KPFT Notes

Starting today, KPFT begins coverage of the U.S. Social Forum from Atlanta, Georgia. Reporting starts today at 1, with our Summer Youth Program producing an hour on the Forum (replacing Exploration, which did not upload this week). At 10:30 to midnight each night, Thursday to Sunday, KPFT airs an hour in English and 30 minutes in Spanish from Atlanta. Well worth tuning in for!

Pacifica Radio, America’s first listener-sponsored radio network, will join thousands of U.S. webcasters in a Day of Silence this Tuesday, June 26. Pacifica will silence its regular Internet broadcasts to draw attention to an impending royalty rate increase that, if implemented, would lead to the virtual shutdown of this country’s Internet radio industry.

A recent Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) decision increases royalties that commercial Internet webcasters pay to play music by up to 1200%. The new rates take effect on July 15. Non-commercial stations will be required to pay royalties at the commercial rate for any listeners they have over a limit defined by the CRB, about 215 listeners per hour.

The CRB decision also requires that webcasters pay a minimum $500 “administrative fee” for every channel they broadcast online, without clearly defining what a channel is, or what the fees are to be used for. These arbitrary and vaguely defined “administrative fees” would cost Pacifica stations thousands of dollars a year.

Pacifica urges listeners to contact their Congressional representatives and ask that they take action to save Internet radio. The Internet Radio Equality Act, H.R. 2060, has been introduced by Representatives Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Don Manzullo (R-Ill.) to address many of the problems with the CRB decision. A companion bill, S.B. 1353, has been introduced in the Senate.

To learn more about how the royalty hikes will affect Pacifica Radio stations, as well as how to contact Congressional Representatives, visit freepress.net/netradio/.

CPB has now posted a Request for Proposals for a Public Media Demonstration Project focusing on the 2008 elections. We intend to award a grant of up to $1 million for a project that demonstrates new, multi-media, collaborative models of public service around this
important national news event.

The challenge to be innovative, engaging and substantive in our coverage of the ‘08 elections grows with each passing week, as commercial media, social networks and user-generated content aggressively compete for the time and attention of those with an interest in these issues.

We are looking for a project that will bring together the major public broadcasting producers of content in a cross-platform approach spanning radio, TV and emerging media. The goal is to provide content, tools and interactive experiences that will result in a more informed, engaged
electorate. We believe that by breaking down the walls between radio, television and emerging media, public broadcasting will be able to leverage its wide array of high quality content to serve audiences in distinctive and meaningful ways. We also believe that audiences benefit when there is collaboration between public television and public radio stations, and between local and national producers.

You can find the RFP at: http://www.cpb.org/grants/grant.php?id=3D101

The deadline for proposals is July 30.

If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Merritt at
kmerritt@cpb.org or Sondra Russell at srussell@cpb.org.

Bruce Theriault
Senior Vice President, Radio
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
401 9th St, NW
Washington, DC 20004
202.879.9801(v)
202.879.9700 (f)

Congress to Executives on Sirius/XM Merger: Just Say No
Washington – Jun 18, 2007 – A group of 72 congressmen signed a letter that was sent to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin and Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majors. The focus of the letter states that the proposed XM/Sirius transaction would harm consumers. The prime authors of the letter are Representatives Gene Green (D-TX) and Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI).

The letter begins by repeating the existing FCC Rules that stipulate that one entity could not own both satellite radio licenses. From there, the letter states many of the already publicized arguments relating to antitrust issues, robust competition of two providers and faults of both providers relating to FCC rules.

Citing concerns about consumer protection and noting both companies’ previous compliance issues with FCC regulations, the letter calls on the FCC, the DOJ, and the FTC to “protect consumers, and protect competition by denying the merger.”

Legislators lending their support to the effort to deny the requested union include a broad cross-section of US representatives from both sides of the aisle and political spectrum, including well-known names such as former House Speaker Denny Hastert (R-IL) and Liberal Presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich (D-OH).

Read the letter that is posted on Sensenbrenner’s website. The FCC is expected to make its ruling on the case before the end of 2007.

Robin Lewis, KPFT’s Membership Coordinator, has been named its Interim Development Director. Congratulations to Robin and, of course, KPFT!

Religious organizations, public interest advocates and community radio station owners will hold a national conference call to discuss new bipartisan legislation that would create hundreds of low-power, community radio stations in cities, towns and suburbs across the United States.

Low Power FM (LPFM) stations are community-based, noncommercial radio stations that broadcast to neighborhoods and small towns. LPFM licenses make owning a radio station possible for churches, schools, labor unions and other community groups that best understand the needs of their local communities.

In 2000, Congress authorized the Federal Communications Commission to issue LPFM licenses. But legislators attached an unnecessary rule that limited LPFM stations to rural areas. Since then, thousands who have submitted applications with the FCC with the hopes of operating their own station have been blocked.

“Since 2000, we’ve been building radio stations that strengthen local music and culture, give families access to their local governments, help diverse communities get on the air, and save lives — in rural communities,” said Hannah Sassaman, organizer with Prometheus Radio Project, a group that helps set up community radio stations. “We applaud Congressman Doyle and Congressman Terry for their great vision in bringing this vital service to America’s cities. We look forward to working to expand Low Power FM radio to the many communities that need access to their own media.”

Berkeley, June 1st – KPFA Radio 94.1 FM has hired award-winning journalist, broadcaster and documentary filmmaker Peter Laufer. Laufer will host the popular Sunday morning program, formerly called Sunday Salon, following Larry Bensky’s retirement. Laufer, who got his start in KPFA’s news room, has won many of the most prestigious awards in broadcast journalism including a George Polk Award and Peabody Award.

Laufer worked at the legendary freeform rock station KSAN and was a member of the award-winning KSAN news team that reported on the shootout at San Quentin Prison that occurred during the attempt at breaking free George Jackson. While a correspondent for NBC News, he also reported, wrote, and produced several documentaries and special event broadcasts for the network that dealt in detail with crucial social issues, including the first nationwide live radio discussion of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. “Healing the Wounds” was an analysis of ongoing problems afflicting Vietnam War veterans. “Hunger in America” documented malnutrition in our contemporary society. “A Loss for Words” exposed the magnitude and impact of illiteracy in America. “Cocaine Hunger” was the first network broadcast to literally trace the drug from the jungles of Bolivia to the streets of America, and alerted the nation to the avalanching crises caused by the consumption of crack cocaine.”Nightmare Abroad” was a pioneering study of Americans incarcerated overseas.

Laufer has written on issues ranging from the imprisonment of Lori Berenson in Peru to the rightwing Minutemen militia on the US-Mexico border for AlterNet, Mother Jones (where he set up Mother Jones Radio), and other alternative publications. Laufer’s books include “The Question of Consent: Innocence and Complicity in the Glen Ridge Rape Case” about the rape of a developmentally disabled schoolgirl by a gang of her classmates and the effect of the case of the health of the local community, “Inside Talk Radio: America’s Voice Or Just Hot Air” about the rise of conservative radio, and most recently “Mission Rejected: U.S. Soldiers Who Say No to Iraq”, published by Chelsea Green. Other books have focused on US-Mexico immigration, migration in Western Europe, and the US invasion of Iraq.

“Over the last several years my friend and colleague Larry Bensky performed radio magic Sunday mornings”,” says Laufer. “He combined an array of intriguing guests and audience participation with his own curiosity and thorough knowledge of current affairs to create a radio show that entertained while it informed. It is a privilege to seize the KPFA microphone now that Larry’s decided to retire from the show.”

“Peter brings a stellar background in journalism, strong progressive politics, and intellectual substance to the program,” says interim general manager Lemlem Rijio. “We are very pleased that he will continue the tradition of thoughtful, in-depth programming on Sunday mornings”.

Laufer’s first program will air this Sunday, June 3rd, where he will ask the audience to email in their ideas for names for the new show. It can be heard from 9-11am on KPFA 94.1 FM or KPFB 89.3FM in the Bay Area and KFCF 881.FM in California’s Central Valley, or online at kpfa.org.

LA Times / May 24, 2007

The death sentence for a man who killed a former reporter and producer for KPFK radio in Los Angeles was upheld today by the California Supreme Court.

Andrew Lancaster was convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping for fatally shooting Michael Taylor, 45, in April 1996.

The high court unanimously upheld his death sentence.

Two co-defendants, Shawn Alexander and Jornay Rodriguez, were also convicted in the case. They testified against Lancaster and received lesser sentences.

After leaving KPFK, Taylor planned to start an unlicensed microwave radio station with two other former employees of the radio station, according to court documents.

Taylor found a financial backer who was an associate of Lancaster, but decided not to deliver any radio equipment to them because Taylor believed their dealings were shady.

Accompanied by Rodriguez and Alexander, Lancaster took Taylor to some railroad tracks, where he threw Liquid-Plumr on his face, demanded he turn over the equipment, then shot him several times as Rodriguez and Alexander walked away.

Neighbors heard the gunshots and alerted police, who found Taylor’s body.

Since our last expert consultation with Ed Wong (Jackson Brown’s sound engineer and preservationist), Adi Gevins, PRA Preservation and Access Project Coordinator, and John Austin of Sprague Magnetics, it was determined that we no longer can used the Otari 50/50 Reel-to-reel players for tape transfer as they now cause damage to our fragile and aging collection.

PRA has only 1 playback machine (Studer A80rc) that is up to standard and has a part broken. PRA has another machine that can be adapted but will take months to have it converted. These machines are no longer manufactured so it is a national hunt to find machines and parts.

This means we must suspend all tape transfers until further notice.

Here is what we are looking for:
Studer A80rc reel-to-reel.

The funds for equipment have been approved by Lonnie so it is just a matter of locating the equipment needed. Please help if you can. Contact Brian DeShazor <Pacarchive@aol.com> to help.

In just 48 hours, the FCC will stop taking public comment on Net Neutrality. Our window of opportunity is about to close – this is your last chance to tell them to Save the Internet!

So far, 22,453 Common Cause activists have told the FCC to protect Net Neutrality and stop the corporate division of the Internet at our expense. Will you help us make it 25,000 before the June 15th deadline?

Click the link below to tell the FCC to protect our Internet before comments close on June 15. http://www.commoncause.org/KeeptheInternetOpen

When the FCC let Net Neutrality rules expire last summer, telecom companies were thrilled. Without these rules, there’s nothing to stop them from creating a divided Internet. Big Telecom will charge other major corporations steep fees to place their websites in a fast lane. But the rest of us (individuals, nonprofits, and small businesses) will be stuck in the slow lane.

Unfortunately, people like Randall Stephenson — the new CEO of AT&T, America’s largest telecom — are determined to fight Net Neutrality at all costs. FCC chairman Kevin Martin seems content to leave this matter in the telecom giants’ hands. We need to show them that we will not stand by as a new generation of robber barons carves up this valuable public resource for their own private profit!

If just 2,547 people send a message in the next 48 hours, we’ll meet our goal of 25,000 comments — and make the FCC take notice.

Click the link below to demand Net Neutrality before comments close on June 15. http://www.commoncause.org/KeeptheInternetOpen

Time is running out, but you can still make a difference. Now’s the time to join the 22,453 people who have already spoken up.

Thank you very much,

Lauren Coletta, Dawn Iype and Jon Bartholomew, The Common Cause Media Reform Team