Resolution 99-r78 showed Council support for the FCC to pass the LPRS and referenced a version (RM-9242) that had strong new local ownership provisions (such as owners are required to live within 50 miles of the antenna.) [See third article]

The LPRS would enable anywhere from 3 to 58 new and local community, church or small business radio stations to serve those ignored by current radio stations.

A stable society is an inclusive and just society. The LPRS, is designed to encourage a diversity of cultures represented on the airwaves by encouraging a diversity of ownership/control. 
A diversity of people and organizations with different values and priorities will create a more inclusive media (and therefore government policy) because they will have different definitions of what is “newsworthy” and “viable for sharing on the public’s airwaves. “ 

Our Democratic Republic depends on a careful balance of power and an effective “free press” that is neither onerously influenced by government or overly centralized private influence.

Radio Free Richmond can serve those of us whose idea of “public radio” extends beyond classical music, but are ignored by the existing religious and commercial radio stations. WCVE public radio can become a full-time-fine-arts stations, and we will handle the news, World Beat, Jazz and Blues they would rather not use.” 

PLEASE CALL YOUR COUNCILMAN  AND THANK HIM/HER!!

NOTE: Why is the public support of a representative body, such as the Richmond Va. City Council resolution important?

Because certain forces, mostly represented at this time by Republicans, have politicized the Low Power Radio Service proposal at the FCC.

Click hereto read more about the players.

Legislative bodies such as Congress create regulatory bodies such as the FCC in order to off-load the nitty gritty details of enforcing the laws they pass. 

While it is not unheard of, normally Congress does not take back the nitty gritty details from the regulatory body. 

Representative "Billy" Tauzin has demanded that the FCC to not act on a their own proposal  for set of regulations that would open up the airwaves to competition until hearings can be held in Tauzin's Congressional subcommittee ... this demand is rather strange in that it takes on the very tasks for which the FCC was formed by Congress the first place. 

The reason is relatively obvious, the FCC is not as beholden to those who would profit from disposal of the community radio stations as Tauzin is.

After all ... Tauzin's daughter worked for the Broadcasting Trust (The National Association of Broadcasting) at the same time Tauzin was theoretically representing the voters on these matters.
 

Because even in large markets like Miami, the FCC seized 15 pirate radio stations … carrying Techno …because the existing stations wouldn't serve those consumers.

 Because “The Buzz” was replaced by another oldies station.

Because WLEE 1320 AM simulcasts 106.5FM ... and we have lost yet another competitor for news/talk and gained ... a scratchy simulcast of an FM station.

Because over the last 9 years, listenership of radio has dropped by a steady 9% … in spite of 28% more stations during the same 9 years! … research points to boring programming and annoying ads.

Monopoly Trend: In 1996, the top two group radio station owners held less than 13% of radio's total revenues. By 1998, that had more than doubled, to 27%. … [broadcast owners] numbers have dwindled by 12% over the past two years -- even though the number of stations has actually increased by 3%.”

James Winston, Executive Director of the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, "This trend [consolidation following 1996 Telecommunications Act] is rapidly filtering out black and ethnic voices... the issue here is who is going to determine what is news, what news gets covered, what viewpoints get aired, white Americans and minority Americans have different experiences ... it is important that that diversity is reflected in who controls the news ... A lot of people think that if Michael Jackson is on the airwaves, that community is being served."

Because Living On Earth (LOE) was canceled near Earthday ’98 by WCVE after LOE carried a December ’97 story critical of MTBE,  a gasoline addivite 
Ethyl Corporation’s purpose is creating gasoline additives.
Ethyl’s public relations Vice President simultaneously ran WCVE88.9FM “public” radio for many many years.

Because 2200+ people signed petitions to save Living On Earth and Henry Wailes … to no avail.

 In 1995, WCVE could have used 88.1 and 89.7FM and created a second eclectic station … before the American Family Association (AFA) successfully applied for those frequencies to create what is to be the seventh Right Wing gospel station. 

According to the ACLU, the AFA are not interested in freedom, they are interested in "Ayatollizing" the United States in their vision of what they think God wants U.S. to be like. They have not only applied for both frequencies ... but have expanded rapidly in the last then years, showing 491entries in the FCC database .. rivaling National Public Radio's reach developed since 1968.
If you enjoy the eclectic sounds of WHRV89.5FM from Norfolk .. enjoy while you can because they are likely to make reception difficult when they start up 89.7FM from Charles City directional toward Richmond.
(NOTE: When searching the above linked database, go to the FM database and the "Phrase Search" and type in  [with quotes] "American Family Association")

Lookup email addresses:
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ziptoit.html