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I attended the CMAP Board of Directors meeting this evening in Gilroy. I want to thank the CMAP Board of Directors and Bob Reid for submitting the FCC Low Power FM radio station application for which a permit has been granted to build a station.

 

In my opinion, the CMAP board and staff is cautiously optimistic about the prospects of providing ‘seed money’ to build a new low power FM radio station and video studio in downtown Hollister for the benefit of the majority of the county, but it is not entirely clear that San Benito County is up to the challenge of meeting the expectations of receiving that funding. It was heartening to hear the support from the Board for the project, especially when they were told it would be run and created by a volunteer staff.

 

CMAP is opening the door for San Benito County to take advantage of building and staffing a volunteer radio station, free of commercials, for the people, and by the people. It is an idea whose time has finally come to fruition. 

 

I challenged the CMAP board to provide us the opportunity to match your funding, dollar for dollar!

 

I am an earnestly ambitious and frustrated musician. I play piano and compose original music. It is one of my life’s passions. During my presentation to the CMAP board during ‘Public Input’, I attempted to represent the voice of fellow musicians, bands, performing artists and yes, The Orianna Chorale (see my previous article about producing local concerts featuring local artists – it was brought to my immediate attention that I omitted the Oriana Chorale).

 

To be sure, this effort is not about me. It’s about you! The Community! 

 

Universal Broadcasting Potential: A local LowPowerFM radio station would provide virtually all local performing artists the opportunity to broadcast their music live or recorded. It would provide students the opportunity to produce and promote school and extracurricular activities. It would provide the Latino community an opportunity to broadcast music and programming en Espanol. It would provide local news and information. Real time weather forecasting, crop science reports, water quality and conservation guidance, police and fire incident reports, political commentary and campaign coverage. Promotion of the Hollister Motorcycle Rally, the Olive Festival, the Saddle Horse Parade, the Lights On Parade, The Pinnacles National Park, the Swank Halloween Maze, the Veteran’s Day Parade, and of course, I will be remiss in forgetting all other worthwhile events…but I can live with that shortcoming. Have you wanted to have a radio show? Let’s make it happen!

 

We need to come up with a budget and organizational structure and a team to build the radio station. CMAP doesn’t have the staff and resources to do the leg work in San Benito County. So we are looking for a “Win-Win” here. CMAP wants to support LPFM radio here, and we are looking for a community-supported opportunity to broadcast the celebration of our community.

 

If you are still reading this, you have to ask yourself; “Do I want this for my community and am I willing to support the effort?”  If so, let’s schedule a community meeting to form a committee to make this happen. I propose we hold – wait for it – local fundraising concerts to raise money and awareness of this opportunity. In a world of social media, radio is still one of the best values to broadcast and reach out to the community. It is free and mostly anonymous. It is old-fashioned and cutting edge. Radio is the godfather of rock and roll, hip-hop, jazz and perpetuates the beauty of classical music. 

 

We are almost there and the opportunity is ours to lose. The clock is ticking. We have 18 months to show progress and have already spent more than 2 months doing very little. 

Let’s get it together and organize an effort to complete our sense of community in San Benito County. Let’s build a new FM radio station!

 

Michael Smith 

 

 

 

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