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South Philadelphia Community Radio

South Philly is getting a low-power non-commercial FM radio station to serve our communities with multi-lingual programming... provided we fund it.

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South Philadelphia Community Radio

South Philadelphia Community Radio

South Philadelphia Community Radio

South Philadelphia Community Radio

South Philadelphia Community Radio

South Philly is getting a low-power non-commercial FM radio station to serve our communities with multi-lingual programming... provided we fund it.

South Philly is getting a low-power non-commercial FM radio station to serve our communities with multi-lingual programming... provided we fund it.

South Philly is getting a low-power non-commercial FM radio station to serve our communities with multi-lingual programming... provided we fund it.

South Philly is getting a low-power non-commercial FM radio station to serve our communities with multi-lingual programming... provided we fund it.

Christopher Randolph
Christopher Randolph
Christopher Randolph
Christopher Randolph
1 Campaign |
Philadelphia, United States
$270 USD 8 backers
1% of $21,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

South Philly is getting its own radio station - provided we fund it


Nearly 15 years of legal action and lobbying by media activists is paying off with local, non-profit community organizations allowed to apply for low-power FM licenses with the FCC this October.  South Philadelphia Community Radio is prepared to use this extremely rare opportunity to broadcast, we just need a small financial boost.

Rather than appeal for a grant or donation from one big funder for a media project, we would much rather appeal for smaller donations from the community itself.

We have already done the hard work of connecting to community groups prepared to provide programming, getting our legal house in order, and having our engineering study done by a professional.  Now we're looking to crowd-fund the one-time costs of our rooftop and studio hardware, and the professional engineering help required to ensure we operate the station in compliance with FCC regulations.  Programming will be underwritten by served communities in future in order to pay the bills and keep the project viable.

Although limited to 'low power' compared to commercial radio, our signal will blanket South Philly.  This allows us to target local populations with programs of immediate interest which other broadcast media serving the entire Delaware Valley wouldn't touch.  Much of the programming will be in English, centered on civic association and other community group airtime, as well as shows focused upon cultural interest.  We will be paying the appropriate licensing authorities to ensure that music can be played on the station without worrying about copyright infringement.

We also plan to broadcast in Spanish, Vietnamese, Khmer, Italian, Bahasa and Lao.  Additionally we are partnering with immigrant services groups to serve the resettled ethnic Nepali and Burmese ethnic minorities who are being relocated to South Philly in increasing number.  For many communities we will be the only form of broadcast media their residents fully understand.

That South Philly flea market, community fundraiser or music event the "local" news wouldn't ever announce?  We will announce that.  We might announce it in five languages.  We are also naturally open to carrying programming by you, if you're in the neighborhood and have a purposeful use for the signal in mind.  This is the power of community radio.

SPCR has 501c3 non-profit status through a fiscal sponsorship arrangement with Resources for Human Development, for decades Philadelphia's premier new non-profit incubator.  RHD is also the official license applicant.  Additionally the Methodist branch of Jefferson Hospital on South Broad Street is graciously allowing us to use their roof as a broadcast platform, at a perfect height and location for the technical necessities of the project.  The hospital is excited to partner with us to get messages about their health services to the community, particularly for non-English speakers.

This is a completely viable project which can change lives for the better in our neighborhoods for years to come.  Don't miss out on your opportunity to contribute a small amount for huge impact right now, when it counts most.  And please do pass the project along to friends!

From a technical perspective this is a simple project.  The greatest challenge comes from the possibly crowded pool of LPFM applicants for the 3 regional frequencies we all suspect are likely to be licensed.

SPCR appears to be miles ahead of similar Philadelphia-based LPFM projects in terms of our groundwork with community groups, our proposed programming schedule and even the superiority of our antenna location.  We're in it to win it, and we are the only known applicant with an interest in this section of the city.

Should there be many applicants to our frequency, the issue will be handled through a complex arbitration procedure worked out by the FCC.  If on the odd chance this resolves unfavorably for us, we've already developed a more complex but workable 'Plan B' to have a fully legal broadcast radio project functioning for South Philly, with the social function and result of the project nearly unchanged.

Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
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Choose your Perk

Email Thank You

$1 USD
Every dollar counts. Every pledge will receive an email 'Thank you!' regardless of amount.
Estimated Shipping
December 2013
3 claimed

Radio Thank You

$25 USD
At $25 or more, backers will if they so choose have their names read as station backers on our inaugural program broadcast, and be emailed a digital file of that program to hear, enjoy and keep regardless of where you live.
Estimated Shipping
July 2014
1 claimed

Bumper Sticker + Thank You

$35 USD
At $35 or more, backers will if they so choose have their names read as station backers on our inaugural program broadcast, and be emailed a digital file of that program to hear, enjoy and keep regardless of where you live, AND get a high quality SPCR bumper sticker mailed to your address.
Estimated Shipping
July 2014
1 claimed

Facilities Tour Plus

$100 USD
Get a tour of our studio and antenna location with a tutorial about how it all works, get the $25 'radio thank you', AND get a high quality SPCR bumper sticker mailed to your address.
Estimated Shipping
July 2014
1 claimed

Microphone Naming Rights

$250 USD
At this level we will name one of three mics to a name that you select, including nameplates. We will refer to it as the name of your choice for the life of the project, on-air and off. We're not afraid to anthropomorphize a bit in order to finance community radio. This could be a great way to honor the life of someone who loved radio, South Philly or both.
Estimated Shipping
July 2014
0 out of 3 of claimed

Mixing Board Naming Rights

$750 USD
At this level we will name our studio mixing board a name that you select, including nameplates. We will refer to it as the name of your choice for the life of the project, on-air and off. We're not afraid to anthropomorphize a bit in order to finance community radio. This could be a great way to honor the life of someone who loved radio, South Philly or both.
Estimated Shipping
July 2014
0 out of 1 of claimed

Antenna Naming Rights

$2,500 USD
At this level we will change the name of the antenna to a name that you select, including a plaque at the site. We will refer to the antenna/transmitter as the name of your choice for the life of the project, on-air and off. This could be a great way to honor the life of someone who loved radio, South Philly or both.
Estimated Shipping
July 2014
0 out of 1 of claimed

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