Washblog || Maria Cantwell Stands Up for KYRS FM -- Spokane Community Radio

Maria Cantwell Stands Up for KYRS FM -- Spokane Community Radio

By noemie maxwell
Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 11:09:34 AM PST
Section: Washington State Topic: Alternative and Community Media

KYRS FM, or Thin Air Community Radio, is a 100-Watt low-power FM station serving the Spokane area. Thin Air Community Radio was founded by environmental and social justice activists in the Spokane area in 2000 as a project of Citizens for Clean Air, an organization with a 10-year history in the community. Thin Air broadcasts arts, cultural, and music programming covering a wide spectrum from traditional to experimental and reflecting the diverse cultures of the area. Its mission page states that the station is grounded in values of peace, democracy and justice.

Although Thin Air is "low-power", it reaches over 300,000 people from its primary signal at 95.3 FM and a "translator station" operating at 92.3 FM.

In September 2003, the FCC granted KPND Quality Rock, a full-power commercial station from Idaho which also broadcasts on 95.3 FM, a construction permit to build a new broadcast facility closer to Spokane. FCC rules permit full-power stations to override the signals of low-power FM stations. But low powers are not permitted to override or interfere with full-powers. So, the Idaho rock station's move into Spokane effectively snuffed out Spokane's community radio on that frequency. To survive, KYRS Thin Air Radio would need to find a new home on the broadcast spectrum. That's where Maria Cantwell came in.

In order to stay on the air, KYRS applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a move to 89.9 FM. The FCC responded with an initial indication that this move might violate existing low-power FM statutes.

In response to that initial determination, Maria Cantwell asked the Congressional Research Service to examine whether the FCC had corretly interpreted the law on which it based its concerns. The resulting report, which Cantwell forwarded to the FCC, determined that the bid for a frequency change by KYRS did not violate current statutes. The report gave the Commission the flexibility to allow KYRS to change frequencies. In its approval of the move, announced yesterday, the FCC determined that the frequency change is in the public interest.

Congratulations, Thin Air. And thank you to Maria Cantwell for standing up, once again for Washington State when commercial interests in other states threaten our local communities. Here's a link to thank Senator Cantwell.

< Appeal for Redress by U.S. Troops to Congress - The Call of US Troops for Iraq Withdrawal | Emergency Post-Election Meeting at Trinity United Methodist Church >

Maria Cantwell Stands Up for KYRS FM -- Spokane Community Radio | 0 comments ( topical)

SEATTLE TIMES STORY

PNW TOPIC HOTLIST

WELCOME AND FAQ
ABOUT

Login


Make a new account
Username:
Password:

HELP

Recommended Diaries

Eye Candy from 08 Pride Parade
A girl has to have SOME fun. Above, 34th District Obama delegates Dinazina (moi) and Jody Rogers. This year I
By dinazina (7 comments)
It's election day somewhere.
The sun is hot and the calendar pages are flipping slow And so am I Election season passes like molasses in
By chadlupkes (3 comments)
Democrats MUST quit using Republican framing
I have been tearing my hair out reading all the nitpicky squabbling in cyberspace about minor differences in the platforms and
By eridani (7 comments)
On How The State Gave Me MRSA (Part II), Or, What, Me Worry?
We began a story this week that describes how poor clinical practice in a State-operated healthcare facility holds the potential to
By fake consultant (14 comments)
Dina Johnson for Obama Delegate!
I want to go the National Convention as an Obama delegate, and I understand the competition to be elected state delegate
By dinazina (49 comments)
Winter Soldier Hearings and More
OP-ED sent to Walla Walla Union Bulletin
By buddy georgia (9 comments)