Seizing the Moment - What Role Will Funders Play in Community Radio Expansion

[Source: Prometheus Radio Project, September 9, 2011]

The Future of Community Radio is Coming Soon! Thanks to the passage of the Local Community Radio Act, groups nationwide will soon have the opportunity to start community radio stations in cities and towns across the country. In many areas, this will be the first such opportunity in more than 30 years. The largest expansion of community radio in U.S. history will bring new voices and perspectives to the media, and it could happen as early as next summer.

Promethus Radio Project has created many resources to help outline the historic opportunity to expand community radio, the timeline and how funders can get involved.

Community Radio Is Transformative

Community radio enriches communities with local arts and culture, enables neighbors to share local news and events, and helps residents participate in decisions that impact their lives. Community radio stations have helped clean up toxic waste, win better wages, and save lives in emergencies. Read profiles of great stations.

The Challenge

There is a tight timeline for community groups to seize this opportunity. The application window – which could be as early as June 2012 - may only be five days long and announced a few months in advance. If groups aren’t prepared, they may lose their chance to apply. The process will be competitive; it is important that these new radio licenses be awarded to groups that have the ability to organize and engage their communities for deep and lasting impact.

What Role Will Funders Play in Low-Power Community Radio Expansion?

While community involvement is key, funders have a critical role to play so that the 1,000+ licenses get awarded to groups that have the ability to organize and engage their communities for real, lasting impact. Creating and running a low-power community radio station is reasonably inexpensive and can be successful with a wide-range of budgets.

  • Capital costs for build out range from $10,000 for bare bones to $100,000 for high-end facilities. 
  • Annual operating costs range from $5,000 to $100,000, with average established stations spending just under $20,000. 


Funders interested in supporting the community radio expansion, either through a specific station or more broadly, have a variety of ways to get involved.

  • Now – May 2012 Outreach to potential groups and application planning 

Funders can offer space for community meetings; introductions to groups or community members with similar missions, as well as potential funders; and make suggestions/introductions for potential antenna sites.

  • Feb 2012 – May 2012: Conduct engineering study to determine channel availability 

Funders can underwrite the cost of the study – anywhere from $500 - $2,000 –and offer other potential locations for antenna based on study outcomes.

  • Fall 2012 – Fall 2013: Licenses awarded  

Funders can make a challenge grant to help stations engage the community in financial support; offer space for community meetings; make introductions to groups and community members who could serve as board members, volunteers, underwriters, etc.

  • Fall 2012 – Fall 2016: Station Building 

Funders can connect stations with volunteers; donate office equipment; or support capital costs.

Stay up to date on low-power radio happenings through GFEM, Prometheus Radio Project and other community-based organizations.

See http://prometheusradio.org/preparing_for_lpfm for more information.

Please contact us directly if you are a funder who has resources or program opportunities to share with your funder colleagues. And stay tuned to GFEM. We will continue to post opportunities to our website and act as a networking agent for interested funders.

And see http://blog.tides.org/2011/09/12/broadcasting-opportunity-community-radio/ for a recent post by Prometheus Radios' Danielle Chynoweth.

Thanks to Prometheus Radio Project for creating and sharing these funder resources.