Low-range FMs could link churches to neighbors
A new class of radio service designed to give airwaves’ access to “schools, churches, minority groups … volunteer fire departments and other local community groups,” according to the Federal Communications Commission, may have ministry possibilities for local churches, says Barry C. Poyner, Truman State University, Kirksville, Mo.
Poyner, an associate professor of communication, believes low-power stations offer great opportunities to reach ethnic minorities or others in a church’s demographic mix. He says “ … we have a significant Spanish-speaking group that has moved into the Midwest. They would naturally listen to Spanish music and programming including Spanish-speaking preaching if we would launch out in faith.”
The new stations will range in power from 10 watts in a one- or two-mile radius to 100 watts in a radius of 3 and a half miles, according to the FCC.
Applications may be filed for one group of states at a time through May 2001.
FOR MORE INFORMATION see www.fcc.gov.
