Micro Radio 'War Council' Adopts 5 Point Program 

Richard Edmondson 
San Francisco Liberation Radio

Meeting in Berkeley on Saturday, May 27, micro broadcasters from all over the west coast (with some from as far away as Austin, Texas) adopted a 5 point plan of attack against the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).

The meeting, which had been dubbed a "war council," had been called to strategize against the NAB's "open declaration of war" against the micro radio movement.

On January 20, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a ruling which would legalize micro radio. However, the NAB, the Washington lobby of the radio/TV industry, has since lobbied Congress heavily to adopt legislation overturning the FCC's action. 

Those efforts resulted in the passage April 13 of the Oxley "Radio Broadcasting Preservation" bill in the House. The measure passed by an overwhelming 274-110.

At the Berkeley War Council, representatives of San Francisco Liberation Radio proposed targeting advertisers on NAB stations. Specifically discussed was a proposal to issue a formal request of Albertson's Food Stores that it withdraw its advertising on station KOIT in San Francisco.

KOIT's corporate ownership has been among the most vociferous in opposing micro radio legalization.

"With all due respect, how does extra static on the radio dial translate into 'voices for the voiceless'?" Bruce Reese has been quoted as saying. 

Reese is the CEO of the Bonneville International Corp., corporate parent of KOIT.

A flier was distributed at the War Council pointing out that "voices of the voiceless are certainly not heard on Reese's stations in San Francisco-KOIT AM & FM."

"Albertson's Food Stores is the biggest advertiser on KOIT," said Richard Edmondson of SFLR.

The proposal was discussed at length by the group at large which also included delegates from Free Radio Austin, Berkeley Liberation Radio, Vulcan Radio and other micro stations. Many delegates, including Bill Mandel, long-time Berkeley broadcaster, stressed the importance of approaching Albertsons and other NAB advertisers in a polite and diplomatic manner-with the goal of EDUCATING, rather than being confrontational.

The SFLR proposal was adopted as part of a larger, 5 point program offered by Free Radio Berkeley founder Stephen Dunifer. 

Dunifer's plan, adopted unanimously by the delegates present, contained the following five planks:

1. Target NAB advertisers nationwide, with individual communities making a determination of which NAB stations and advertisers to go after 

2. Call for a national micro radio convention in San Francisco, to be held Sept. 20-23, 2000. The convention would coincide with a NAB convention which is scheduled to take place on the same dates-ALSO IN SAN FRANCISCO.

3. Urge people to set up micro stations in their local communities 

4. A general call for massive outreach and public education 

5. Call for a nationwide micro radio tour-or perhaps individual regional tours-which would include micro radio speakers, as well as technicians who could assist the people of individual communities in setting up their own micro radio stations.

Dunifer said plank number 2 of the above would have as its goal the shutting down of the NAB convention at San Francisco's Moscone Center. 

While plank number one above leaves decisions up to individual communities, Edmondson said logical NAB stations for micro broadcasters in the Bay Area to target would be those owned by Reese. 

On Feb. 17, the Bonneville CEO testifed before Congress, urging swift passage of the Oxley Bill.

"Don't let misguided social policy and a disregard for scientific evidence undermine the investment we have made and the expectations that your constituents have for the sound of their FM radios," Reese said in remarks before the House Telecommunications Subcommittee. "We urge you to pass the Oxley/Pallone bill. It is the only way we can provide the spectrum integrity millions of American radio listeners need and deserve."

Paul Griffin of Berkeley Liberation Radio facilitated the War Council meeting.

May 29, 2000 |  San Francisco Liberation Radio

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