Category: Announcements || By Submitted Report

A local, community-operated radio station can be an important image-builder for a community.

It also can help young people get hands-on experience in electronics, communications, information technology, journalism, computers, public relations, audio production, and music.

For this reason, we think a public, community-operated radio station would be a fantastic asset for McKeesport: McKeesport deserves a better image, and needs more places for people to prepare for technology careers.

Last week, the Federal Communications Commission issued a ruling that would guarantee a minimum number of radio stations in each metropolitan area of the United States that would be community-based, non-commercial. These stations are in the "low-power FM" --- or "LPFM" --- category and could be received by anyone within about a five- to eight-mile radius, using a regular FM radio.

. . .

In the Pittsburgh area, three FM radio channels are apparently going to be set aside for LPFM use. Under the FCC decision, these stations would be restricted to either 100 or 250 watts, would have to remain locally owned by people who live in the communities they serve, and would not be allowed to run advertising.

The LPFM class of radio stations was created in 2000 by the FCC, but few stations were ever licensed because the U.S. Congress passed a law placing new restrictions on low-power FM radio. Those restrictions were overturned in 2010 by the federal Local Community Radio Act.

The LCRA was co-authored by U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, Democrat of Forest Hills, who represents the Mon Valley area in Congress.

All of Tube City Community Media Inc.'s board members were part of an effort in 2000 to start a McKeesport-based LPFM. Needless to say, we're pleased by the FCC's ruling.

. . .

Although McKeesport currently has two full-power AM radio stations, these stations are commercial businesses and are focused on Pittsburgh. A substantial amount of their programming is "paid programming" --- infomercials.

Through this website and its other activities (including its production of radio coverage of International Village and the McKeesport Symphony Orchestra), Tube City Online has demonstrated for 15 years that it is able and willing to provide non-profit information about and for the McKeesport region.

We believe Tube City Community Media Inc. would be a good steward for an LPFM station, and we intend to apply for a 100-watt radio license to serve McKeesport. (This is by no means a "sure thing" --- we expect dozens, if not hundreds, of people and groups will also be applying for these licenses.)

Last year, Tube City Community Media was invited to meet with FCC Commissioner Michael Copps and U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle; and was specifically asked to file an official comment on the FCC's LPFM ruling. We think those votes of confidence speak to our history and track record.

. . .

However, we are not committed to "going it alone." There are too few frequencies and too much need. Potentially, there are 168 hours of programming that will need to be filled --- that's plenty of opportunity for everyone to participate.

So we would be interested in partnering with any responsible groups that would like to collaborate and work together on an LPFM project --- students, community groups, churches, etc.

Please contact us at tubecitytiger@gmail.com, or call us at (412) 614-9659.

(Photo by Renee' Johnson, Fort Wayne, Ind., via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons.)

The maximum number of hyperlinks was exceeded. Stop spamming.