LRN.FM is the best liberty-oriented audio streamed 24/7 online and via satellite, for free. Our current satellite coverage includes North America, Central America, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Anyone with a cheap dish and receiver can receive LRN.FM and the ideas of freedom.
We'd like to expand that to include the rest of the globe.
In many parts of the world, cable TV installations are non-existent or uncommon due to their high up-front and ongoing cost. Satellite is the most common form of audio/video entertainment in these areas. It's common for homes to already have the Ku-band dish and "Free-to-Air" receiver. For many of the 4 billion people in the world who have no internet (over 50% of the world's population), Free-to-Air is a lifeline to the world, uncensored by the state.
Free-to-Air means that no subscription is needed to receive the channels. They are TV or radio channels broadcast "in-the-clear", direct-to-home. Some satellites, like Galaxy 19 over North and Central America (where LRN.FM has been heard since 2009) have hundreds of Free-to-Air channels.
Who is listening?
Ako lives in Cameroon, Africa, where LRN.FM has been available on satellite since 2012. He says everyone has Ku-band dishes in Cameroon. He has personally introduced at least two hundred of his friends to our programs and says they listen and meet regularly to discuss the topics they hear on LRN.FM. You can
listen to one of our interviews with Ako here.
Ako is involved with the
SCNC, a secessionist group in the English-speaking area of Southwest Cameroon.
The press is heavily restricted there, which is why many people in the country (who don't even have access to the internet) use Free-to-Air satellite receivers - to get unfiltered information and ideas from many global sources. LRN.FM is the only channel on Free-to-Air advocating the ideas of liberty 24/7, and these ideas are inspiring people like Ako to take action. However,
we are only reaching two continents so far. We can do more, with your help.
Who is broadcasting?
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I am Ian Freeman, the creator and program director of LRN.FM. I also host
Free Talk Live, heard seven days a week live on the network.
LRN.FM features dozens of liberty-oriented shows, both in live and podcast form, uncensored. LRN.FM was founded in 2009 for two reasons. First, to introduce existing liberty-minded people to new shows. Second, to provide programming to free radio stations. Both of those things have been and continue to be accomplished. My new goal is to expand the availability of the satellite feed to reach new ears globally with our ideas.
In addition to getting our signal direct-to-homes globally, I have been contacted by more than one underground FM radio station operator in North America who is taking their audio feed from our satellite channel. Obviously given their clandestine nature, if a small number are contacting me, it's reasonable to presume there are many more who do not want to be "on the radar", and certainly not
listed on our website as a radio affiliate. These heroic activists are broadcasting the ideas of liberty into their communities 24/7. That's great activism, made possible by our Ku-band "Free-to-Air" feed.
What's possible?
Between people around the world like Ako tuning LRN.FM in on their in-home satellite systems, to people listening in their car thanks to an AM/FM rebroadcast of our signal, there are already thousands of people in
North and Central America as well as Sub-Saharan Africa, that are hearing the ideas of liberty - many for the very first time! Our next step is to expand to Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, all by adding one new satellite. More on that below.
Sure, anyone worldwide can listen anytime at LRN.FM, but in order to do that, they'd need to have access to the internet and know to look for us. The internet is likely something you take for granted. However, billions of people on Earth have no internet. Direct-to-home satellite reaches those people, affordably. New ears will find the message of liberty, as people are frequently "scanning the band" and sampling new channels. That's how Ako found us. Then, he spread the word to his friends.
I think it's really exciting that the ideas of freedom are reaching some of the poorest, most oppressed places on earth. I'm even more excited by the idea that we could be reaching more people around the globe via satellite, with your assistance.
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How much will it cost?
At this time, the plan is to expand our satellite footprint to include Europe, the Middle East, and some of North Africa. The "Hotbird" satellites accomplish this task and will put our channel in a
neighborhood of hundreds of Free-to-Air TV and radio channels. Hotbird is the best place for a Free-to-Air channel to be in these areas, hands-down.
If we can raise $24,000, that will pay for a year of satellite time on all three satellites, Galaxy 19, SES-5, and Hotbird 13.
What You Get
The satisfaction of knowing your dollars are helping reach people worldwide with the ideas of liberty, plus your name (unless you prefer anonymity) will be placed on our Satellite page on LRN.FM. If you'd prefer more recognition, check out the perks like naming a satellite channel or getting an exclusive Platinum AMP pin.
What if we raise more than is necessary?
There are two reasons why we may end up raising more than is necessary to fund a Hotbird channel for three years. First, I may be able to negotiate a better price on the channel than the quote I was given. Second, we may raise more than the goal, which would be awesome. In either case, some of the extra funds will go to fund more FTA satellite system installs in Africa.
If we fail to raise the goal, funds will be distributed to continued operation of the existing signals in North and Central America and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Prefer to donate bitcoin?
Send BTC contributions to 1AkZUyVHtVsU6ZmAu1iSDhYiXbqFgKqzbt
Can't afford to give?
Please share this fundraiser on your favorite social media and also share LRN.FM!
Thanks for your consideration!
Ian Freeman
Program Director, LRN.FM