Shaping the Future of Community Radio

Last week we wrote to tell you about the latest victory for communities nationwide when the FCC voted to clear a backlog of over six thousand pending applications for FM translators and released a set of proposed rules for new community radio stations, asking for public comment on the proposals. That release begins the final rulemaking procedure and the FCC will begin accepting applications for new Low Power FM (LPFM) stations nationwide as early as this September.

Recently volunteers and staff called the more than 1,200 people who expressed an interest in starting a radio station. The calls made for an inspiring two weeks in which we heard about plans for community radio from groups passionate about their communities and the possibility of having their voices and perspectives on the air.

Over the next several weeks we will share some of their plans through profiles of potential applicants. We hope you too will be inspired and that you will support our work to get these groups on the air. The future of community radio is upon us. How will you help shape it?