November 2010 Broadcast
As you might have noticed, Prometheus doesn’t look much like other organizations that try to pass legislation. We don’t have millions of dollars or full-time lobbyists or television ads. As a grassroots organization, we rely on people power to make our voices heard. Small donations of $100, $50 or $25 go a long way and are put to immediate use in the fight for more people powered radio. Please donate today!
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Crowdsleuth: Unmask the mystery senators blocking community radio!
- Staffing up: Prometheus' rockin' Digital Arts Service Corps members
Crowdsleuth: Unmask the mystery senators blocking community radio!
We have always known that if the Local Community Radio Act came to a vote, it would overwhelmingly pass. After all, community radio benefits everyone, from emergency responders to church youth ministries to independent musicians. But in the U.S. Senate, a governing body so dysfunctional that legislative business literally happens in the cloakroom, most bills never make it to a vote. Instead, they are quietly tucked into mega-legislation, or they pass via unanimous consent, a process in which any senator can anonymously place a hold on a bill (yes, in the cloakroom), blocking good ideas without any public accountability.
That’s where we come in.
After passing the House of Representatives almost a year ago, the Local Community Radio Act (S592) is still stuck in the Senate, stalled by several anonymous holds placed by senators. If we can identify these senators and address their concerns before the end of the year, we will win! But with only weeks to go, we need everyone’s help in revealing these mystery senators.
Best laid plans...Two new studies show dangers of a translator “ten cap” at FCC
If Congress gives the FCC a green light, we may soon have hundreds of new community radio stations, some in the largest cities in the U.S. Yet two studies released by Common Frequency show that a well-intentioned FCC plan may actually gut the potential of community radio. Intended as a compromise, this plan would actually hand over the vast majority of open frequencies to companies that already own stations, keeping community radio off the dial in urban areas.
IPAWS, CAP, FEMA, and EAS: The new emergency warning system and the acronyms that go with it
If you work with a radio station, there's something new you need to know about emergency alerts! The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is getting ready to implement the Integrated Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS). IPAWS is a system for sending emergency messages to the public through the Internet using the new Common Alerting Protocol (CAP). The new system will allow community radio stations to provide another level of emergency warnings to listeners, but it will cost most stations thousands of dollars to implement.
Who are these rockin' Digital Arts Service Corps members and what are they doing?
The Digital Arts Service Corps builds the capacity of public media and technology organizations, including low-power radio stations, by placing AmeriCorps*VISTA members with them.
Meet Katie and Ian, the Digital Arts Service Corps members at Prometheus!
