Radio stations for Latino nonprofits coming in 2013

Latino Nonprofits' Opportunity to Buy Low-Cost Community Radio Stations

By Jessica J. Gonzalez

Very soon, non-profit organizations will have an opportunity to apply for (fairly inexpensive) radio stations in the communities that they serve. For years, the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) has been working with a coalition of organizations to bring more of these community radio stations (also known as low power FM or LPFM stations), to the radio dial. And now, after several Congressional and FCC victories, this dream is becoming a reality!

We worked on this so that Latino-led and Latino-serving organizations could have a greater presence over mainstream media. Radio continues to be the most pervasive media in the U.S. - reaching over 93% of the country every week. And we need more Latino voices!

While the window to apply for an LPFM station will not open until 2013, organizations must start the process of applying now. To see whether a community radio or LPFM station will be available in your area, please click here. Below is a list of upcoming webinars and trainings that will help your organization jump-start this process. If you cannot attend any of the following sessions, you can access previous webinars by clicking here.

Please forward this information to all those who may be interested, especially your local chapters across the country. And please feel free to reach out to me personally if you have questions or would like more information.

For further information

Jessica J. González

Vice President, Policy & Legal Affairs

National Hispanic Media Coalition

jgonzalez@nhmc.org

Webinar: Building the Community Media

Landscape with Low Power FM Radio

Tuesday, May 22, from 3:00 - 4:30 pm EST   Register for Free

In the winter of 2013 the FCC will be opening the first "fully implemented" Low Power FM (LPFM) application window, opening up the airwaves for hundreds of communities across the US. Nonprofits such as PEG stations are eligible to apply for LPFM licenses and make great candidates since many have the existing infrastructure and community support to successfully launch a station. In this webinar, participants will learn about: the process of submitting an FCC application, the costs/benefits of PEG/LPFMs, and the engineering involved in finding an available frequency. We will give a short overview of the power of low power FM radio stations and identify effective strategies to apply today. By explaining the new rules, policies and application procedures for LPFM, we'll help you build another outlet for local voices in your community media landscape. Hosted by the Alliance for Community Media and Jeff Shaw of Davis Media Access/KDRT-LP and Common Frequency.

Finding an Available Channel

and Tower/Transmitter Site

Friday, May 25, from 6:00 - 7:00 pm EST   Register for Free

One of the best ways Low Power radio applicants can prepare to apply is to start to look for viable tower/trasnmitter sites. (The tower/transmitter site is where the transmitter and antenna live, and it may or may not be at the same location as the studio). You will learn what you need to keep in mind when looking for a tower site, from coverage, location, terrain to FCC regulations. We will talk about reasonable assurance of transmitter site availability, and important FCC requirement that applicants forget pretty often. And the most exciting part, we will give a update in the new tools to search for channel search tools, you will learn strategies for finding and evaluating potential sites.

Como comenzar su

radio comunitaria - paso a paso

Viernes, 1 de Junio, 3:00 - 4:30 pm EST     Registrese gratuitamente  

En este webinar explicaremos paso a paso el camino para obtener una licencia de Radio de Baja Potencia. En Prometheus Radio Project estamos trabajando muy duro para poder apoyar y asesorar a las organizaciones y comunidades que quieren comenzar nuevas estaciones de baja potencia en su comunidad. La FCC abrirá una oportunidad durante el otoño para aplicar para licencias de LPFM. Te invitamos a participar en este webinar para informarte paso a paso que es lo que tu organización necesita saber para poder aplicar para una licencia de radio de baja potencia. Queremos abrir este espacio/dialogo en español para poder informar a las comunidades de inmigrantes de habla hispana para tener acceso a la oportunidad así como para responder sus preguntas sobre el proceso de aplicación.

How to Start your Community

Radio Station - Step by step

Friday, June 1st, from 3:00 - 4:30 pm EST   Register for free

In this webinar you will learn step by step how to apply for a low power FM (LPFM) community radio radio license. Prometheus Radio project is working to provide support and advice to organizations and communities that want to start new LPFM radio stations in their communities. The FCC will open a new window in the next 12 months to accept applications for new LPFM's.Join us and to learn about what do your organizations needs to know to apply for a LPFM radio license. We want to open a dialogue in Spanish to be able to inform immigrant Spanish speakers communities about the opportunity. We will be answering all your questions related to the application process.