Airwaves: January 13, 2012
Go green with KNX
Mark your calendars ... KNX (1070 AM) wants to help you and your business
go green.
Friday, January 20th at 8 AM, the all news station will present a free panel
discussion and resource expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center. KNX Business
Hour host Frank Mottek will moderate a discussion that explores and
explains how “going green” can be good for the bottom line ... why
being socially responsible doesn’t have to mean fiscal irresponsibility.
Admission is free to the public, but advanced registration is required. Head
over to www.cbsLA.com/businessbreakfast for details.
No Harm, No Foul
A few years ago when the FCC decided to allow upstart broadcasters in many
cities to broadcast on low-powered FM stations ranging from 10 to 1000 watts,
the outcry from commercial stations as well as public was loud and fierce.
Those LPFMs will destroy the FM band, they essentially said. Especially galling
was the outcry from many public stations, considering that many started as
LPFMs themselves.
Turns out that the fears were unwarranted. In a 100 page report submitted to
Congress last week, the FCC determined that LPFMs had essentially no impact
on the operation of commercial or public radio stations on revenue, ratings
or interference.
Exactly what I said a decade ago.
LPFMs are designed as small signal stations to fill a void left by commercial
stations, for example covering youth sports, playing music not found on other
stations, or even acting as an inexpensive way for local businesses to advertise.
The radio equivalent of small-town newspapers, albeit with limited reach.
At one time North High in Torrance had a 10-watt student-run radio station,
and if I am not mistaken the old transmitter is still on top of the industrial
arts building ... unused since the school’s broadcast license expired.
Long Beach State had 10-watt student-run KSUL until the administration
shut it down in 1981. I know that San Pedro High’s Communications House
is very interested in an LPFM license -- as I am sure are others; unfortunately
the FCC never opened up the local area to even the 10-watt licenses. Maybe
with this new study they will reconsider.
Above the Law
KFWB (980 AM) has a new weekend show. West of Legal started
January 1st and focusses on legal issues in the news, new laws and advice for
everyday legal problems. THe program runs Sundays 1 - 2 PM.
The program is hosted by attorney William Seegmiller who hopes that
the program will help people understand laws and how they impact their lives
... to get people to look into their legal rights rather than being intimidated
by the law and by lawyers.
Radio Rewind
KPCC (89.3 FM) recently released a new version of their own radio app
for iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches. Reader Kim Ba of Torrance was so impressed
she had to write.
“This app is so cool, I can actually pause the audio if someone calls me
or comes to the door, Ba wrote. “Or I can rewind and replay part of the
audio in case I think to myself, ‘did they really say what I think they
said?’”
It’s available in the app store.
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Copyright © 2012 Richard Wagoner and Los Angeles Newspaper Group.
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