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The Best New Year's Gift

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:04:38 +0100

Wonderful news:

On January 4, 2011, President Obama signed into law the Local Community Radio Act, S592 and HR6533. This is truly spectacular. ►

With this act, Congress has given the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) a mandate to license thousands of new, low-power community radio stations nationwide, after a 10-year freeze.

What does this mean for Bayview Hunters Point?

This new legislation means that, if the BVHP Radio project is granted an FM license, we will be able to reach low-income residents who do not own a computer - they can listen on a normal FM radio! Plus, we can then reach potentially very large new audience-- people in cars.

What is the BVHP Radio Project?

The BVHP Radio project is a new community radio project in Bayview Hunters Point. This project will give community organizations a new form of outreach. It will partner with local businesses to spur growth. It will highlight local music. Most importantly, the project will enable regular folks of all ages to produce and broadcast original radio shows.

How can you or your organization participate?

Produce a radio show.
Or, create Public Service announcements for your CBO. (or, we'll create them for you.)
Or, purchase advertising for your local business.
Or, create a radio studio in your community center.
Or, send us your locally-produced music to play on-the-air.
Or, volunteer.

Or, donate.

Join the BVHP Radio Network family in these ways, and you will strengthen our application for an FM license from the FCC. You also strengthen our ability to receive grant money.

How should we proceed?

Contact us. Work with us.

We need to present the FCC with a single, unified application. The application process will be extremely competitive. They typically get thousands of applications. It's essential that we present the FCC with an application that demonstrates strong unity, participation, support, and community-value.

How can you help, even if you don't want to get involved?

Donate. Even the smallest donation will help this baby project take flight.

Please forward this message to anyone who might be interested.

Thank you!

Urge Your Senators To Support The "Community Radio Act"

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 19:19:20 +0100

Low-power, community-radio puts media-production into the hands of regular people►

But today, a handful of senators are blocking the way for new community radio licenses across America►

You can help bring back local home-spun radio programs, after a 10-year ban.

Community radio will enable local residents all across America to create radio that addresses their needs in a direct, meaningful way, like this community radio project in an under-served section of San Francisco called Bayview Hunters Point.

But the FCC has frozen Low-Power FM licenses for 10 years, based on claims that tiny radio stations caused electronic radio-interference with large, commercial radio-stations. This claim was disproven by the FCC, and last year, the Community Radio Act sailed through the House of Representatives, with support from Republicans and Democrats alike.

Today, a handful of Senators, representing the interests of the powerful National Association of Broadasters, are blocking passage in the Senate. The National Association of Broadcasters represents the four richest radio behemoths, who have transformed radio across America into a generic wasteland of automated, identical radio stations.

With one phone call or email,
you can help empower communities all across America
to create their own local radio news, arts, editorials, rituals, and entertainment.

Urge your Senator to:

"ensure the McCain/Cantwell Local Community Radio Act, s592, passes before the end of the session. Community radio across the country has been blocked by unfair rules for 10 years. S592 will help restore much-needed diversity to our airwaves, bringing forth new voices and viewpoints that are often overlooked by large commercial broadcasters."

Email: http://act2.freepress.net/letter/lpfm/
Call: http://bit.ly/contactsenators

Artists Applaud Community Radio

Community Radio is Democracy in Action

Thanks,
John Weiss
Founder, BVHPRadio.org

Building Grantwriting Tools

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:02:27 +0100

hi everyone. i have generated some key documents for future grants. meanwhile, i have continued to build relationships in this community.

click to read my Draft Narrative

click to read a pdf of the Grant RFP

be well,
-john