[grc] CPB defunding

Fri Apr 17 06:40:44 PDT 2015

WRIR-LP got on the air with just $15k of funding all from local individuals. 

It is possible. Not easy, but possible.

Sincerely,  Max

Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device

-------- Original message --------
From: Hap Houlihan <hap.houlihan at gmail.com> 
Date: 04/17/2015  1:30 AM  (GMT-05:00) 
To: grc at maillist.peak.org 
Subject: Re: [grc] CPB defunding 

Our stations aren't even broadcasting yet, so take this with a full shaker
of salt, but here's my take on CPB funding:

It smells (to a newbie) like a political concession for the passing of the
Community Radio Act. "OK, NAB, there's gonna be almost 2000 new
non-commercial radio stations, but at least they won't be getting any
'easy' federal money."

The slashing of that other oft-used-by-noncommercial-radio Dept of
[Commerce?] program—the one that got needed equipment into lots of
non-commercial studios—smacks more directly of sequester, but between those
two, it has definitely gotten harder for the underdog station.

But who else is on our side? Not many industry people. Given the political
situation, no one's about to *increase *the overall level of CPB funding in
the next few/past few years, which means that without the change, there
would suddenly have been hundreds of new stations that could conceivably
generate $100,000 in nffs, thereby dramatically decreasing shares among
stations that make the $300,000 cut in each state.

When you look at where most of the money went *before *the changes, it was
mostly to larger non-commercial stations. Now you see those 300K+ stations
potentially drawing even more with the departure of the "tweeners," or
those who generated over $100,000 but less than $300,000. Sure, most of my
local NPR compadres are glad we and other LPFMs exist, but I have to wonder
how much my local state-school-&-NPR-affiliated station is gonna fight for
my right to join the party, given that it would mean letting a lot of other
new fish into a pretty small pool.

I posit the notion that—at least in the current political
atmosphere—efforts spent on national, very uphill lobbying might better be
spent on replacing those funds from within our respective communities. I
don't even necessarily *endorse *that notion, but I do put it out there.
It's get that it's wayyy too general an idea to apply to all of us.

I will note that since public budgets are shrinking, and conservatives are
(to some extent) getting what they wanted, our li'l stations have been
pretty successful at approaching banks and other typically conservative
institutions in our community to say so: "We are a city asset, and it's in
your interest—your obligation, even—to partner with us, now that the evil
federal behemoth has been somewhat curtailed. You asked for this fiscal
responsibility: now that it's (more) yours, you need to pony up
accordingly." And no, I don't like having lunch with bankers, but there you
are.

On Thu, Apr 16, 2015 at 11:19 PM, Jeff Shaw <jeff at davismedia.org> wrote:

> Well, I didn't mean to hijack the original thread...I only brought it up
> as a way to bring more allies to this particular cause.
>
> I agree with Jama's approach-  and suggest keeping LPFMs in mind with
> analysis of the specifics.
>
>
> On 4/16/15 6:50 PM, Donna Dibianco wrote:
> > In order for the new LPFMs to even have a platform, we need to find an
> > organization that will be easy for them to identify with and sign on
> > to. NFCB has little capacity to address LPFM's needs, I have
> > approached them repeatedly since they dissolved the LPFM desk a few
> > years back.
> >
> > *Donna DiBianco*
> > Station Start-up Specialist_
> > 503-960-1068_
> > www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dibianco
> > <http://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-dibianco/2b/13b/459/>
> > www.facebook.com/communityradiogoddess
> > <https://www.facebook.com/communityradiogoddess>
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > *From:* Jeff Shaw <jeff at davismedia.org>
> > *To:* grc at maillist.peak.org
> > *Sent:* Thursday, April 16, 2015 6:34 PM
> > *Subject:* Re: [grc] CPB defunding
> >
> > I haven't weighed in on this topic (CPB grant eligibility) for a few
> > years, but now is a good time to consider:
> >
> > There are scads of LPFMs coming online.  More new stations than we've
> > ever seen.  CPB has in the past been preclusive to LPFMs- one rule,
> > since gone, specifically forbid stations under 100w.  Is the 4-5
> > employees rules still in there?
> >
> > Now might be a good time to lobby for a bigger tent.  I say that without
> > looking into the specifics as they stand now.
> >
> > Jeff
> >
> > On 4/16/15 11:43 AM, Jama wrote:
> > > So, here's i understand our challenge:
> > >
> > > --  how can we best ask CPB people to change the NFFS rules to be
> > more supportive of certain stations ?
> > > --  how can we manifest effective lobbying of Congress critters to
> > continue CPB funding into the future ?
> > >
> > > What are the relevant timeframes?
> > >
> > > Also, would it be good to dialogue with CPB people about:
> > >
> > > 1)  the Community Service Grant requirement for two full-time (32
> > hr) paid staff people in management and programming, plus part- or
> > full-time staff adding up to two more FTE.  KMUD's CSG plus Rural
> > Service funding last year was $97K.
> > >
> > > 2)  The sheer volume of pages of rules that CPB imposes on CSG
> > recipients, it's not like stations like ours can afford a Compliance
> > Officer...  it would be great if some rules could be eliminated, but
> > at least maybe there could be a "Cliff's Notes" version.  If CPB can't
> > be convinced to provide this, I would be part of a volunteer group,
> > and take on a chunk of pages, if others would.  Maybe we could then
> > get a CPB staffer to review it.
> > >
> > > [and what else?]
> > >
> > > Are CPB people attending the NFCB summits?
> > >
> > > Thanks for bringing this up Marty, and SO GLAD you're "back"!  I
> > look forward to some accordion-backed satirical songs on CPB
> > subjects....  ;0
> > >
> > > Jama
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Apr 14, 2015, at 7:12 PM, Tom Klammer wrote:
> > >
> > >> looks to me like CPB would just as soon all non NPR stations would
> > just fade away...
> > >>  This communication may be unlawfully collected and stored by the
> > National Security Agency (NSA) in secret. The parties to this email do
> > not consent to the retrieving or storing of this communication and any
> > related metadata, as well as printing, copying, re-transmitting,
> > disseminating, or otherwise using it. If you believe you have received
> > this communication in error, please delete it immediately.
> > >
> > >>      From: David Goodman <david at ibisradio.org
> > <mailto:david at ibisradio.org>>
> > >> To: Marty Durlin <marty.durlin at gmail.com
> > <mailto:marty.durlin at gmail.com>>; GRC <grc at peak.org
> > <mailto:grc at peak.org>>
> > >> Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2015 9:04 PM
> > >> Subject: Re: [grc] CPB defunding
> > >>
> > >> Years ago, WUMB in Boston started airing ATC and dropped some local
> > >> specialty shows and tightened their playlists throughout and their
> > numbers
> > >> increased enough to keep CPB funding. I sincerely hope it doesn't
> > come to
> > >> that at KZMU.
> > >>
> > >> good luck,
> > >> dg
> > >>
> > >> On Tue, Apr 14, 2015 at 5:56 PM, Marty Durlin
> > <marty.durlin at gmail.com <mailto:marty.durlin at gmail.com>>
> > >> wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> Hi GRCers,
> > >>>
> > >>> I'm returning to the community radio world after a hiatus -- just
> > became
> > >>> the manager of KZMU in Moab, one of the stations on CPB's chopping
> > block.
> > >>> After 23 years as a community institution, KZMU is now deemed not
> > to have a
> > >>> big enough NFFS to be supported by CPB. Too small to succeed. And I'm
> > >>> wondering how many other stations are in the same boat. I think the
> > >>> situation calls for concerted action -- action aimed at CPB, with our
> > >>> supporters and elected officials.
> > >>>
> > >>> Please let me know if your station is one of the
> > soon-to-be-defunded, or
> > >>> among the stations that were never funded because of budgetary
> > reasons.
> > >>> Also, any ideas you have about the situation are most welcome.
> > >>>
> > >>> Thanks,
> > >>> Marty Durlin
> > >>> marty.durlin at gmail.com <mailto:marty.durlin at gmail.com>
> > >>> marty at kzmu.org <mailto:marty at kzmu.org>
> > >>> _______________________________________________
> > >>> grc mailing list
> > >>> grc at maillist.peak.org <mailto:grc at maillist.peak.org>
> > >>> http://maillist.peak.org/mailman/listinfo/grc
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> I.B.I.S. Radio
> > >> Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA
> > >> [ibisradio.org/wordpress]
> > >> &
> > >> Open Media Boston (dot) Org
> > >> Boston, MA
> > >> [openmediaboston.org]
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> _______________________________________________
> > >> grc mailing list
> > >> grc at maillist.peak.org <mailto:grc at maillist.peak.org>
> > >> http://maillist.peak.org/mailman/listinfo/grc
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> _______________________________________________
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> > >> http://maillist.peak.org/mailman/listinfo/grc
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> >
> >
> > --
> > Production Manager, Davis Media Access
> > Station Director, KDRT-LP
> >
> > "There is no future that is not built in the present" - Sanchez Gordillo
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > http://maillist.peak.org/mailman/listinfo/grc
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Production Manager, Davis Media Access
> Station Director, KDRT-LP
>
> "There is no future that is not built in the present" - Sanchez Gordillo
>
> _______________________________________________
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>

-- 
Hap Houlihan, General Manager
*Lexington Community Radio*
WLXU-LPFM 93.9
WLXL-LPFM 95.7
Cell: 859-533-8443
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