WAUP radio moving forward
A group trying to launch a local community radio station is now recruiting volunteers and raising funds.
WAUP 91.5 FM, which received its permit from the Federal Communications Commission in November 2010, plans to be on the air by November 2013.
"Our biggest need right now, besides fundraising, is to get the word out," said Mark Gerlach, president of WAUP’s board of directors. "We need a lot of volunteers, both on the air and behind the scenes, to pull this off."
Gerlach and other board members want the radio station to reflect the interests and musical tastes of the local community.
"All of the airwaves belong to the public, even those used by commercial stations. But the public has very little say in what is broadcast," Gerlach said. "Community radio is a way to empower people and teach them how to broadcast."
They will train volunteers how to operate the equipment. And the volunteers will have a major role in determining the content of their own airtime.
Gerlach expects to see a broader variety of music than is usually heard on commercial radio. He said the type of music that is aired on WAUP – whether it is jazz, folk, world music or recordings of local bands – will depend on the tastes of the volunteers who produce the shows.
"It will be like the old days when a DJ came into the station and selected and played the songs," Gerlach said.
"We’ll also be training volunteers on the FCC rules for a community station," according to board member Diane Berge. "There can be no profanity, and you can’t use your position as an announcer to sell anything or use your airtime to promote a political agenda."
In addition to music, WAUP hopes to have community discussion shows on a wide variety of topics, such as health care, gardening, school news, local history and local clubs.
"We want to give people an opportunity to be part of a community voice," said Marcel Van Camp.
Under its community radio station permit, WAUP must air at least eight hours per day of locally produced programming. The station’s goal is to be on the air 12 hours per day, seven days per week.
WAUP initially planned to locate its antenna near the truck stop in Waupaca. Because WAUP must protect the signal integrity of existing stations in Wausau and Green Bay, the station needs to use a directional antenna.
However, after Andy Disterhaft, the station engineer, reviewed the application, it was decided to co-locate the transmission antenna to an existing tower at Stratton Lake West roads in the town of Dayton. The approved braodcast power is at 3,900 watts.
"By moving to a new location, the antenna will need less shielding," Gerlach said. "We’re going to hit a lot more people than we originally thought."
An estimated 30,000 people live within WAUP’s broadcast area, Gerlalch said. The signal will reach into Waupaca, Portage and Waushara counties.
Gerlalch said WAUP’s board plans to begin holding fundraising events in June. The goal is to raise $200,000 for construction and start-up costs. After the station is on the air, about $100,000 will be needed annually for operations.
Go to www.waupfm.org for more information about the station and about how to become a volunteer or a donor.
More from Lead Stories
- Judge orders 30 years in prison
- A tale of two townships (1)
- W-F schools hold evacuation drills (1)
- Happy trails comes to an end
- From pain pills to needles (1)
- City to make offer on old school (1)
- Building a house at WHS (9)
- Heroin moves into Waupaca County (3)
- New director at library
- Unique perspectives at Irish Acres
10 Comments for "WAUP radio moving forward"
How much would a "Community Podcast" website would cost per year? $100? And no government oversight.
lastpercentile May 02, 2012 6:33 PM
aboutblank May 02, 2012 8:48 PM
pprgrl May 02, 2012 9:52 PM
Radio is dying. Advertisement-laden, for-profit, radio is dying. Excluding car radios, how many people listen to the radio - at all? I have $500 worth of radios (when I bought them in the 1980s) - that I haven't turned on in 15 years.
It's not like we don't have radio stations available - including NPR. Not to mention that you can carry a week's worth of "programming" in your pocket, and listen to any particular 10 minutes of it on demand.
Building a $200,000 radio station - that by design will never pay for itself - is like installing 500 payphones as a "public service" for people who can't afford cell phones.
As much as it pains me to say so, this WNOW website already has a "Community Voices" section, which could be used to post podcasts. The section certainly isn't being used now.
You could buy 10 (or 50) digital recorders which could be distributed out to record the same "programming" described above. The podcasts would be available for downloading 24/7. You wouldn't have to wait until next Tues to listen to a program about ice fishing - just click on it now.
Many people have visions, goals, purposes (etc) - very few of them ask for $500,000 in cash and time donations in the "hope" of seeing them through.
It pales in comparison to the requests to support local food banks.
lastpercentile May 02, 2012 11:44 PM
The idea that podcasting could provide the same quality programming is highly doubtful and the end product would pale in comparison to live radio. Podcasting is canned and with no spontinaity. It will fail to connect at a local level. Don't forget that everyone does not have a computer and many people have radios. Lastpercentile has $500 worth. So the ease of turning on a switch and tuning to a channel make connecting much easier from many different areas of ones home.
Radio has been written off many times, but it remains the cockroach of technology. It won't go away. That is because radio has three things going for it; radio is real-time, it's analog and it's free. Also, you cannot get a local forecast, live broadcast, emergency information and a live person talking to you with a podcast.
aboutblank May 03, 2012 5:49 PM
In fact, it costs $100,000 a year, after a $200,000 start up cost.
If you could operate a radio station in your garage with baling wire, then it would be free.
My radios are worthless, today.
My point is, if you want to operate your own radio station - go for it. If you want the community to spend $100,000 a year - there are a hundred or a thousand better areas where that money would be better spent.
[quote]Also, you cannot get a local forecast, live broadcast, emergency information and a live person talking to you with a podcast.[/quote]
No, but you can get all those things on a smartphone.
All the "spontinaity" could be captured in a podcast - and, with a podcast, it's captured forever.
In a world with 500-channel TV, internet in your pocket (and on your computer, game console, and truck dashboard), iPad, iPods, digital music, DVDs - we are not lacking in media.
And, if your sole argument is that the content will be produced and performed by "local talent" - you can get that standing in line at KMart. FREE.
lastpercentile May 04, 2012 10:05 AM
Since when is standing in line at Kmart free? Last time it cost me $16.35. Anyway, glad to hear about your new gig entertaining the cashiers and clientel at Kmart. It's about time you took your tiresome wit to the next level. Let me know when you're going to be appearing. Better yet, why don't you post a podcast so we can all enjoy.
aboutblank May 05, 2012 10:58 AM
lastpercentile May 08, 2012 8:15 AM
Letsbereal May 10, 2012 5:15 PM
lastpercentile May 10, 2012 5:42 PM