by Radio Free Nashville

18 February 2005

Radio Free Nashville (WRFN) is a new100-watt low power FM (LPFM) community
radio station that is about to become a reality with its newly acquired FCC
license. Our basic idea is simple. We believe that since the airwaves belong
by law to the public, the public should have access to them. We believe that
we have as much of a right to speak on the radio as we do to listen. And we
have a unique opportunity. Prometheus Radio Project is teaming up with Radio
Free Nashville to unbuckle the Bible belt for progressive news and music for
the Prometheus Radio Project's Barnraising of Radio Free Nashville!

Thousands of these LPFM licenses were granted. Virtually all of them,
however, went either to government departments-of-transportation or small
rural churches. WRFN is one of very few progressive organizations in the
entire country to receive one. There are not going to be many stations like
WRFN out there. This is true despite the fact that only a strong, national
movement made WRFN possible.

WRFN recognizes the importance of coverage of progressive causes by "major"
media, but has long felt it even more necessary to create and control our
own media. We believe that the rather rough & tumble atmosphere of a
community radio station will bring diverse communities in contact with each
other, in very novel and exciting ways.

We believe that our great foes are not so much ideologies as apathy and
distraction. And this makes WRFN an enormously important undertaking.

WRFN will program a 60-40 mix of news (information, talk and call-in shows)
and music. Though each day will have some consistent elements, no two days
will be exactly alike. All the broadcast elements will be complementary.

Some of the programming will be of national origin. We envision bringing
Free Speech Radio, Democracy Now, Counterspin and other like shows into the
Nashville marketplace for the first time. But the bulk of programming will
be locally produced by members of the Nashville community.

A primary aim of WRFN has always been to provide a space for students and
other young people to work with professionals to learn to produce their own
programming, learn the technology, and above all, to understand through
direct experience that the airwaves belong to them. Our goal is to promote
young people's intellectual, creative, and professional growth through
training and access to media.

Five years after the birth of the Low Power FM service, and like so many
other applicants, Radio Free Nashville (WRFN) has had to struggle and wait
months for even minor modifications. Now after the introduction of the The
Prometheus Radio Project (PRP) is teaming up with Radio Free Nashville to
unbuckle the Bible belt for progressive news and music for the Prometheus
Radio Project's Barnraising of Radio Free Nashville!

In the spirit of neighbors pulling together to put up a new building, PRP
organizers will gather hundreds of Low Power FM Radio applicants,
journalists, radio engineers, students, lawyers, musicians, and activists
from across the U.S. to tune the antenna, finish the studio, and flip on the
station switch! People will gather from across the US to descend on
Nashville to construct the radio station in a weekend.

Although, we have a start-up date and an FCC license, we still do not have
all that is necessary to get on the air. Radio Free Nashville needs the help
of the community and financial support to get on the air and stay on. The
start up costs of a community radio station is tremendous and the support of
the community is key in making Radio Free Nashville a reality. There is a
long list of audio and studio equipment that we will be needing such as a
100-wat transmitter, a mini disc player, stereo limiters, and so much more.
The station is also in the process of being constructed and more money is
needed to finish the work that needs to be done by April 2nd. Please,
Nashville, help us reclaim our airwaves! Let's give low power(fm) back to
the people!

If some people are unable to assist WRFN financially or through donations of
equipment, please feel free to help the independent media cause and come out
and help us build the station. Also, WRFN invites everyone to come and join
Prometheus Radio Project and people from all over America to attend the
Radio Barnraising! Come to learn or teach essential organizing and radio
skills, and to celebrate the birth of a new free voice. To register online
for our conference, or to learn more about the Barnraising, which will
feature dozens of informative workshops, great food, and music, as well as
the incomparable experience of building this new station, visit the
Prometheus Barnraising registration page to sign up to help out!

The recommended donation for the entire weekend is $100 or $40 for one day
if you are coming from out of town. Pay what you can afford. If you are
coming from the Nashville area, than those fees are not applicable to you.
Food and simple housing arrangements are included in the registration price.
Scholarships are available, and no one will be turned away for lack of
funds. Contact us to get a fee waiver/reduction. We need you to lend a hand
in Nashville- so don't let money be an obstacle for you!

Help us build the Free Radio Movement and demand that democracy be brought
back to the airwaves!

For more information on the Local Community Radio Act of 2005 visit:
http://www.prometheusradio.org/s.312.html

http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/4439/index.php