The FCC has issued a construction permit for Vermont Earth Works for a low power FM station at 107.7FM. What does that now mean for rfb? I think I recall that when they were seeking a town resolution that they pledged to stop broadcasting when a local non-profit was granted a Low Power FM License.
While the permit just granted appears not to be a license, it is my understanding that it does allow them to now build a studio and transmitter site as specified by the FCC. Once they have done that following the guidleines of the permit, they will get a license.
What can Vermonth Earth Works tell us about what they have planned?
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Low Power FM
Authored by: cgrotke on Monday, March 07 2005 @ 06:46 PM GMT+4
It's true..
"NEW VT BRATTLEBORO USA
Licensee: VERMONT EARTH WORKS, INC.
Service Designation: FL Low Power FM (LPFM) station or application
Channel/Class: 299L1 Frequency: 107.7 MHz Construction Permit
File No.: BNPL-20010615AIL Facility ID number: 134542
CDBS Application ID No.: 569125
42° 51' 14.00" N Latitude Site in Canadian Border Zone
72° 33' 34.00" W Longitude (NAD 27) Distance to Border: 240.0 km
I believe the ballot initiative said something like if another community
access station is granted a license that everyone can be a part of... rfb
would go off the air.
Authored by: JED on Monday, March 07 2005 @ 07:07 PM GMT+4
I wonder who Vermont Earth Works is and what they do and why they want a radio station? Do they want to displace RFB or is that unintentional? It seems obvious (to me) we need a *community* radio station.
Authored by: rfb on Monday, March 07 2005 @ 10:59 PM GMT+4
Congratulations and “Shout Outs” to Vermont Earthworks!
In last year’s ballot initiative, rfb requested the authorization of the voters to broadcast “until such a time that a Low-Power FM license is issued to radio free brattleboro or to another non-profit, locally-based, community group which is prepared to offer to the Town of Brattleboro diverse, all-access, non-commercial, community radio.”
We cannot speak for Vermont Earthworks, but during the Selectboard hearings for a resolution of support for rfb, a representative from Vermont Earthworks indicated that they intend to run a station based on the rfb model.
radio free brattleboro will vacate its spot on the dial when an such a station is ready to broadcast.
Authored by: Azrael on Wednesday, March 09 2005 @ 01:30 AM GMT+4
Considering the FCCs past with issuing such permits, it makes me wonder if they issued one to vermont earth works just to get rid of RFB seeing as all their other methods failed. I don't actually listen to RFB a lot or any station for that matter (prefer my cds) however I have heard RFB and no people who listen to it and I think losing something like RFB would be a great dis-servise to the town and area, especialy after so many people challenged the FCC in order to keep it.
Authored by: johnll on Wednesday, March 09 2005 @ 05:12 PM GMT+4
One thing to be said about RFB... Democracy Now... M, T, Th, and F from 5 to 6 PM...
After the election, I finally realized how much NPR failed us in terms of real news. I have heard things on Democracy Now on RFB that I would not have heard anywhere else. Shows you how bad things have become when your source of alternative info is a "pirate" station the FCC is trying to shut down... Anyway, I hope Vermont Earthworks will carry this show when the get up and running!
Authored by: Dselector on Wednesday, March 09 2005 @ 10:09 PM GMT+4
hey AZ, fear not about ´losing rfb´- the new station should be broadcasting the community´s voice at even greater distances and with much less insecurity than rfb was able to. as a founding member of rfb, I see this development as the next stage, a necessary stage, for brattleboro to get what it and every other town in the US deserves, a legal, local voice. thank god that a church or religious organization wasn´t granted the license as has happened all over the country, they certainly would not be airing much of rfb´s content. VT earthworks, by their prior and current statements seems quite likely to uphold brattleboro´s interest in non-commercial, independent, community broadcasting.
Authored by: Dana Prescott on Friday, March 11 2005 @ 01:00 PM GMT+4
Apologies for the recursive loop (if you've just arrived back here from the Valley Free Radio Topica site), but our Brattleboro friends might like to see the following compilation of FCC database links, and additional discussion involving "Radio Free Vermont Earth Works", which can be accessed at:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?W392527AA
Obviously we're all hoping for the best, and hoping that the new license owners -- Debra Forrest, Ellissa Bhanti, Shram Bhanti and Kenneth Brace -- are as good as their promises to the Brattleboro community. Obviously, we shall find out soon enough.
Authored by: Dana Prescott on Friday, March 11 2005 @ 01:13 PM GMT+4
Correction to the above:
One of the principal incorporators is Debra Forrett, not Debra Forrest. Excuse the typo.
Relevant e-mail addresses for Vermont Earth Works, Inc:
dforrett@yahoo.com
PEAKEDMT@HOTMAIL.COM
Their programming plans and intentions for the station are given on their FCC application, as follows:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?P173227AA
It's a .pdf file, so it can't be clipped and pasted. But scroll down on the FCC application form to the section labelled "Appendix 2", and you'll find lots of interesting legal information about "Vermont Earth Works, Inc."
Authored by: Dana Prescott on Monday, March 28 2005 @ 10:03 AM GMT+4
On March 23 (just a few days ago), the FCC announced that it had assigned "WVEW-LP" to Vermont Earth Works as the callsign for their new community station, which will soon replace RFB . "VEW", of course, stands for "Vermont Earth Works". Here's the link to the FCC's callsign grant:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?P224133CA
Whether the FCC would allow WVEW-LP to simply BUY all of its necessary equipment from RFB -- which is perfectly entitled to have a "used-equipment going-out-of-business-sale", since they've already promised to leave the air to make room for the new station -- is an excellent question, and one that both entities would want to navigate with their lawyers, in consultation with the FCC. It'd certainly be wise to ask the FCC in advance if it's OK, to make sure that WVEW won't get "slammed" for buying RFB's old equipment. More news will be posted as it becomes available.
Authored by: Dselector on Tuesday, March 29 2005 @ 11:18 AM GMT+4
I think/hope that Vermont Earthworks intends to operate a station that will offer participants the ability to choose the music/content they program on their shows; provide access to the airwaves for all - regardless of age, income or ability; provide brattleboro area listeners with an alternative to the currently offered crap; and be a station that the community can operate as volunteers.
Authored by: Dana Prescott on Tuesday, March 29 2005 @ 11:29 AM GMT+4
Yup, they'll need a type-accepted FM-exciter driving a 100-watt power amp, an EAS receiver, and at least a single-bay type-accepted antenna -- total cost about $5000 to $6000, or less if they can get some of it "used". What they have going for them, of course, is that the entire AUDIO side of the studio could be bought intact from RFB, probably at a bargain price. (Like, maybe a $1.00 token transfer fee?!) So they're still WAY ahead of the game of most LPFMs. I'm on the Tech Committee of a new LPFM in Western Mass., and I hope the Brattleboro transfer goes smoothly.
Authored by: Floyd on Wednesday, March 30 2005 @ 10:45 AM GMT+4
Yes, that's true enough about the audio side. I am very hopeful that TX equipment will be acquired for quite a bit less than the figures you quoted.
I am also thinking alot about workable organizational models that will serve the station and the community.
I hope the new group will look to established community stations as well as startups in Bellows Falls and Western Mass. for ways to maximize volunteer energy and get the entire community on board.
Here's one link about organizational models.
In addition to the stations listed, I also think WERU and WMNF (to name just 2 in a long list of inspiring stations) are worth a look.
http://www.prometheusradio.org/back_models.shtml
---
++ Citizen Floyd hosts SEGUE ++
Monday 8 PM
on radio free brattleboro 107.9 FM
Authored by: Jack Snow on Thursday, March 31 2005 @ 02:59 PM GMT+4
As much as rfb is appreciated, the "rfb model" sometimes consists of dead air, the same rerun played 6 times in 3 days, repeated profanity played during the daytime, etc. I don't think a licensed station can do that on a weekly basis and keep it's license or the respect of the larger community.
Authored by: Stevil on Thursday, March 31 2005 @ 09:20 PM GMT+4
Oh, Joy. I just knew someone wouldn't be able to resist taking a couple of words out of context in order to snipe and bitch.
rfb isn't perfect, hasn't been perfect, and won't be perfect. But for almost 7 years now, rfb has provided its community a radio station which broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; and is run by volunteers (who pay for the privilege) from the community - ranging from the occasional 8 or 10 year olds, to teenagers, adults, and seniors. Content decisions have always been up to the volunteer hosts/DJs. The station has stayed free from commercial and corporate interests which might hinder the exchange of ideas.
Is it really so difficult to see that the kind of local access and involvement just mentioned is "the rfb model", not the occasional problems which arise?
The LPFM station in Bellows Falls has noted rfb as an inspiration and a model for the station they want.
In an interview with Dan Barlow in the Rutland Herald on March 9, 2005, Deb Forrett of Vermont Earthworks was quoted as saying; "I'm interested in community-based radio that is very much in the theme of rfb... And the community of Brattleboro has already shown their support for that format." The article also noted: "Forrett vows that the new station will follow a similar format of rfb — a mixture of music and talk shows hosted by volunteers from the community."
Okay, so there are occasional problems. Sometimes things break down, or the tape decks just stop playing. Or the internet stops feeding a program intended for broadcast. Or, despite repeated attempts to prevent such occurrences, tapes get played too often. For a volunteer run station operated on a less than no-frills budget, rfb has done a darn good job.
rfb has policies, by the way, regarding adult material being kept to adult hours. rfb DJs are expected to adhere to community standards. Statements to this effect are on rfb's printed schedules, on rfb's website, are mentioned on the air, and are explicitly stated in the monthly station information meetings which also serve as orientations for those wishing to become more actively involved with the station than just listening. I know this is stressed every month - I’m the person who usually does it.
The next meeting will be on Sat. April the 9th, at 1pm in the meeting room on the 2nd floor of the Brooks Memorial Library. If you'd like to help stop and/or correct the problems you noted, please do attend and become involved. You can become involved, you see, thanks to the working "model" of the station.
"NEW VT BRATTLEBORO USA
Licensee: VERMONT EARTH WORKS, INC.
Service Designation: FL Low Power FM (LPFM) station or application
Channel/Class: 299L1 Frequency: 107.7 MHz Construction Permit
File No.: BNPL-20010615AIL Facility ID number: 134542
CDBS Application ID No.: 569125
42° 51' 14.00" N Latitude Site in Canadian Border Zone
72° 33' 34.00" W Longitude (NAD 27) Distance to Border: 240.0 km
Polarization: Horizontal Vertical
Effective Radiated Power (ERP): 0.1 0. kW ERP
Antenna Height Above Average Terrain: -73.2 0. meters HAAT
Antenna Height Above Mean Sea Level: 116. 0. meters AMSL
Antenna Height Above Ground Level: 28. 0. meters AGL
Non-Directional Antenna ID No.: - Pattern Rotation: 0.00"
You can find it here at this web page:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?list=0&facid=134542
I believe the ballot initiative said something like if another community
access station is granted a license that everyone can be a part of... rfb
would go off the air.