On Nov. 14 last year, the door on community radio applications slammed shut. Before it did, about 2,800 nonprofits across the United States — advocacy groups, churches and charitable nonprofits — applied for available low power FM frequencies in their local area. For all it was the first step in developing a community radio station focused on local news and issues, local events and local needs.
Prometheus Radio Project, based in Philadelphia, is an advocacy group committed to spreading the word about community radio and helping communities to start LPFM stations. Their particular interest is what they call participatory radio’s ability to accomplish social justice organizing and serve as a voice for community expression.
Peometheus took their show on the road, crossing the country to let communities know of the opportunity for nonprofits to pursue low cost radio stations. The opportunity became available after a protracted battle pushed the FCC to release these thousands of LPFM frequencies.
Prometheus Radio Project came to Savannah, and a large group of nonprofits heard their message. Despite that appearance here and the publicity it generated, just three nonprofits applied for low power FM frequencies. It’s understandable, as operating a radio station could be perceived as quite far outside many nonprofits’ missions.
The three Savannah applicants have all received initial acknowledgements from the FCC and soon will know whether their applications have been approved. If so, each will have the potential to reach upward of 140,000 people in the city with their broadcasts.
In Brunswick, just one nonprofit applied for an available LPFM frequency, a small African-American church wanting to spread the message of Christianity, grow their church, fill Brunswick’s utter void of radio-broadcasted black gospel music and provide desperately needed information to the community it serves.
The church envisions possible radio programs to help with repairing credit, applying for home loans, informing senior citizens about available support services, reaching out to teens and providing a measured platform for informative debate on local issues, among others.
Last week the Brunswick church got the news their application was approved. Excitement there is mounting as their vision further crystallizes and the power of 24-hour access to their city via the airwaves sinks in.
Whether in Brunswick, Savannah or elsewhere across the country, the disenfranchised, the hurting, the innovative, local musicians and new community leaders being born will soon be invited by these new stations to give voice to their issues, their talents and their specialized knowledge.
Making the commitment to develop and maintain a radio station without up front financial backing is a true leap of faith for both the secular and nonsecular organizations that have sought permits.
Imagine the many cogs that must turn with precision to get commercial radio stations on the air. Now substitute volunteers in place of staff, fundraising work in place of ads and locally produced programs for syndicated ones and you begin to see the magnitude of what’s involved.
Nationwide, many advocacy groups and other nonprofits, who are the intended recipients of all the new LPFM stations by the FCC, have already succeeded with their stations. They are managed by dedicated volunteers and driven the local community’s excitement about having new and fresh programming.
Stay tuned for the next developments in these organizations’ worthwhile efforts. Within a few months Savannah will have one to three new community radio stations.
Sarah Todd is founder of Change Pioneers, a resource for positive grassroots social change. She can be reached at 912-22-42120 or changepioneers@gmail.com.