A complete text of this release is available at http://www.pwcbi.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local Group Bringing Radio Back to Port Washington/Saukville
PORT WASHINGTON, Wisconsin (June 6, 2013) – A group of local residents is taking aim at bringing back local community radio to the Port Washington and Saukville area. Port Washington Community Broadcasting, Inc., a non-profit group formed last year in the city, is taking advantage of recently changed federal regulations aimed at making radio frequencies available to local communities.
“This is a huge step forward for every small town across the country,” said Bill Lundgren, Port Washington resident and President and CEO of the group. “Since the Telecommunications act of 1996, local radio stations across the nation have been consumed by large corporate entities and even eliminated, resulting in the loss of a major community outlet for news, events, and political happenings. Our job in creating this radio station will be to bring back the era of community radio for Port Washington.”
The law, known as the Local Community Radio Act of 2010, forced the hands of the Federal Communications Commission to change regulations that would permit low powered FM broadcast stations to fill a niche in small areas.
“In today’s world, only multi-million dollar organizations can afford to put a station on the air, because the frequencies are given to the highest bidder at federal auctions. With the new Low Power FM regulations, power is limited to 100 watts with a coverage area of about 6 kilometers in radius from the antenna. This will allow us to serve all of Port Washington, Saukville, and most of Fredonia with community centered programming, at a cost that moderate fund raising should sustain.”
Lundgren says the station will be 100% non-commercial by law, relying on community funding, underwriting, and sponsorships from local businesses. “We can’t create commercials in the traditional sense, but businesses can underwrite programming and be promoted for their sponsorship, much in the same way as you’d hear while listening to NPR, or watching a PBS program.”
“Once the filing window opens, we have to submit an application to the FCC. If our application is granted and we get our license, then the fun begins,” Lundgren said. “We have to procure a spot for the studio, which we’d hope would be in downtown Port Washington. We’ll need to enlist volunteers to help produce programming, build the studio, and put the station on the air.”
The group also plans to work with local schools to allow students to produce programming and learn the art of broadcasting, as well as the electronics and information technology required to keep a radio station on the air.
The FCC filing window to apply for the license officially opens on October 15, 2013.
Port Washington Community Broadcasting will be holding an open public meeting from 6-8pm, June 26, 2013 at the Port Washington Police Department community room to explain more about what the station will bring to the community and what positions will be available for volunteers, and to solicit ideas for raising the funds to begin construction.
“It’s really going to be exciting. We have a great chance to bring broadcast education opportunities to the local schools, and anyone who’s ever dreamed of hosting their own show will now have the chance. The biggest thing I can’t wait for is to find someone interested in doing the play-by-play for the Port High football games. To hear that broadcast for all of our town to hear, that’s when we know we’ve really brought back something that Port lost a long time ago, when WGLB was acquired.”
CONTACT
Bill Lundgren
Port Washington Community Broadcasting, Inc.
222 E Main Street
Suite 232
Port Washington, WI 53074
Phone: 262-235-2526
Email: bill.lundgren@pwcbi.org
Web: http://pwcbi.org
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