New FCC net neutrality rules good for Internet radio? Probably not
The Federal Communications Commission has issued an Order creating “rules of the road” for the Internet. They require transparency and prohibit the blocking of content. They also ban “unreasonable discrimination” for wireline providers, but give wireless broadband a free pass. The Commission says it will give the hairy eyeball to “pay for priority” deals and […]
College Radio Gets Break from Copyright Royalty Board on Webcasting Rates and Reporting
College Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI) is reporting that they’ve achieved an important milestone after their settlement with SoundExchange on copyright royalty fees for music played by educational radio webcasters was preliminarily adopted by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB). CRB’s “Initial Determination of Rates and Terms” (PDF) was released on December 14 and outlines the payment terms […]
KTRU Supporters Make Another Appeal to the FCC to Save College Radio at Rice University
With the FCC’s 30-day comment window now closed, the decision on whether or not to grant University of Houston its request to purchase Rice University’s student radio station KTRU is in the hands of the FCC. The group Friends of KTRU submitted an extensive “Petition to Deny” to the FCC on December 7, outlining all […]
Howard Stern is History, Part IV
Sirius XM satellite radio is celebrating the renewal of its contract with Howard Stern with yet another installment of its “History of Howard Stern” series. This would be the “highly anticipated fourth chapter in the award-winning series that offers an unprecedented celebration and rare behind-the-scenes look at the life, career and achievements of Howard Stern,” […]
Can the Internet save classical music? An interview with KUSC’s Brenda Barnes
It’s hard to believe, but once upon a time classical radio was ubiquitous. Most cities had at least several popular classical music radio stations, and many had three. I remembering setting my clock alarm to a New York City based classical FM signal back in the late 1970s. One morning I woke up at six […]
Hello new Morning Show; goodbye KPFA
You can always tell a true community radio politics junkie, because eventually he or she will open up a post with a line like the following: “This is the last thing I’m ever going to say about Pacifica radio.” Yeah, right. So let me put it a little more tentatively. This is the last thing […]
Hate groups. How should NPR handle them?
Some NPR listeners were clearly offended after a 48-second spot by Barbara Hagerty about the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas. The group is composed of roughly 70 members and boasts a website with the not-so-charming URL of www.GodHatesFags.com. Primarily known for their protests of soldiers’ funerals, displaying signs such as “Thank God for Dead Soldiers,” […]
Breaking: The LPFM bill just passed the Senate
Talk about a nailbiter. After languishing for months in the Senate due to a series of anonymous (then outed) holds placed by republican senators, followed by gridlock over the tax bill, it was starting to look like the Local Community Radio Act was never going to make it to a vote. But thanks to the […]
Breaking down the House’s new LPFM bill
It’s certainly easy to understand the sentiment expressed by a commenter to my last LPFM post: If the NAB is for it, you can pretty much guarantee that it is to the detriment to LPFM. And while the LPFM bill passed by the House yesterday, HR 6533, does contain compromises agreed to by the NAB, […]
Public Radio Station WLIU Sold to Community Group, Renamed WPPB
When universities put their radio stations up for sale, more often than not the people lining up with cash in hand are non-local radio groups. So, it’s a wonderful surprise when those who work at a station that’s on the chopping block take the initiative to save the station from outside parties. As we reported […]