Comment Re:Support the idea, beware the specifics! (Score 1) 118
>As others have commented, the proposal, if it
>contains retrictions on commercials and if it
>makes onerous demands w.r.t. interference,
>will kill low power FM.
Bull. Non-Commercialism is the only viable way for
Microradio to flourish. If people insist on commercial microradio the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) will redouble its efforts to kill it because they will see it as taking potential ad revenue out of their pockets.
I personally want microradio to be a real locally based alternative to big commercial radio.
Microradio is too important to worry about how someone can squeeze a few bucks out it -- frankly folks, you'd more profitably invest your money in swampland in Florida than in a commercial microradio station. Why do I say that? Here's a clue: though the FCC may be proposing 1000 watt Low Power FM stations it ain't likely to become a reality.
They'll end up allowing a 100 watts or less, you can bet on it. They may make a provision for sparsely populated rual areas where it takes 1000 watts just to reach 500 people. But in urban areas and especially major radio markets 1000 LPFM just ain't gonna happen. The radio band is too damn crowded as it is.
It takes less than a 1000 bucks to get a 50 to 100
watt station on the air. The electric bill -- including power used by studio equipment -- is about the same as what heavy use of your clothes dryer would cost you -- or a couple of PC's running 24/7.
If a community wants a station, they'll have little dificulty keeping it running on donations -- especially when people in the neighborhood know that they'll be able to do thier own shows.
>contains retrictions on commercials and if it
>makes onerous demands w.r.t. interference,
>will kill low power FM.
Bull. Non-Commercialism is the only viable way for
Microradio to flourish. If people insist on commercial microradio the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) will redouble its efforts to kill it because they will see it as taking potential ad revenue out of their pockets.
I personally want microradio to be a real locally based alternative to big commercial radio.
Microradio is too important to worry about how someone can squeeze a few bucks out it -- frankly folks, you'd more profitably invest your money in swampland in Florida than in a commercial microradio station. Why do I say that? Here's a clue: though the FCC may be proposing 1000 watt Low Power FM stations it ain't likely to become a reality.
They'll end up allowing a 100 watts or less, you can bet on it. They may make a provision for sparsely populated rual areas where it takes 1000 watts just to reach 500 people. But in urban areas and especially major radio markets 1000 LPFM just ain't gonna happen. The radio band is too damn crowded as it is.
It takes less than a 1000 bucks to get a 50 to 100
watt station on the air. The electric bill -- including power used by studio equipment -- is about the same as what heavy use of your clothes dryer would cost you -- or a couple of PC's running 24/7.
If a community wants a station, they'll have little dificulty keeping it running on donations -- especially when people in the neighborhood know that they'll be able to do thier own shows.
