Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Jan. 25, 2000, edition 1 / Page 2
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2 Tuesday, January 25, 2000 Carrboro Sets Dial for New Station By Robert Albright Staff Writer Despite opposition from larger radio stations and the National Association of Broadcasters, the town of Carrboro can now make plans to ride the airwaves with its own local radio station. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission broke new ground last week when it adopted a proposal allow ing nonprofit organizations access to low-band, which means less powerful, FM radio service. The FCC’s decision, which was final ized Thursday, outlined rules for non commercial groups interested in starting a radio station. Carrboro Alderman Mark Dorosin, who proposed starting a local radio sta tion in Carrboro, said the town would greatly benefit from the FCC’s new FM service. Campus Calendar Today 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. - There will be an a.p.p.l.e.s. summer internship infor mation session in Union 208. 6 p.m. - The group Carolina Animal Rights and Equality will hold its first meeting of the semester in 103 Bingham Hall. 7:30 p.m. - The Scuba Club will hold a general interest meeting at Ham’s restaurant for its spring membership drive. 9:30 p.m. - The Disney College Program Alumni Association will hold an information session in Union 220. All students interested in summer and fall internships with Disney’s pro gram are encouraged to attend the session. rEteic&f'jn, n DourUJS ,J ! s 3OFF jji I with purchase of 3 or I 1 more at Back Door jj J Over 10.000 New & Used CDs 4 Tapes mg| * Buying CDs, tapes. DVDs, video games, J . ml I 933-0019 movies, etc. *J l MON-SAT 11-6, SUN 1-6 || 36 E. Rosemary St. (Near Ram Theatre) © 1 999 Varsityßooks.com Inc. ta. Mi I They decide what I you read. You! decide what you pay. What's on the syllabus is what you're going to be reading. What you're going to pay, however, can be up to you. That is, if you shop af Varsifyßooks.com. At Varsityßooks.com you can save up to 40% on your textbooks, get them in one to three business days, and all of this from a Web site that's completely reliable and secure. So there you have it, you decide. SAVE UP TO 40% ON TEXTBOOKS. Savings oH distributors suggested price. Books delivered in no more than three business days. Some restrictions apply See site tor details. Varsityßooks.com “Carrboro needs access to news that’s more relevant to people locally,” he said. “It’s important for small groups to have access to the waves.” Dorosin said his proposed radio sta tion, which would likely take several months for FCC approval, would differ from mainstream stations because of its focus on local news and events in Carrboro. Although there has been strong sup port from Carrboro residents and offi cials, other local and national groups have expressed concern over the inter ference caused by newly started FM radio stations. While the broadcasting association, a national radio lobbying group, has led the opposition against the FCC’s ruling, local radio stations have also expressed concern over the possibility of jammed airwaves. WUNC Radio, a local station in Wednesday 6 p.m. - Special Populations will hold a meeting in the Campus Y base ment for those interested in getting involved in working with special people. Thursday 7 p.m. - Chi Omega sorority will host a Women in Medicine panel dis cussion for those interested in learning about balancing a career in medicine and a family. Three female physicians and a hospi tal administrator will speak about their experiences. The discussion will be held at the Chi Omega House, located at 313 E. Franklin St. 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. - The UNC Student Jazz Combos will give a free concert titled “A Little Bit of Blue” in the Union Cabaret. The concert is open to the public and a Trip for Two the Bahamas ? W ' 1* ChapelHillßent.com $ % ou ' fln< * enfer to o four day/thres night vacation package for two to the tropical Resort at the Bahamia including non-stop flights from Raleigh to Grand Bahama Island courtesy of Chapel Hill Rent.com and Grand Bahama Vacations. GhapeiHiiißenc.coni www.9randbabamavaeflHont.com YOU|l online Houßino Resource “ W, ° l * W/7- o ... BUM. BO Be M3. Conboco NC 27510 Chapel Hill, is set at 91.5 on the radio dial. Station engineer David C. Wright said any stations established near WUNC’s location on the radio would cause problems. “I have grave concerns about inter ference,” he said. “(WUNC) has listen ers in northern Durham that have trou ble listening to us because there is a sta tion four channels away at 90.7.” FCC media relations spokesman David Fiske said the FCC ensured that interference would not be a problem when low-band stations were estab lished. “Low-powered stations will only be licensed where there is not any interfer ence,” he said. Fiske also said the new plan helped nonprofit agencies, including small towns, in obtaining their own radio sta tion. “There are hundreds of uses under is sponsored by the Carolina Union Activities Board. Items of Interest ■ Those students with a service idea that will better the community and who need money to implement their plan can apply for an a.p.p.l.e.s. service learning Social Entrepreneurship Program. New or existing student-designed organizations are eligible and can earn a grant and service-learning academic credit. Applications are available at the a.p.p.l.e.s. office. ■ The deadline for freshmen or sophomores interested in applying to be in the Honors Program is Wednesday. Applications are available in 225 Graham Memorial. ■ Alpha Phi Omega, a service fra- News this new plan,” he said. “(The FCC) wel comes comments, and we feel that we need to meet localized needs.” Under the FCC’s ruling, Fiske said 10-watt and 100-watt stations would be offered. Ten-watt stations would reach an area with a listening radius up to two miles, and the 100-watt stations would reach a listening radius up to 3 1/2 miles. Since Carrboro’s town limits are not very expansive, Dorosin said a 100-watt station would perfectly serve the town’s needs. “It is particularly suited for this com munity,” he said. “Carrboro needs a station because today’s radio is moving further away from news that is relevant to people locally.” The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu. temity, is holding spring rush. An informal meeting for interested students will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in 220 Chase Hall. Formal rush will be at 7 p.m. Thursday in 209 Manning Hall. For more information, contact Kate at 968-3293. ■ Class of’3B Summer Fellowship Abroad applications are available at the International Center, located in Union 116. Five awards of S3OOO each are avail able for sophomores and juniors to pur sue a project of personal or career interest. For more information, call 962- 5661. ■ Conversation Partner applica tions for the spring semester are avail able at the International Center, which is located in Union 116. English-speaking volunteers meet with foreign students one-on-one for an hour of conversation. Hurry To The ucs Internship fair Wednesday, January 28, 2000 | Optn to AU. STUDENTS [ j Bring Plenty of Resumes | | More ttun 50 organizations scheduled to partfclpateTj NmO Mp attfc a resume? Corns to UCS, 211 Hams from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm for help. Call 962-6507 for more information or If yon need assistance due to a disability. Spowowd h Unlvervlty career services outsits of Student Affairs DttlivmJ / frcPl \ ky R*4 , ' s of tU J We accept MC, 1 IZZCI VISA, DISC, AMX & Personal Checks ijCTJA CS'V* on Deliveries ff (3278) with Proper ID!!! MIDWEEK MADNESS LARGE 1 TOPPING FOR $5.99 OR 2 FOR $9.99 Valid Mon-Wed only FAST FREE DELIVERY! . EMAIL: GUMBYSI@AQL.COM APPLICATIONDEADIINE for Fall 2000, Academic Year 2000 & Summer 2000 Programs is February 15, 2000 Apply online at http://study-abroad.unc.edu No late Applications will be accepted. < Stop by 12 Caldwell Study Plan for Smaller Stations Raises Broadcaster Doubt The FCC has set provisions for small, community-based radio stations to transmit over FM airwaves. By Alicia Gaddy Staff Writer FM radio is going small-time. The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to allow community-oriented groups to form noncommercial. low-power FM (LPFM) radio stations. But while local-minded supporters think the new stations will benefit the community, broadcasters fear it will harm existing stations. The new measure would provide two types of stations. The first would cover a radius of one to two miles. The second would broadcast over a 3 1/2-mile radius. Cheryl Leanza, Media Access Project deputy director, said the new stations would diversify radio. She said applica tions to create one of the new types of stations would be accepted in the spring or early summer of this year. “By this fall, they may be on-air,” Leanza said. A recent FCC press release outlined several guidelines for LPFM stations: ■ LPFM stations would be licensed for eight-year renewable contracts. ■ The stations must operate at least 36 hours per week. ■ The stations must comply with FCC guidelines on sponsorship identifi cation, political programming, obsceni ty and enacting the Emergency Alert System. ■ The stations must remain commu nity-minded. The guidelines require small FM stations to have physical headquarters, a campus or 75 percent of cThr Sailii ular Hppl board members living within 10 miles of the station. ■ During the first two years, no enti ty would be allowed to own more than one station nationwide. ■ Stations currently operating with out FCC approval would not be allowed to obtain a LPFM license. David Fiske, an FCC spokesman, said the stations would provide oppor tunities to people who wanted to be involved in broadcasting but did not have the means. “This will find new voices for the air waves," Fiske said. Proponents say the stations would not hurt larger commercial FM stations. But detractors contend that LPFM stations will cause major interference problems, resulting in static similar to that heard on the AM frequency. Two out of five FCC commissioners who determined whether or not to allow the new stations voted against the pro posal. Opponents included Harold Furchtgott-Roth, who did not support the decision to allow LPFM licensing because he feared the new stations would harm existing license-holders and their listeners, while producing little in benefit to consumers. Furchtgott-Rolh’s concerns stemmed from a provision of the plan requiring the FCC to cut back regulations keeping stations from utilizing closely adjacent frequencies when creating new stations. Furchtgott-Roth also said the FCC’s elimination of channel protections would cause major interference prob lems, especially in metropolitan areas. “The FM dial is already very crowd ed,” he said. “People who are currently tuned in would begin to experience interference from these new stations.” The State <S National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Jan. 25, 2000, edition 1
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