greetings from the Grassroots Radio Conference at the FCC (Florence, MA Community Center)!
The Prometheus Radio Project, Free Press, The Media Education Foundation and Valley Free Radio have just completed a radio barnraising here in Florence that has resulted in a new presence on the FM dial, 103.3 FM, heard in the Northampton area and as far north as the VT line. And at www.valleyfreeradio.org
Congratulations are in order to the 400 participants who attended 80 workshops on everything from turntablism, digital news editing and confronting white supremacy to policies and bylaws for community radio stations. Additionally, a cadre of skilled and newly-skilled volunteers built transmitters, radio consoles, computer automation systems and assembled an operational radio station over the course of the weekend.
At 2:05 PM today, WXOJ (named for radio pioneer Armstrong's first licensed station) flipped the switch and went live. The first song played, as was the case at the Portsmouth, NH LPFM station's debut, was by Brattleboro's own Smiley Bob Project - "Radio Free"!
Highlighted by an extensive, live 2.5 hour special edition of Democracy Now! last night at Smith College, the Grassroots Radio Conference was an amazing opportunity for radio activists from California, Canada, Indiana and other far-flung locales to gather and share experiences and expertises and to plan for the future of community radio.
yours in community radio,
david