If Pandora goes the way of Amazon, what’s next?
The fascinating world of online stuff and online music sharing continues to navigate its strange post-modern course as worried projections about Amazon.com and Pandora Media waft across the news/blogosphere. What do Pandora and Amazon have in common? They function in an environment in which revenue and profits appear to depend on technology, but in fact depend […]
LPFM backer in Congress has “serious concerns” about FCC net neutrality plan
Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA) just sent us a press release sharing his worries about the Federal Communications Commission’s new proposed ‘commercially reasonable’ Open Internet rules. “I have serious concerns about the FCC’s proposal and the effects it might have on access, content, innovation, and consumers’ pocketbooks,” Doyle says. “An open internet is essential to fostering […]
College Radio Watch: Touring Villanova University Station WXVU and More College Radio News
Over the past few weeks I’ve resumed my field trips to radio stations and college radio stations have made up the bulk of those tours. During my stay in the Philadelphia area a few weeks ago, I visited five college radio stations, starting off with WXVU 89.1 FM at Villanova University. The station shares its […]
FCC Open Internet Proposal: “Commercially Reasonable” Discrimination Is OK
Last night I was willing to give FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler the benefit of the doubt when he released a statement saying, “There are reports that the FCC is gutting the Open Internet rule. They are flat out wrong.” Today I know that benefit was misplaced. After listening to a conference call the FCC had […]
Low Power Station goes to Father of Radio’s Alma Mater & More LPFM News
I’m afraid we’re starting to sound like a broken record here in LPFM Watch lately, as we wrap up yet another slow week for approvals and LPFM news. The FCC issued another 22 construction permits, bringing the grand total to 1175 new LPFM stations approved. There are some interesting groups getting stations in this lot. […]
UK radio fans vote Lark Ascending #1 classical tune; Guardian dissents
United Kingdom classical radio station Classic FM has released its latest composer popularity poll, and British composer Ralph Vaughn Williams’ violin meditation The Lark Ascending is the top listener choice. It bumped Rachamaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto down to second place. Kerry Andrew of the UK Guardian dissents: “So what does it say about us as […]
FCC Chair Says Reports of Net Neutrality Turnaround Are “Flat Out Wrong”
Wednesday afternoon reports surfaced saying that new proposed open internet rules from the FCC will permit companies to pay internet service providers, like Comcast or AT&T, to deliver their content faster. The source of the report has only been credited to an unnamed “FCC official.” The reaction to this news was swift, with many consumer […]
Community Service Wins Portland Radio Project Murrow Awards
A focus on community service is already paying off for a six-month-old online station in Portland, Oregon. The Portland Radio Project, which I profiled back in October, just won two Regional Edward R. Murrow awards presented by The Radio Television Digital News Association. Regional award winners then have a shot at a national award, which […]
Podcasting News: EFF Challenge to Patent Troll Moves Forward
While patent reform is still delayed in the Senate, there was some good news for podcasters fighting a patent troll’s claim. Last October the Electronic Frontier Foundation filed a challenge to Personal Audio’s patent, issued in the mid 90s, that it says covers podcasting. The US Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board […]
Happy High School Radio Day
Today is the 3rd annual High School Radio Day and at least 63 student radio stations from all over the United States (representing at least 28 states) are celebrating this unique and rare form of broadcasting. As I mentioned last week, I recently toured WHHS at Haverford High School in Havertown, Pennsylvania and was amazed […]