...P.O. Box 6782
...Ithaca, NY 14851
...607- 387- 4081
...contact via e-mail

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Ithaca Community Radio 88.1 FM
Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ithaca Community Radio project?

Ithaca Community Radio is an initiative to create a non-commercial, community radio station for the Ithaca area that will focus on news, issues of local and regional interest, and local culture.

We already have a number of public radio stations. What's different about this?

What makes this project different from the other non-commercial stations is:

  • The station will be a place where local people can produce their own radio shows, and use the airwaves to foster grassroots democracy and creativity in our community.
  • The station will be listener-sponsored, and therefore free of the type of corporate or government funding that leaves such an obvious mark on the editorial choices of broadcasters like National Public Radio.
  • The station won't be a subsidiary of a college or university, overseen by trustees whose primary concern is furthering their institution's agenda.
  • The station will be a non-profit organization operated collectively by community volunteer/members.

Why are you re-broadcasting WEOS, the station of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, then?

The short answer is that our current FCC license for the frequency 88.1 FM only allows us to re-broadcast another station of our own choosing, and WEOS is the only station operating in the Finger Lakes that offers programs such as Democracy Now!, Alternative Radio, and Free Speech Radio News. 88.1 FM was originally licensed as a repeater for Syracuse Community Radio. They were unable to put up a transmitter in the time period specified by the FCC, so we took over the frequency from them a few weeks before the deadline expired, thereby saving 88.1 from being snapped up by a Christian Evangelical network.

WEOS is expecting to have its own frequency in Ithaca in the future, and Ithaca Community Radio will be applying for a license that allows us broadcast locally controlled and created content at our own primary frequency. Obtaining a license from the FCC is a long multi-year process in itself. Constructing a station and studio is complex and expensive. This is a long-term project that will take at least a few years to bring to fruition.

About our affiliation with WEOS

Ithaca Community Radio is not a part of WEOS, nor do we receive any funding or financial support from WEOS or their underwriters. Despite the on-air announcements and content on their website suggesting that 88.1 FM is a part of WEOS, we are, in fact, a separate organization. 

What's the status of the project now?

A few of us borrowed more than $10,000 on our personal credit to pay the costs of providing radio service on 88.1 FM to Ithaca.  Our ultimate goal is to help our community create a non-commercial community radio station.

Our current efforts are focusing on recruiting community members interested in making radio to become involved.  We are also exploring establishing a studio in the near future for the production of radio shows.

Thanks to the generous support of our community of listeners, we have now paid off our inital debts!  Thank you -- we knew that our neighbors would appreciate the importance of having alternative sources of information on the air.

We still need funds, however, to pay for transmission costs, equipment upkeep, etc. If you appreciate being able to receive Democracy Now! and the dozens of other programs we are airing, please donate what you can to help us stay on the air. We are also looking to improve equipment and signal quality, donations help make this possible.  So, if 88.1 FM is important to you, please consider making a donation. 

We have recently upgraded our transmitting equipment and boosted our power from 80 to 240 watts, and are working on making improvements to our signal and facilities. Our signal is now being heard throughout the City of Ithaca, as well as in nearby communities including Danby, Newfield, Brooktondale, Dryden, Lansing and Cortland.

Ithaca Community Radio is being formalized as a New York non-profit corporation and is currently completing our application for 501-C3 (tax-exempt status) from the Internal Revenue Service.  Thus far, a group of media activists, friends and supporters have been putting the project together and we welcome and encourage our neighbors to become involved in creating our community's radio station.

The work has been financed by borrowing against our personal credit and by donations of labor, materials and cash from various people in the community. We do not receive any financial support from WEOS nor do we receive funds from any of the on-air underwriters.  All of our operating expenses are paid for by listener donations.


How can I get involved? How can I help?

Please keep an eye on this website for further information.

Come to a Public Meeting.  The last public meeting was on Jan 10, 2006 at the Tompkins County Public Library's BorgWarner Room.  The next meeting should be sometime in early-mid February.

Though its going to be a while before we can produce our own shows for 88.1 (independent of WEOS), if you're interested in producing a radio program dealing with news, issues or local arts and culture (no commercial DJ wannabees please!) drop us a line describing your program idea at our electronic mail [info at ithacaradio dot org]

One serious and ongoing need is funding. If you can put on a benefit event for the station, or can help raise/donate funds, please get in touch.

Ithaca Community Radio
P.O. Box 6782
Ithaca 14851
607-387-4081

WE APPRECIATE DONATIONS IN ANY AMOUNT

Please make a donation to support Ithaca Community Radio.  Donations made via cash, checks, or money orders are tax deductible, however PayPal donations are not at this time.  Please visit the Support page to see more details.  Thank you for supporting Ithaca Community Radio.