FRAM is working on putting an independent unlicensed low-power FM station on the air in Felton.

Until 1982, there were low-power (under 100 Watts) unlicensed FM stations in communities all over the country. At that time, Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of 1982 making unlicensed low-power FM stations illegal. The FCC turned over our airwaves mostly to corporations who could afford the millions of dollars that these increasingly expensive FM stations fetched. Thousands of locally-run, low-power independent community radio stations went dark in 1982.

With media consolidation one company now can own dozens of radio and TV stations in one area, virtually controlling the news and information for whole communities. ClearChannel and Viacom are two examples. In the last month, for instance, FoxNews contracted to provide all of the news heard on the 1500 radio stations owned by ClearChannel nationwide. Naturally, one company owning all of the media reduces the diversity of voices heard in local communities and seriously threatens the idea of a free press.

Strictly speaking, an unlicensed station is not currently legal. However, through this simple civil disobedience, FRAM is working to change the law that turns over control of our airwaves to largely corporate interests.

At first our Felton station will broadcast the web stream of other local stations, some of which offer a mix of talk and music, most of it local programming. We'll include Democracy Now! and a host of other great programs, local, regional, and national.