cease and Desist served upon the FCC's office
at Quincy, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., and in violation of Title 18 of the
United States Code, as well as in violation of their jurisdiction per Title 47 United
States Code, agents from the Quincy, Massachusetts office of the Federal Communications
Commission, violated Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 13 Section 3705 (Unlawful Trespass)
and the United States Code Title 18 by trespassing upon private property outside
of their jurisdiction.
[ Maybe that's just what we need to do: enact local enforcement that
favors community radio! ]
DO SOMETHING NOW
Ok... so you come and visit out little outpost on the 'net and you support your
locally-owned and programmed radio stations (maybe you even run your own)... well,
we here at ARD really appreciate that. Really.
But we are challenging all of you to take that one extra step: writing or calling
your elected officials! Please. Get out that pen and paper and write a persuasive
letter to your city, state or national representatives. Write to the FCC regarding
their backing down on important issues (see story below). Call them up on the phone
and make intelligent, persuasive arguments in your favor. Even send an email message
(although "favor" still seems to be given to written letters). Let's put
the heat on before it's too late! American voters showed the Republicans their displeasure
in the last election (but they STILL don't listen)... we can certainly show the FCC,
the NAB and Big Radio Conglomerates that YES, WE HAVE A VOICE -- We are the true
owners of the airwaves and we will have a say in how they are used!
Need some facts for your letters? Use our new search tool!
Dec 7, 1998
FCC DELAYS OWNERSHIP TOPIC FOR MEETING
full story online at ABC News
full story online at Yahoo Business News
The FCC on Friday backed off a plan to tighten some limits on radio and television
ownership after a draft proposal prompted loud protests from the broadcast industry
and its allies in Congress.
Staff of the agency had recommended that the five commissioners approve a series
of changes to ownership limits that in some cases would have forced companies to
sell off stations or end marketing agreements to run television stations.
The plan, which had been scheduled for a vote at the FCC's Dec. 17 meeting, would
also have liberalized some limits and allowed other companies to buy more radio and
TV stations.
But broadcasters went on a massive lobbying offensive after details of the plan leaked
out two weeks ago, bringing to Washington top-level executives including Michael
Eisner, chairman of the Walt Disney Co. that owns ABC.
On Friday, the agency took the proposal off the agenda for the upcoming meeting.
"We're very troubled by what appeared to be an attempt to re-regulate broadcasting
even though Congress's clear intent was to deregulate," said Dennis Wharton,
spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters.
But public interest advocates were dismayed to learn that the FCC might be backing
away from some of the proposed changes.
"I'm not surprised," said Andrew Schwartzman, president of the nonprofit
law firm the Media Access Project. Some of the proposed changes were needed to close
loopholes "that allowed people to clearly evade the ownership rules," he
said.
Pressure on the FCC also came from Capitol Hill. Republicans John McCain of Arizona,
chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Conrad Burns of Montana, head of the
committee's communications subcommittee, sent the FCC a strongly worded letter warning
it to back down. And Democrat Rep. John Dingell of Michigan, a frequent FCC critic,
also called on the agency to drop the proposal.
TREE RADIO BERKELEY DOWN
full story online at Newschoice
Radio activists who had vowed to keep broadcasting from the branches of a redwood
tree until federal marshals hauled them out were off the air Friday after deciding
to come down by themselves.
Billed as "a fight for community control of the public airwaves," Tree
Radio Berkeley went on the air Nov. 24 when activists clambered 50 feet up a tree
overlooking Willard Park, known to locals as Ho Chi Minh Park, a reminder of Berkeley's
past as a hotbed of anti-Vietnam War protest.
The group went out on a limb to protest a court ruling shutting down another station,
Free Radio Berkeley. They also were opposing the FCC ban on low-powered stations,
known as "micro radio."
Perched on wooden platforms, rotating DJs kept the 40-watt signal (powered by car
batteries) going, sending out an eclectic mix that included commentary, punk rock,
gospel and tapes made by death-row inmate Abu Jamal-Mumia. The outlaw broadcasters
had declared in a news release that they wouldn't come down until FCC agents forced
them out. But although they were visited by agents who warned them their equipment
would be seized if they didn't stop, they didn't seem to spark much official action.
Russell Bush, the group's aptly named spokesman, said he understood the activists
came out of the tree sometime Thursday night, partly to avoid causing problems for
city officials, who had been tacitly waiving a nightly park curfew.
Bush said the protest had achieved its goal. "We just wanted to get our message
out there," he said.
Tree radio had drawn support from some residents, who brought hot food and "very
fancy chocolates" to the broadcasters, Bush said.
The weather had been less cooperative, chilling broadcasters with wintry rains.
On Thursday morning, a DJ who gave his name as Curious George said via walkie-talkie
that "the consensus is it's cold and wet." But he said it was important
to take a stand for low-powered radio -- "one of the last forms of grassroots
communications that has not been sold down the road."
See
Pictures and More Aticles on TREE RADIO
DISNEY GETS WQEW
full story online at Bergen
First, it was "The Lion King" and 42nd Street. Now, it's the airwaves.
The Mouse has come to the big city. ABC Inc., aka Disney, recently reached an 8-year
agreement with The New York Times Co. to lease broadcast time on WQEW-AM (1560).
The deal begins Jan. 1. ABC will replace WQEW's current format of American popular
standards with Radio Disney, a 24-hour music-intensive national radio network for
children under 12. According to Times spokeswoman Lisa Carparelli, some 15 of
approximately 20 employees at WQEW will lose their jobs.
RADIO PACIFICA: MORE INFO
In response to our link to the story on Pacifica Radio's new head, check out this
link to get even more info on the on-going situation at Pacifica Radio. There
is much going on with "both sides" of the story and this will give you
some more background info. (www.radio4all.org/freepacifica)
Dec 1, 1998
JACOR TO SELL STATIONS
full story online at Dayton Business Journal
For the second time in one year, 1410 WING-AM, 102.9 WING-FM and 92.9 WGTZ-FM
are on the selling block.
The stations are part of a package of 20 radio stations in five markets that will
be sold by Jacor Communications Inc. and Clear Channel Communications to help gain
federal regulatory approval of their pending $4.4 billion merger.
If they don't sell, their combined holdings in those five markets -- Dayton, Cleveland,
Jacksonville, Fla., Louisville, Ky., and Tampa, Fla. -- would give them a monopoly,
violating FCC rules.
Sources have said that Cox and/or Sinclair would be likely to buy.
DISNEY TO BUY WQEW?
full story online at MostNewYork
Goodbye Frank Sinatra, hello Snow White. That could happen on New York radio within
a few months, according to industry sources who say ABC is negotiating to buy WQEW
(1560 AM) from The New York Times Co. and use it as the local outlet for its children's
network, Radio Disney. Neither side yesterday would confirm talks. But several sources
said talks are under way and a deal ó estimated to be worth about $40 million ó could
be announced by the end of the year.
TREE RADIO BERKELEY
full story online at NewsChoice
Pirate radio broadcaster Sparrow is really out on a limb for her cause.
She and her broadcast partner, the Birdman of Berkeley, were tied to a tree limb
60 feet above Willard Park on Tuesday, in the middle of a marathon, not to mention
illegal, radio broadcast.
The micro-power broadcasters plan to stay aloft and on the air to protest what they
say are unconstitutional Federal Communications Commission rules.
Calling themselves Tree Radio Berkeley, the two DJs are part of the pirate radio
set. These stations broadcast without an FCC license and use radio frequencies that
sometimes interfere with signals from licensed radio stations, the FCC claims.
The broadcasters say the FCC licenses are so expensive that only large corporations
or the wealthy can enjoy broadcasting on what is supposed to be a free and open forum
for everyone.
"We want to put the FCC on notice, this will not go away," Sparrow said
Tuesday, between naps and her turn at the microphone.
"We want to do this as publicly as possible," said Marcus Kryshka, who
is supplying ground support. "But, we can't do this in public. It's so ridiculous,
we decided to do it in a tree."
At 2 p.m. Tuesday, the station had been on the air for 24 hours, the longest broadcast
of its type since a federal judge's order shut down pirate radio station founder
Stephen Dunifer's Free Radio Berkeley earlier this year.
"Excuse the dead air," Birdman of Berkeley tells his listeners. "But
there are many technical difficulties broadcasting from a tree."
For an hour on Tuesday, Willard Park's trees had two pirate stations. SPURT Radio
(Solar Powered Urban Radio Transmissions) held a solidarity simulcast about 50 feet
away... in a tree.
PIRATE RADIO CONTINUES...
full story online at SFBayGuardian
As radio station ownership across the
country consolidates into fewer and fewer corporate hands, it's not surprising that
the "free radio," or micropower radio, movement is starting to pump up
the volume. It also should come as no surprise that the Federal Communications Commission
is intensifying its crackdown on micropower broadcasters across the country.
The pirates of the radio waves are under siege from the Bay Area to New York City,
in every city where unlicensed community stations have made their mark. The FCC has
shut down nearly 300 stations -- whose operators were unwilling or unable to fork
over $10,000 for a megawatt broadcasting license -- in the past year alone.
"What's going on now is a total clampdown," San Francisco Liberation Radio
cofounder Richard Edmondson told us. "There are more and more radio stations
but fewer and fewer owners, and consolidation of ownership is antithetical to free
speech and very dangerous to democracy."
"Microradio is about free speech and community control of information,"
former Free Radio Berkeley programmer Bad News said. "With it there's a potential
for a real alternative media source. It adds a lot of diversity to what you can find
on the air. Right now you can go coast to coast and hear the same thing. There are
some subjects -- like labor -- that are never covered, and the debate is so narrow."
Paradoxically, just as federal regulators have stepped up station shutdowns, the
FCC is scheduled to consider changes in the rules governing low-power broadcasting.
Its chair, William Kennard, has publicly supported community use of airwaves. The
commission will soon begin proceedings to solicit public opinion as to the viability
of a low-power licensing scheme that would allow community groups -- and potentially
small businesses -- to broadcast legally. Discussion could begin as soon as the
FCC's Dec. 17 meeting, according to Fiske. Fiske said that the FCC staff is in
the early stages of planning for any rule changes and that the commission will take
formal public comment into account if it follows through with low-power legalization.
Free Radio Berkeley founder and micropower guru Stephen Dunifer said the timing was
not a coincidence.
Movement stalwarts like Dunifer continue to urge anyone with an interest in free
speech to set up his or her own station to counter the hegemony of commercial broadcasters.
"The FCC is afraid of having an ungovernable situation on their hands, and we're
almost there," he told us. "That's why they're making these conciliatory
gestures. They have a public relations nightmare on their hands with this situation."
"The FCC is beholden to big stations, so that's what we're really fighting,"
Peter Franck, a San Francisco entertainment lawyer who chairs the Committee on Democratic
Communications, told us. "But this is a classic case of civil disobedience:
if we have enough microradio on the air, the FCC has to recognize it. Think of the
civil rights movement. It's that way: first they dismiss you, then they attack you,
then you win."
Nov 25, 1998
CITADEL BUYS 16 STATIONS
full story online at Binghamton Press
full story online at Excite News
The five Wicks Broadcast radio stations in Binghamton will become part of a large
Arizona-based radio broadcasting group under a proposed buyout. Citidel Communications
Corp. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire from Wicks Broadcast Group
the assets of eight radio stations in Charleston, South Carolina, five radio stations
in Binghamton, New York and three radio stations in central Indiana for a proposed
$77 million cash acquisition.
Citidel is a Tempe, Ariz.-based radio broadcasting company that specializes in mid-sized
markets. The planned buyout includes stations in Charleston, S.C., and Kokomo and
Muncie, Ind. After the transaction, which is expected in the first quarter of 1999,
Citadel will own or operate 93 FM and 43 AM radio stations concentrated in 26 mid-sized
markets.
HICKS MUSE INVEST IN BRAZILIAN TV
full story online at Excite News
Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Incorporated, AIG-GE Capital Latin American Infrastructure
Fund (LAIF), and TV Cidade today announced that Hicks Muse and LAIF have committed
a total of up to $100 million of equity capital to TV Cidade. TV Cidade is a Brazilian
company formed in 1997 to acquire Pay TV licenses and develop a national Pay TV presence
in Brazil.
The ongoing auction of Pay TV licenses in Brazil involves the simultaneous sale of
more than 300 licenses throughout the country. TV Cidade is one of the most active
participants in the auctions, having bid on licenses covering approximately 5.7 million
homes. The awarding of licenses began this month.
CLEAR CHANNEL / JACOR TO DIVEST
full story online at CBS MediaReport
Clear Channel Communications and Jacor Communications plan
to sell 20 radio stations in five markets in Ohio, Florida and Kentucky in order
to gain federal approval of their proposed merger. Clear Channel is buying Jacor
for $3.4 billion to create the nation's second-largest radio broadcaster in terms
of station ownership. The deal, announced last month, is subject to federal regulatory
approval and may not be cleared until September 1999, the companies said.
FCC TO CHARGE FOR HDTV
full story online at CBS MediaReport
The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to establish
a program that would charge broadcasters a fee to use the new digital spectrum for
ancillary or supplemental services. Depending on how much space on that spectrum
is devoted to high-definition pictures, five or six signals can be squeezed onto
one frequency.
Under the terms of the plan, broadcasters would pay an annual fee based on 5 percent
of the gross revenue generated from any subscriber-based channel for which they receive
compensation from a third party. The commission decided that home-shopping channels
would be exempt from the fee, since so many of them are already seen on over-the-air
TV.
SATELLITE RADIO GROWS
full story online at FoxNews
A satellite-radio company has announced a new deal with car-stereo
manufacturers could mean 100 new channels of music on dashboards.
"In your car radio, you'll have AM, FM, and XM," said XM Satellite Radio
spokeswoman Vicki Stearn. "You'll be able to drive from New York to Los Angeles
and get the same channels all the way across."
Alpine Electronics, Pioneer, and Sharp Electronics agreed to manufacture auto- and
home-stereo equipment that will receive XM's nationwide signals. Subscriptions to
the service will cost about US $10 per month and will be available in two years.
Nov 18, 1998
NPR CHOOSES NEW HEAD
full story online at Nando
full story online at Washington Post
Kevin Klose, a former newspaper reporter who has been directing
the government's non-military worldwide radio and television network, has been chosen
to run the 604-station National Public Radio network. Klose, 58, succeeds Delano
Lewis, who resigned in August. His most recent job was as director of the U.S. International
Broadcasting Bureau. Prior to his promotion to that post, Klose was president of
the government's Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty from 1992 to 1997. Klose's appointment
as president and CEO is unlikely to radically alter NPR's programming, as he counts
himself a fan of the current sound.
FCC READY FOR NEW PROCEDURE?
full story online at Current
The FCC is finally considering a new method of deciding between
competing applications for noncommercial radio and TV licenses, potentially filling
a policy vacuum that dates back to the early '90s. But the commission is suggesting
that it pick licensees with a lottery or point system, which may not be palatable
to pubcasters as a whole.
The FCC is also asking for opinions about how to handle competing requests for commercial
spectrum when the applicants include noncommercial broadcasters.
In proposed rules published Oct. 21, the FCC rejected its old system of comparative
hearings--in which administrative law judges decide, based on set criteria, who should
get the license. The commission says the hearing system is costly, time-consuming
and arbitrary in effect.
The FCC actually stopped the hearings after courts in 1992 threw out the commission's
criteria for deciding who among competing commercial applicants should get the license.
An FCC review board also said the criteria for decided noncom competitions were "vague"
and "meaningless." Today the FCC leaves it to noncommercial competitors
to haggle over who gets the license, sometimes requiring them to share frequencies
if one doesn't buy out the other.
Public broadcasters say the lack of a system is not only a headache, but sometimes
encourages competing applications from broadcasters who just want to be paid to go
away.
[Stay tuned on this: there are about
20 days left to file public comments!]
FCC MEETING ON HDTV FEES
full story online at CBS MarketWatch
full story online at Excite News
The Federal Communications Commission is slated to hold an
open meeting Thursday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. Among the biggest items on
the agenda:
Whether or not broadcasters should pay a fee to use the digital
spectrum for ancillary or supplemental services.
Depending on how much space on that spectrum is devoted to
high-definition pictures, five or six signals can be squeezed onto one channel. Given
the revenue windfall that scenario might amount to, some prominent Republicans suggested
that broadcasters pay to use the digital spectrum. The proceeds, they said, could
be used to permanently subsidize PBS and other worthy causes. Broadcasters balked,
of course, and the Clinton administration took the view that such a fee would ultimately
be passed on to viewers, thereby jeopardizing the concept of free over-the-air telecasts.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Broadcasters will find out today how big a fee the government plans to levy on companies
that use new digital technology to send pay-per-view or other subscription services
over the airwaves. The industry hopes the Federal Communications Commission will
assess a fee of two percent of revenues generated from new digital premium channels
or computer data offerings, but public interest groups favor a fee of 10 percent
or more.
Nov 11, 1998
KBLT: ONGOING STORY
full story online at LA Weekly
Imagine a radio station with a wide-open programming policy,
well-informed DJs, no corporate or collegiate affiliations, and no annoying commercials
or pledge drives.
Sounds enticing, doesn't it? Well, between Thanksgiving evening 1995 and October
30, 1998, L.A. actually had a station that fit the above description. It was called
KBLT, it resided at 104.7 on your FM dial, and it was a breath of fresh airwaves,
with more than 40 volunteer DJs spinning everything from out-there indie stuff to
old-time country music.
It was also unlicensed, and thus, in the eyes of the Federal Communications Commission,
completely illegal.
On the morning of October 30, the station's signal went out. Jarrett went to check
on the transmitter, only to be met in the building's stairwell by a gentleman flashing
an FCC badge. "He said to me, 'You've got two options. We can confiscate the
equipment and give you a receipt for it, or you can give us your name and we'll fine
you $11,000.'"
Jarrett opted to let them keep the transmitter and antenna, which had cost around
$500. "It wasn't a huge amount," she says. "It would have been worse
if they'd come to the studio and confiscated the other half of the transmission equipment,
and the entire studio and music library." All of which the feds are entitled
to do, of course, in the name of serving the public interest.
PACIFICA RADIO CHOOSES NEW HEAD
full story online at Current
Pacifica has chosen longtime community radio advocate and its
second-in-command Lynn Chadwick to succeed Pat Scott as executive director. As the
former president of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters and the Pacifica
Foundation's director of operations and planning since January, Chadwick isn't a
surprise choice. Observers note her long career in the system. "She has a background
in public broadcasting and community radio of over 20 years," says Valerie Van
Isler, g.m. of Pacifica's WBAI, New York. "That same experience, completely
and fully advocating for community stations, whether before Congress, before CPB,
and other agencies ... is going to be very powerful and extremely helpful."
Nov 9, 1998
KBLT SHUTDOWN BY FCC!
full story online at AllstarMag
Los Angeles residents and visitors in the know have long known
that the most creative radio station in a town filled with hits- driven playlists
is Silver Lake's 40-watt pirate outlet KBLT. For the past three years the station
has seen its share of celebrity DJs, including regulars Mike Watt, ex-Circle Jerk
Keith Morris, and Bob Forrest of Thelonious Monster fame, as well as guest DJs including
the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Howie B, Glenn Danzig, Flaming Lips, Jesus and Mary Chain,
John Squier (of the Seahorses and Stone Roses), and Helium, among others. But on
Friday, Oct. 30, the FCC shut the station down.
The Federal Communications Commission gave KBLT founder Paige Jarrett a choice: an
$11,000 fine or confiscation of her broadcast equipment. She chose the latter. This
wasn't the first time the station has gone dark. In July, KBLT was tipped off that
the FCC was looking for it, so they proactively took themselves off the air for two
and a half months, before returning to the airwaves Oct. 13, only to be discovered
by the FCC a few weeks later.
KBLT has always been supported by big-name local bands -- this past year it hosted
a surprise live on-air performance by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and benefit concerts
have been headlined by Mazzy Star (in March 1997), and Mike Watt (in the fall of
1997). Low was also scheduled to perform on-air on Oct. 31.
RADIO CARSON SHUT DOWN BY FCC!
full story online at The Post Gazette
Radio Carson is dead. Maybe dead is too harsh a word, but agents
from the Federal Communications Commission and U.S. Marshals executed an arrest warrant
10 days ago at Mark Lange's South Side home and took away his transmitter, pulling
the plug on his unlicensed radio station.
It's not as though Lange didn't know what was coming. For three years, he's been
using a low-grade transmitter to broadcast electronic music -- a mixture of instrumental
and synthesized music he says mainstream stations have all but ignored -- on 91.7
FM in Pittsburgh.
Lange liked the arrangement. Local DJs helped him mix the dance tunes on compact
discs, and Lange left his 50-disk CD changer on autopilot while he went to his day
job as a technician for a telecommuncations company that he declined to name. At
night, he would add commentary to the broadcasts and spin the discs himself.
"It was nothing profane or offensive," Lange said of Radio Carson. "It
was just a music format that wasn't available on any Pittsburgh radio station."
The FCC does let some low-power stations operate, but at 10 watts, Radio Carson exceeded
the FCC's limit by more than 100 times, according to Harry Litman, U.S. attorney
for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
"We feel that the Free Radio movement is a challenge to the FCC," Lange
said. "Free Radio threatens commercial radio's ability to make money."
Lange invested about $4,000 into his station for equipment and operating expenses.
He said that a commercial license would cost him $100,000 to $500,000, and operating
costs at the larger stations run into the millions.
Lange has been off the air since the two FCC agents and two U.S marshals visited
him on Oct. 28, hauling away about $2,000 of his equipment and warning him that broadcasting
would result in a $10,000 fine and an arrest for violating a court order.
"If my role is as a martyr, if I give this city a taste of what radio should
be and I have to be shut down as a result, then maybe that's what we need to make
the system change."
CUMULUS BUYS ALABAMA RADIO
full story online at Excite News
Cumulus Media Inc. announced today it is entering the Muscle
Shoals, Alabama radio market through the purchase of two FM stations and one AM station.
The Company is acquiring WKGL-FM, WLAY-FM and WLAY-AM from U.S. South Broadcasting
Company, Inc. for $6.3 million.
Including this announcement as well as pending acquisitions, Cumulus has made 74
acquisitions in 1997 and 1998. Today, the Company operates 185 stations in 36 markets.
Following FCC approval and completion of all pending acquisitions, Cumulus will own
and operate 204 stations in 39 markets.
Z-SPANISH RADIO BUYS TWO
full story online at Sacramento Business Journal
Z-Spanish Radio Network Inc., a fast-growing national radio
chain based in Sacramento, has just bought two more Spanish-language stations --
one in Phoenix and one in Miami -- for a combined $27.6 million.
The company, which focuses on the Spanish-speaking U.S. market, now owns 32 stations.
It wants to own 50 and become publicly traded by late next year or early 2000.
|
Main Page
