Iowa Media Update – Getting Our Message Out: Fighting Fire with FM (and Net Neutrality)

One of the main differences between the right wing activist and the progressive activist is simply this:  M$NEY.   When a right wing activist wants to make a splash in an area he needs to find someone to buy his way into the game, or he himself needs to buy his way into the game. Or create an Astroturf group out of thin air. Such is the history of the tea party and Dick Armey. Such is the history of the Koch brothers and think tanks.  The recent history of America’s media bears the stamp of buy-your-way-in.

Last Tuesday, I turned on WHO radio from Des Moines at 6:30 or so in the evening. Steve Deace (pronounced Dace) was on the air.  He makes no pretense of being a neutral observer.  He is a shill for the Republican Party.  On this night he was hosting a “debate” among Republican candidates. Questions included wording such as “our party,” “we” and so on. This goes on with their other local hosts as well. Steve King is a frequent guest and his odd ideas are given the aura of insightful thought.

While current established media are very expensive properties, there are alternatives that need to be explored. What we lack in M$NEY, we more than make up for in involvement. We need to get our voices out there.

The first alternative is, of course, the internet. Read, promote and contribute to the Iowa based blogs. And work for INTERNET NEUTRALITY.  Right wingers will never give up their assault to take over this last bastion of freedom.  Be sure to keep your congress person aware of how important internet neutrality is to America’s freedom.

A second opportunity that will be coming soon is LPFM (Low Power FM radio) – Low Power radio station licenses (less than 100 watts).  LPFM licensing was suspended in the early 2000s pending new authorizing legislation due to some problems in selection criteria. New legislation was passed by the House last December, but has been stalled, along with everything else, in the Senate.

But it looks like action may happen soon in the Senate.  Once the bill is on the calendar, there is little opposition expected.  So we may have an opening to submit applications for LPFM soon. prometheusradio.org/node/2321

One hundred watts of power could cover about a six mile radius, which would cover most of Iowa’s major cities. There needs to be an opening on the FM dial. Equipment can be relatively cheap, on up to the Cadillac variety. A group could probably get into the game for $10,000, possibly less.

Just think.  LPFM broadcasting true community radio in Des Moines, Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, etc.  Can you get 100 people willing to donate $100 for an opportunity to get our ideas into homes?  The opportunity is coming soon and we need to be prepared.

The Prometheus Radio Project has been working on LPFM for nearly ten years. They are offering to give guidance to serious applicants. Here is some reading from their site.

prometheusradio.org/

prometheusradio.org/startup_costs

prometheusradio.org/want_to_start_a_station

Next week, I will try to synthesize what a group will need to start a station and introduce briefly the concept of internet radio.

E-mail Dave here

Dave Bradley is a self-described
retired observer of American politics “trying to figure out how we got
so screwed up.”  An
Iowa City native currently living in West Liberty, Dave and his wife
Carol have two grown children who “sadly had to leave the state to find
decent paying jobs.” 

Dave's
Observations on Iowa Media will appear here on Blog for Iowa Tuesdays.