Tomorrow is World Radio Day and in honor of that, the Seattle Public Library is hosting a celebratory event and live broadcast in honor of the groups that have new low power FM (LPFM) construction permits in the Seattle area (see a recent feature in CityArts to learn about many of them). Produced by Brown Paper Tickets’ Doer program, the in-person event will also be broadcast over 3 local radio stations. RSVP here.
According to the Seattle Public Library website, attendees will,
Enjoy a slice of our radio tower cake, hear ‘lightning talks’ from the new stations, see broadcast coverage maps and get information on how to be involved. Find out what radio can do for your neighborhood, and how you can be a part of it!
The lightning talks will take place 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed live online by Hollow Earth Radio, Seattle University Radio and University of Washington Bothell’s UWave, three of the recipients of the FCC construction permits.”
Sabrina Roach, who heads up radio initiatives at Brown Paper Tickets, wrote a piece for Radio World last week about her work supporting LPFM applicants in the Seattle area. It’s been gratifying to see all of the new stations coming to the area and I was lucky to have the opportunity to visit three of them last fall (UWave, Hollow Earth, and KXSU).
KTRU to Return to FM
In other big news this week, Rice University was granted a construction permit for a new LPFM station. This is exciting news, especially since Rice used to have a powerful FM radio station in Houston at 91.7 FM. As Radio Survivor readers may recall, Rice University announced plans to sell the license for KTRU to University of Houston back in 2010, with the license assignment approved by the FCC in 2011, despite prolonged protests by students and KTRU supporters. Student radio has continued on KTRU.org and on 90.1 HD2.
According to an announcement on KTRU.org, it’s hoped that that new station will be on the air at 96.1 FM by the end of the year, broadcasting with a “range of about 5 miles.” The KTRU.org website states,
The construction of the transmitter is being funded from the proceeds of the 91.7 sale in 2010. The KTRU community is incredibly excited to re-enter the FM format as a pillar of the Houston local music scene and continue to provide its eclectic, broad range of music through the accessible means of FM radio. KTRU continues to broadcast 24/7 on 90.1 HD2 and online at www.ktru.org, as well as through TuneIn and IHeart apps (Soon to be added to the the NextRadio app), and expects to begin broadcasting on 96.1 FM by the end of 2015. Look for us left of the dial. KTRU lives on.”
Newly Granted LPFM Construction Permits this Week
Texas Youth Organization (Hurst, TX)
Southside Media Collective (Fort Worth, TX)
St. Teresa Catholic School (Albany, GA)
Rete 105 Miami (Miami, FL)
Betesda Iglesia Hispana International (Houston, TX)
Iglesia Gozo de Mi Alma (Fort Smith, AR)
Sumarrase, Inc. (Lehigh Acres, FL)
William Marsh Rice University (Houston, TX)
Centro Cristiano Oasis de Bendicion, Inc. (Augusta, GA)
Calvary Chapel of Miami Beach, Inc. (Miami Beach, FL)
LPFM Watch is a weekly feature on Radio Survivor appearing every Thursday.
