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Thin Air Radio on the air by Kai Aiyetoro December, 2003 You know your station is headed in the right direction when you get a bomb threat before going on the air. On October 24, 2003, an alleged bomb threat was on the minds of those attending the community radio station barn-raising and conference for Thin Air Radio in Spokane, WA. The conference continued on, and KYRS-LP decided to keep their 120-foot antenna location a secret after receiving a threat from someone in the city. It’s actually a good idea for most community radio stations to keep their transmission location under strict lock and key, with only the engineer and station management having knowledge of its location. Transmitters are the most vulnerable part of any station. The Spokane Barn Raising Conference was quite successful despite the startling announcement. LPFM radio professionals and enthusiasts came from all over the country to witness the beginning of the new station. Everyone was given the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the construction of the new station. Workshops were offered Friday through Sunday, on topics such as: Studio Transmitter Links, Fundraising, Station Governance, Legal Issues, Business Skills for Radio, and Setting Up Programming Policy. Workshop leaders included lawyers, engineers and current and former noncommercial station managers, who offered a wealth of knowledge. Prometheus Radio Project organized the schedule of events to include workstations, workshops, communal eating, and fun. The station is located in downtown Spokane, in two refurbished three-story buildings owned by a local lawyer whose firm assists low-income people and nonprofit organizations. The owner developed this “Community Building” to be an incubator for other nonprofit groups. It also houses a non-profit free-trade crafts store and a daycare center. KYRS-LP is nestled in the front corner on the third floor, with windows facing Main Street, brick walls, and new, state of the art equipment. The station plan includes a main studio, a production room, an office and a meeting room large enough to accommodate a small yet growing staff. This space has been provided to the station for the cost of utilities used only. Thin Air Community Radio will initially broadcast 24 hours a day with a mix of automated music, national public affairs programs, and a sprinkle of already approved local programs. They have 130 proposals on the table for more locally produced programs that must go through a decision process by committee. Thin Air will broadcast in English, and also expects to serve the large Russian, Spanish, and Asian communities of Spokane in their own languages. Their mission is to give a voice to people with views that are outside of mainstream Spokane and to people whose first language isn’t English. Thin Air’s outreach effort has received lots of support from the community through its monthly newsletter campaign, with a mailing list of about 600. They already have over 100 volunteers, and have raised over $30,000 through grants and community support. They even have support from the local NPR station—the General Manager of KPBX is listed as a contributor in the newsletter. Thin Air Community Radio is just another one of LPFM’s success stories. There will be many more as the FCC continues approving those stations that are part of the MX groups. December 5, 2003 is the deadline for Window IV applicants to submit their universal settlements for approval. We anticipate 141 settlements to come out of this last process; the FCC will then determine the outcome for the remaining applications via the point system process. Kai Aiyetoro
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