LIVE FROM THE BEEHIVE

Fight for low-power FM
This week's Live From the BeeHive deals with a situation WIUX has faced over the past school year. It has been a difficult year for us. Though it's not the most fun LFtBH (and is extremely opinionated), it covers an issue worth discussing. Only nine months after WIUX went FM and abandoned our tiny AM signal, a country station in Columbus, WYGB, wanted to expand. Because WYGB was a full-power station, it received our same signal; this process is called encroachment. Now, more and more low-power (LPFM) radio stations nationwide have fallen victim to encroachment. Recently, Prometheus Radio Project, a nonprofit organization fighting for LPFM stations, asked for WIUX's help in the case of fellow station KDRT in Davis, Calif. Like WIUX, a full-power station has threatened KDRT's existence, but it has no way out. KDRT and WIUX have begun grassroots campaigns to combat the The Federal Communications Commission's dismissal of this injustice. It is too easy for a station to encroach on an LPFM station. When a full-power station requests the signal that belongs to a low-power station in the same market, the full-power station holds precedence. It's as simple as that. LPFM stations deserve a spot on the airwaves. They are entirely not for profit and serve the community in which they exist. Though many LPFM stations are religious, they all serve a purpose in their respective communities and allow other noncommercial voices to be heard over the airwaves. When LPFM licenses were approved in 2000, the National Association of Broadcasters protested, claiming that LPFM stations would interfere with its large corporate stations that dominate the urban airwaves. After debate at the FCC, a bill was passed ensuring full-power stations third adjacent frequency protection. The third adjacent frequencies are the frequencies that exist three above and three below the station in question. That means LPFM stations cannot come within three adjacent stations of any full-power station. This leaves LPFM trapped into only a few frequencies. But, with the help of grassroots campaigns, support from members of Congress and groups like Prometheus Radio Project, change isn't too far away. There is already a bill pending in the House and hopefully soon one will be introduced in the Senate. The bill calls for full-power stations to get second adjacent protection, which would do two things. It would allow LPFM stations to exist in many more places because more frequencies would be available. And in addition, LPFM stations would not risk encroachment so frequently because there would be more available stations for full-power licenses as well. Here's to hoping. Find out more info and see how you can help by going to Prometheus Radio Project's Web site at www.prometheusradio.org.