Rest in Peace: Low-Powered Radio

Congress has rendered low-power FM radio powerless.

After a year-long battle over the low-watt radio stations, Congress voted to turn down hundreds of broadcasting licenses for these stations.

Listeners could hear everything from Sunday worship services to the music of fledgling indie rock groups. These stations only could broadcast at 10 to 100 watts, which can be heard at about a 5-mile radius.

But the National Association of Broadcasters insisted these low-power stations were interfering with bigger stations that broadcast at 50,000 watts and can be heard up to 70 miles away. Opponents of the low-powered stations said the interference could disrupt advertising and therefore cost the big stations money.

Testing found interference did not cause a problem. Still, these stations have lost their licenses and their hopes of being heard.

Congress was too busy listening to the corporations to understand the implications of shutting the low-power stations down. These small-time radio stations allowed more community-based programming and wider variety. Instead of thinking about listeners, Congress was thinking about money – money that might not even be an issue.

Instead of shutting down all of the low-power stations, more testing should have been done to prove which ones actually would cause a disturbance in other stations' frequencies. If interference was found, then the station could be shut down.

It is understandable that the major stations don't want to lose money, but it is sad and unfair that smaller radio stations were killed by an unfounded fear.

Fee added burden to students' wallets

With all the money students spend on books, tuition, lab fees, supplies, rent and everything else, it didn't seem possible that college could get more expensive. But some Ohio University students might have to start digging deeper into their pockets.

A technology fee for the College of Communication, which students could start paying as early as Fall Quarter 2002, is currently being discussed. The fee would help cover the implementation, support and maintenance off new technology. The proposed fee still is in its early stages so what it will encompass still needs to be determined.

It is a good idea to have access to new technology, but not everyone will get the same benefits for the same cost. It isn't fair to charge people money for something they might not use. If specific communication majors are getting the equipment they need, they should foot the bill. Other students in the college who will never be near the new equipment should not.

All students who use the new technology should be charged despite their college of enrollment. Students in other majors have the opportunity to take courses in the College of Communication, so will they be charged for using the new technology or will only students within the college have to pay?

These are the types of questions university officials need to ask themselves before implementing any fee. Officials also need to get input from students about the fee and what kind of technology is needed. All students who pay need to have access and good use for the technology, and all students who use it need to help pay.