What if: No more dinky AMs

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

I read through the web site of a religious LPFM and the church that was the licenses put IN WRITING that their policy is that no one can have a program on that station "if their theology is not identical to that of the licensee church". That means if that church is Pentecostal in its teachings, non-Pentecostals will not be allowed to make use of the station.

They can't do that. Maybe the way to fire a shot over the bow is to challenge one of these licensees.

You are the one who recognizes that certain things in this world cannot be changed, will not be changed. ;D

The political system and it's financing system are not going to let congress achieve certain things "the people' want.

Bureaucracy is not going to let congress push them around. We'll show you who is charge here.

Sometimes I want to jump into these threads and chide you for not having a more "let's dump the fruit-basket" approach to life, but actually I share some of your views that we have to pick our battles carefully. Fight only those you have some chance of winning.

Now that I got that off my chest, back to LPFM.

I conclude there are very few people or groups who have (1) the stomach to fight this battle. (2) the financial clout to fight this battle.

Commercial broadcasters have apparently had a lot of input into making sure LPFM does not get out of hand. If I own the AM-FM in some sparsely populated county somewhere, and there is a frequency for an LPFM to slide in, I am probably tickled pink to see one of these dogmatic churches get the channel. They will be no threat to my audience or my advertising revenues. As an existing broadcaster I would probably be a bit less thrilled to see a more ecumenical GROUP of church people get the frequency because they might do a good job of public affairs programming... making my station look pretty anemic in community service. The last guy I want to see get the license is one of those guys who gets with his brother-in-law, forms a not-for-profit corporation with some kind of fancy sounding charter for community service, but I really intend to run the LPFM as close to the edge as I can get away with in being a traditional radio station. My commercials will simply have to shy away from "the call to action" language.

So tell me who else in our Western Civilization is going to tie up their time and resources to "fire over their bow" and bring this issue to a very public exposure.

Probably some ole retired crank like me with nothing better to do.

Most of the more liberal para-church organizations who foam-at-the-mouth over this issue are so strapped for funding these days they are not likely to get too deeply involved. In reviewing the history of why the Congress and the FCC enacted the LPFM concept, some of these groups were active in lobbying for the new class of licenses. Then when the first application window was on the horizon, some of these groups were active in publicizing the opportunity.... in hopes that local groups would jump all over the concept. The local liberals yawned. The local evangelicals heard about it an jumped all over the idea. Thus, LPFM today.. is what it is.

 

[TheBigA]

I conclude there are very few people or groups who have (1) the stomach to fight this battle. (2) the financial clout to fight this battle.

Well, yeah, I mean who cares about some non-commercial LPFM? But by the same token, tyranny is tyranny regardless of the limited signal strength. But as I often say...nothing stays the same. There was a time when you could own a 50K FM and no one would care. There are stories about big corporations that donated their high power FMs to colleges because they saw no point in holding the license. But then something changes, and all of a sudden what was once worthless is now important. But it galls me when people place intolerant rules on the tools of democracy. And I see it from all sides of the political spectrum. I attended a press conference from a leftist group a few years ago, and noticed that they were attempting to control the message. You can't do that.

 

[TVradioguru]

I believe the whole premise that LPFM is somehow helping the communities by allowing locally-focused radio, is not in step with modern times. Really when you think about it, where in the US will you find a community with absolutely no access to some form of media? Today, not as in the 60's or 70's; even if the local 1,000 watt AM station went silent, chances are quite good once can listen to another town or larger city with several stations. At the North Pole, one can even hear radio.

In a small community, chances are better than not there is a local mom and pop radio station struggling to scratch up with what few local advertisers enough to keep the lights on. And in that same example, a teen will be listening to their IPod or other file play device while working out on the farm, so any new listeners are pretty well non existent.

The unpleasant but real facts are that with all the (increasing) choices for media consumption, to assume some well intentioned individual is going to garner enough listeners willing to donate and support a LPMF station within a community is a complete pipe dream. A dream that many LPFM broadcasters have already seen go down the drain within the first year. Are there examples where some are making it? Perhaps, but why keep allowing people to go into severe debt and even start at LPFM when anyone who knows anything about the media business today, knows firsthand that the deck is stacked against them.

 

[Chuck]

....but why keep allowing people to go into severe debt and even start at LPFM when anyone who knows anything about the media business today, knows firsthand that the deck is stacked against them.

If you think that, then why should people be allowed to own a boat, an airplane or a luxury car? You can be pretty sure you'll lose money on all of those too. Personally, I like being "allowed" to do pretty much as I please as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others or break any prevailing laws. I think that's called "The American Way."

Incidentally, not all LPFM stations are a waste of bandwidth...

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

I believe the whole premise that LPFM is somehow helping the communities by allowing locally-focused radio, is not in step with modern times.

For the sake of discussion, you and I are proposing ideas that frame the opposing edges of what is community, what is communications. We each are expressing a point of view supported by tribes found throughout our country. (or the world, for that matter.)

If I am driving across country on a hot day early in Augst 2011 and I get the urge to enjoy a milkshake, it may not matter much to me whether the place where I stop to get my milk shake sends someone into the kitchen to hand dip locally produced ice cream and put the time honored metal can up on the mixer, or if they reach into a freezer and grab a shake that came out of some kind of machine at the commissary 493 miles away. But when I am in my home town where I know how milk shakes are made and how they taste at each location in my neighborhood, I will go where I get the taste, the flavor, the texture I want. And if I live where some kind of fruit is grown, I may expect my shake to have little bits and pieces of that fruit, just as fresh as it can be.

Your description of radio fits the recipe that a major portion of the population in this nation is willing to accept. Just open the spigot on that Sani-Serve machine and plop whatever is in that big plastic container inside the cold storage box behind the machine. A big portion of the American public has NEVER been to a family holiday week-end picnic where Uncle Elmer serves cups of his secret recipe strawberry ice cream coming out of the little hand cranked mixer with its mess of crushed up ice heavily laced with salt to get the temperature down where it needs to be.

The average American has no idea what it is like to be elected country chairman of a political party in a rural or semi-rural county in Nebraska or Georgia or Pennsylvanie and in need of some kind of local media to reach out to local people to entice them to become part of a political movement. Or to be fund raising chairman of the local PTA and need some way to spread the word about the fund-raising fair and carnival next Saturday at the neighborhood school. Or to be the Extension Service agent in a county where some kind of blight is now attacking trees in the local area and needs to get the word out that there is a spray that will minimize or stop the slight.

That radio station from Alaska or the North Pole just doesn't quite get the job done. The Newspaper which is printed along with 27 other newspapers in a plant 75 miles away doesn't quite get the job done. The 17 radio stations booming in from the metro area 95 miles away don't get the job done.

Now, if every adult in America has as much civic interest and involvement at the local level as the average teenager dancing a jig as he comes down the sidewalk with his iPod earbuds isolating him from the humanity around him, then your view of media is the superior view of effective and successful media.

If on the other hand you are an adult intent on eradicating bullying in your community school, you are an adult trying to interest your neighbors to support a local tax option to rebuild the community park, you are an adult proud of the fact there are SEVEN service clubs such as Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis and others looking after the needs of your community, then my view of media at the community level has some significant merit.

 

[TheBigA]

Back 30 years ago, you had the "me" generation. What happens when they have kids? You get the empowerment generation. Everyone wants to be empowered to do things. Those are the folks who enter American Idol or America's Got Talent. Those are the folks you see on YouTube singing karaoke versions of their favorite songs. And some of them also want to run their own radio stations. As Yoda said in Star Wars, "No try. Do!" Or as Terrance Mann says in Field Of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come." Combine some of that mythology with the FCC agenda to provide diversity of ownership to media, and you get LPFM. Anyone and everyone can own their own radio station. And if you can't, start a pirate or internet station. Will any of it change the world? Probably not. Will they replace traditional radio stations as favorites among the public? Probably not. But that's not the goal. It's all about doing.

 

[TVradioguru]

But I argue that providing licenses to create more diversity in media IS about 30 years too late. What has become of the original concept of LPFM, rapidly became religious broadcasters expanding their fundraising reach. 45+ year old males who dream of operating their own radio station because they KNOW that the public would prefer hand made milkshakes over one that comes out of a machine are usually disappointed when reality overrides the fantasy. The FCC needs to add costs to process licenses for LPFM? In this economy? The FM band needs to be cluttered with more of these stations? Or is this whole LPFM thing just in response to objections of the ownership cap changes in 1996?

Pirate radio stations have become fewer because now if I want to send my ideas or personal views to the world, I start a blog site. If I want to play my music to potential masses, I start a streaming site. The Internet has allowed the option for a much larger world-wide audience, rather than a few hundred that an LPFM can provide.

So my question is.. Why create additional needless clutter to a time-tested media form, when ultimately the only ones who benefit are the "Godcasters", trying to get into Grandma's life savings? Want to talk via radio? Buy a CB. It's much less expensive and you'll probably have a larger audience than an LPFM station.

 

[TheBigA]

But I argue that providing licenses to create more diversity in media IS about 30 years too late.

Well, maybe 15 years too late. But that's the FCC for you.

In defense of LPFM, the view is that the ability to receive OTA radio is more universal than internet radio at this point. Sort of a variation on Part 15 licenses. And yes, the same people who objected to the 96 TCA (Promethius) are the ones pushing LPFM. As I said, it's not about making money or getting ratings. It's about that sense of accomplishment you get when you finish the NYC Marathon in last place.

 

[TVradioguru]

As I said, it's not about making money or getting ratings. It's about that sense of accomplishment you get when you finish the NYC Marathon in last place.

That's great, so a retired radio engineer goes out and applies for an LPFM, his neighbors say they will listen and donate, but in the end they don't. Instead they listen to the big stations who play the mainstream music and have good sounding personalities. Remember, given current economic conditions, even public stations are struggling to make ends meet.

So Mr. Retired Engineer plays his favorite doo wap oldies and reads the obituary column from the local paper. He's spent money on the license application and potentially a lawyer, the equipment, he pays music royalties, etc. Eventually he realizes that you can count the listeners of the station on one hand, if that. Donations few have stopped completely and his fixed income can't keep supporting the station alone. This scenario is reality. Running a marathon costs nothing more than an entry fee and comes with a greater sense of satisfaction because unlike operating an LPFM, there is a finish line.

 

[Chuck]

As I said, it's not about making money or getting ratings. It's about that sense of accomplishment you get when you finish the NYC Marathon in last place.

He's spent money on the license application and potentially a lawyer, the equipment, he pays music royalties, etc. Eventually he realizes that you can count the listeners of the station on one hand, if that. Donations few have stopped completely and his fixed income can't keep supporting the station alone. This scenario is reality. Running a marathon costs nothing more than an entry fee and comes with a greater sense of satisfaction because unlike operating an LPFM, there is a finish line.

He could have spent the money on golf lessons. What's the difference? More importantly why should it really matter to you. Don't want a LPFM station? OK don't get one. It is that simple.

 

[Chuck]

Incidentally, I ran a LPFM station for about eight years. It is still on the air under different ownership. As it turned out, it did make a difference in my community, enough so that I was able to leverage it into a commercial FM facility which I now own and operate. The commercial station has basically the same format as the LPFM and even uses the LPFM's old call letters. While not a ratings leader, we actually have people calling us wanting to buy spots. Imagine that.

The LPFM was never intended to make money - I never took a dime - but it had no problem paying its bills either. The new owners, a church, are operating it now. It is Classical and Jazz, and is not at all a God-caster. It's a pretty good little station that has a very loyal following. In fact, it amazes me how many people tell me they listen to it. The bad news is they aren't listening to my commercial station when they are tuned into the LPFM, but that's OK by me. The entire idea of the whole exercise was to provide programming that was not otherwise available in my area. Both stations do that, so I call it a success.

As Big A mentioned, it wasn’t so much about the money as it was about actually doing it. I think a lot of people enjoy the quest as much as anything.

 

[amfmxm]

As Big A mentioned, it wasn’t so much about the money as it was about actually doing it. I think a lot of people enjoy the quest as much as anything.

To take it one philosophical step further, it's ultimately about communicating.

At the core of the whole media thing, that is what motivates all of us. We want to communicate with others... whether that communication takes the form of information, entertainment or conversation.

And, ideally, LPFM gives the average citizen--the non-corporate citizen--an avenue to communicate.

 

[TVradioguru]

He could have spent the money on golf lessons. What's the difference? More importantly why should it really matter to you. Don't want a LPFM station? OK don't get one. It is that simple.

It doesn't matter to me actually. If someone wants to take their life savings and burn it in their backyard, it's okay with me. In case you missed it, this is a place for opinions and discussion, to which I was contributing. Don't agree with my opinion? Super! Don't read it. It is that simple.

I'm not sure how much, but there are costs passed along to the taxpayers to allocate the channels, process applications, rule on disputed applications and of course the clutter of the radio band this sort of thing causes. For what purpose, to satisfy one's long-held feeling that they can do a better job of serving a community than real broadcasters? As my daughter would say..'as if!'

 

[TVradioguru]

The new owners, a church, are operating it now.

You made one of my points.

 

[TheBigA]

And, ideally, LPFM gives the average citizen--the non-corporate citizen--an avenue to communicate.

However, that's not the purpose of mass media. And LPFM, even in its limited state, is still a mass medium.

Back in the 1920s, the feds were trying to figure out how to deal with all the amateurs who were jamming up the airwaves, making it difficult for the professionals to run their business. They relegated the amateurs to their own band. Today, we call them hams. I've often joked that there will come a time when we'll have 350 million radio stations, each with an audience of one.

 

[Chuck]

The new owners, a church, are operating it now.

You made one of my points.

I don't think so, unless you take it out of context. If you read all of the post, you will note that they are NOT broadcasting religion. It's Classical and Jazz. I gave the license to them because they truly represent the community they and the station serve. The programming originates locally.

Like you, I have little tolerance for the folks that send their message – religious or otherwise - through hundreds of stations simultaneously. But, who am I to say that they don't serve an underserved population?

On the other hand, I can think of some instances where there are two or three stations (translators or LPFM's) in an area running the exact same programming from a satellite. To me, that is an abuse, but then I can think of some major broadcasters who are also running essentially the same programming on all their stations, voice tracked from afar. Is it that much different?

On a positive note for LPFM it is quite possible to get a station on the air for well under $10,000. It costs nothing to apply. In many cases the application can be successfully filed by the applicant. Usually a lawyer is not needed. If you are in a situation where the application might be MX'd, then it might be a good idea to hire an engineering consultant. Even that doesn't cost a fortune. As for what it costs the taxpayer, it isn't very much in the great scheme of things. In the original filing window there were four or five people at the FCC who were assigned to process the applications. I don't know how many people actually work at the Commission, but I'll bet that five guys locked in an office is a very minor part of their payroll.

 

[TheBigA]

Allow me to clean this post up:

And, ideally, LPFM gives the average citizen--the non-corporate citizen--an avenue to communicate.

However, that's not the purpose of mass media. And LPFM, even in its limited state, is still a mass medium.

Back in the 1920s, the feds were trying to figure out how to deal with all the amateurs who were jamming up the airwaves, making it difficult for the professionals to run their business. They relegated the amateurs to their own band. Today, we call them hams. I've often joked that there will come a time when we'll have 350 million radio stations, each with an audience of one.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

To some extent, we have participated in hijacking the concept of LPFM and began focusing on some individual taking his/her life savings and gambling them on establishing an LPFM.

An individual cannot apply for an LPFM, cannot be granted an LPFM. We know of situations where individuals got together with relatives or friends and formed a not-for-profit corporation which became the licensee, but if you go and "stalk" the station you realize that some one is operating the station as though the one person was the owner. Some of these are almost criminal in that they act like they are just one more commercial outlet but they run emasculated commercials.

Then there are some individuals like CHUCK who run a station that they control and operate without getting all tangled up in a group that wants to spend more time debating whether Roberts Rules of Order allow debate on the topic.... ;D they are debating. I have considered "doing a Chuck" and going after a license in the next window, but personal circumstances have put a real damper on that idea.

The CLASSIC, intended by the Congress and the FCC, licensee is an EXISTING non-for-profit organization with reasonable roots in the community who want to do this "radio thing" in the spirit originally intended by the law and the regulations. If you get 50 people or local businesses to come up with $1,000 each to seed the project, nobody loses their life savings. You end up with at least 50 sources of ideas, inspiration and input. All is not peaches and cream in such a venture. Factions can break out within the group, power struggles can arise.... but nobody goes to the poorhouse if the thing is a failure.

 

[TheBigA]

The CLASSIC, intended by the Congress and the FCC, licensee is an EXISTING non-for-profit organization with reasonable roots in the community who want to do this "radio thing" in the spirit originally intended by the law and the regulations.

The sad part is that it's rare for a community to have an existing and active NFP that isn't a church or a group with a political agenda. That's part of the problem in this country today, where you have both adults in a family working, sometimes each doing two jobs, to make ends meet. I'm a member of several non-profit professional groups that have a lot of trouble getting their members to attend meetings and take part in activities. When you have the fear of God put in you, you're more likely to show up. Same with a political group. So this is why the 60s idea of residents wanting to help their community without benefit of payment is hard to maintain in the 21st century. Sure, you can count on high school kids and retired folks to show up. But what about that big group in the middle?

 

[Chuck]

Then there are some individuals like CHUCK who run a station that they control and operate without getting all tangled up in a group that wants to spend more time debating whether Roberts Rules of Order allow debate on the topic.... ;D they are debating. I have considered "doing a Chuck" and going after a license in the next window, but personal circumstances have put a real damper on that idea.

Just to clear the air, the applicant for the LPFM I mentioned as "mine" was an established 501(c)(3) when the filing window opened. That organization still exists past LPFM and is doing well. I happened to be the President and was the "Spark Plug" who got things going. There were quite a few volunteers involved as well.

I think you will find that most organizations, non-profit or not, have one or maybe two people who actually get things going. That's true from everything from churches to car clubs, and anything in between.