We need your help now. The application window for our radio station license starts THIS Friday and ends next Wednesday. We are making an urgent call for pledges of funds (letters you send to our PO Box) that we can come back to in a year or more if we get the license.
The FCC requires that we show we have access to funds to construct the station and operate it for three months. Just tonight we finished our budget with the help of our engineer, and it's nearly $80,000. As you can see from the budget below, most of this is from constructing a tower and antenna. We have send a note to the engineer asking is we can substantially reduce this cost. We hope to get this down by about $20,000. Indeed, if we get our license, we will try a lot harder to simply co-locate an antenna on an existing tower-which will be tons cheaper. But we couldn't get any tower owners to call us back in the short amount of time we've been organizing this. So, we are stuck with these high tower costs and having to show access to funds to cover those costs. And because the application window opens this Friday, we feel we need to just put this out there, make the ask, and hope for the best -- for lots of pledges in the amount of $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 or more. It all adds up.
Radio is power. and if you can send us a pledge, we can give you people power! Check out our programming goals at the end of this message.
Budget Summary
Category of Expense--Dollar Amount
Construction of studio-on-air control room--$11,513
Construction of tower, antenna, storage shed, and studio transmitter link--$61,258
Monthly operation costs for three months--$6,000
Total--$78,771
DEADLINE COMING - WE BADLY & IMMEDIATELY PLEDGES OF SUPPORTING FUNDS. See flyer below for details- THESE ARE NOT LEGALLY BINDING PLEDGES, JUST LETTERS OF INTENTThe full power radio license application deadline is this coming Friday! We must finalize our application on Thursday with the Attorney. Things are coming together nicely. But there are still a few details to take care of-like getting as many letters "committing" funds as possible (see letters below the flyer below for an example of the commitment letter). We have to show that funds are "committed" or pledge for the costs of constructing the station and for operating the station for three months. If we can not, the FCC will not accept our application. So, please send your pledge letters. Ask your friends to do the same. Letters committing $1,500 or under do not need to come with documentation showing the existence or liquid nature of the asset.
Jacqui
Radio Programming Goals:
The Alliance for Democracy, South Sound Chapter has an overall organizational goal of promoting authentic democracy a fair economy, and building community.
It is with these goals in mind that the Alliance will provide programming, media access, and educational programs and services.
The Alliances' intention to meet these goals by:
1) Creating media that serves democracy by giving a platform for independent and diverse voices.
2) Offering free, diverse, and independent media that promotes an informed community and electorate.
3) Including issues of democracy, race, class, age, economics, the environment, and the culture of domination and oppression.
4) Covering issues important to citizens representing diverse sectors of our community from all racial, ethnic, age, and sexual orientation groups and from all economic and class strata.
5) Informing the community about local, state, national, and international political systems, institutions, and activities.
6) Recognizing that the people own the airwaves and they should be free from corporate control.
7) Giving local citizens and activists the opportunity to "be the media."
8) Encouraging arts programming that includes poetry, music, and theatre dealing with social change and issues of community concern.
9) Creating media that builds community by:
a) Educating citizens about progressive issues and giving local social justice activists a greater voice.
b) Facilitating democratic discussions and community building through civil discourse.
c) Facilitating respectful conversations that foster understanding.
d) Offering broad opportunities for developing broadcasting skills and content presentation.
e) Giving access to voices currently underrepresented in the mainstream media.
10) Celebrating life, diversity, and community.
Pledges have to be by mail--they can't be online. Use the following letter format.
Alliance for Democracy, South Sound Chapter
PO Box 7422
Olympia, WA 98501
October 10, 2007
Dear Alliance for Democracy:
I understand the South Sound Alliance for Democracy plans to apply for a new noncommercial FM radio station in the upcoming October 2007 filing window.
The Alliance has requested my financial support for that project and I am pleased to confirm my commitment with this letter. I hereby promise you immediate access to my personal funds for this project, in amounts and at times per your request, up to a total gift of $___________. Once you have received the construction permit, each request should be made by you directly to me by e-mail or telephone.
I will furnish documentation upon request, to show that I have sufficient net liquid assets on hand right now to enable me to make this pledge. Be assured that I am not relying on non-liquid items, whether real estate, limited placement stock and stock options, or stamps and coins.
I understand that your radio station project will take months or even years. I will advise you promptly if anything should happen to me or to my liquid assets at any time that would make my commitment incomplete or impossible to perform in full.
Best regards,
____________________________
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