Radio I. That was work. I know how to work everything. I would be a senior next year which would mean I have no chances of taking Digital Media Arts II, which is where you do all the hands-on, fun stuff,” said East junior and Radio II student History Vega, who was disappointed to learn that she would be required to take Digital Media Arts I her senior year despite being in Radio II. “It is kind of like a demotion.” Students in radio gathered at the Feb. 28 Board meeting for the Rally for Radio in an attempt to save the program. The rally was completely student-driven by radio members coming to speak in hopes of convincing Board members to keep the radio program. “I saw it later online and I was really proud of them,” said Hattersley. And I tell the kids at the beginning if you never work in radio, that’s fine. But if you learn communication skills, and if you are able to stand up like they did and talk in front of a room full of adults, that’s when you know we did something.” Although the reduction in staff that would eliminate the program’s teacher has yet to be approved by the Board, radio did not appear as an option for students to choose for the next school year’s schedule. The Board
approved the Butler Tech program, but the elimination of the radio program would not require Board approval. “Lakota is one of the only places I know that does not ask the Board to approve [the Course of Study book],” said Board President Joan Powell. “We will, in effect, be approving the deletion by approving the reduction in force. So whether we totally understood the impact of the approval [for the Butler Tech program], that approval may mean the end of the radio class. It is sad to see this program eliminated as it has been around for a long time. I would have preferred a direct conversation about the program and why the school administration thought that the Butler Tech program would be preferable.” Hattersley and students in the program are also disappointed in the lack of communication regarding the cuts. “It seems like every time we try to talk to [the administration], their minds are entirely made up and they have no interest in even carrying on a dialogue with the students,” said Lakota West senior and Radio III student Chris Sieber. Even with the probable end to the radio program next year, it is unclear what the
License to Communicate
district is going to do with the frequency. The district could keep, sell or rent it. “Our frequency only reaches as far out as Colerain, the beginning parts of Cincinnati and Indian Hill. No one is going to want to rent out that tiny airspace,” said Cole. Even if the district holds onto the frequency and tries to integrate it into the Digital Media Arts program, the station would still need to be maintained year-round. “If you are only going to use this facility for a modular thing, for like half of a quarter or something, then it’s not going to happen,” said Hattersley. “It’s something that needs to be maintained on a daily, if not weekly basis. During the summer, I come out here and maintain it. It has to be on all the time.” If the district were to sell the frequency, then they would not be able to buy it back. “Whether we hold onto that license or not, we are looking at a lot of different options when it comes to radio just like we’re looking at a lot of different option when it comes to everything,” said Kline. “I’m confident that we are going to at least hold onto the Internet side of the business. Those are decisions that we haven’t gotten to yet, nor are we prepared to just yet.” n
Factors for Licensing
Licensing process is done online Costs 1) commercial or amature stations 2) music costs 3) equiptment costs 4) space for radio station 5) operating costs for station Total cost: 6) music licensing cost $100-$100,000 7) publicity/advertising costs
In order to obtain one of the few airway frequencies, one must find the proper paperwork and fees online. *The number of radio licenses are limited because there is not a sufficient amount of available frequencies for everyone to broadcast from their station.
Signaling the Program’s Stats Licensee: Lakota Local School District License issued and granted on: 3/10/2010. License expires on: 10/01/2010 License must be renewed: every two years Lakota has 3 other FCC licenses solely for industrial purposes. Once they are lost, radio licenses are very difficult to obtain again.
Applying for a Radio Frequency
1 Create an account in the Consolidated Database System on the Federal Communications Commistion (FCC) website (www.fcc. gov).
2 To apply for a radio frequency, complete Form 160. You will then receive an FRN number so the FCC can see if you have paid. Complete Form 301 if applying for a commercial radio license. If you want to broadcast yourself, you do not need this license.*
3 Pay the required fee for your application. The amount of the fee will depend on the particular application. The FCC will then contact you to tell you if you are receiving a license.
9 | Spark | lehsspark.org