SSRC

Common Frequency is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the providing information about non-commercial radio broadcasting within the United States to the public, with the aim of facilitating more public involvement in non-commercial radio.

Our Goals

- Alert non-profit and educational institutions regarding broadcast application opportunities.

- Encourage public participation in radio broadcasting.

- Promote a diversity of viewpoints on the public airwaves through the airing of grassroots-produced public affairs programming.

- Promote music education and independent artists on non-commercial radio.

- Provide resources and consultation to new stations in areas of station constructing and governance.

Why Now?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced its intent to open a window to receive applications for new, full power non-commercial educational (NCE) radio frequencies. This means that organizations with educational missions will be allowed to apply for full power fm stations for the first time in fifteen years. This window will open within the next year, and will only remain open for five days, so advance planning is necessary.

Why Us?

Common Frequency is a group of dedicated individuals with backgrounds in college and community broadcast media, determined to facilitate more public access to the airwaves. Collectively, our experience ranges from station management, building, and development to community organizing, volunteer coordination, and music promotion. We feel that this experience, along with our sincere love of community and college radio, makes us ideal advocates and mentors to aid in the development of new non-commercial radio stations (see development committee bios).

Strategy

Common Frequency is in dialogue with a number of other media organizations such as NFCB, Prometheus, and individuals planning to organize around the upcoming application window. Therefore, we do not plan on the duplicating services that other groups already offer.  Our strategy is to work in concert with these groups, to influence a maximal number of potential community radio stations.

We plan to:

- Identify areas in which non-commercial frequencies will be available.

- Conduct targeted outreach to these areas, alerting local non-profits and educational institutions of the upcoming application window.

- Help these organizations through FCC NCE licensing process.

- Continue to mentor these outlets in operational and technical guidance.

- Provide educational materials for training volunteers.

- Provide assistance in amassing a media library.