Getting the word out locally : Low-Power AM & Phone Trees (more ideas?)

What's your address so I can sent you $65. :)

All programming aired needs to be "cleared" by the originator. Whoever provides the program needs to clear it for broadcast on a certain station and in a certain area. Contact the program producers and see if you can get permission. Explain to them you are running a micro-radio operation and would like to air their programming. They will explain the terms to you.

(I will get to your software question at the end.)

Likely, their terms will include that you run the programming inclusive of all commercials that are included with their program feed. Depending on the rates and arrangements they have with their advertisers, who underwrite their programming, there may be several local "avails" per hour: slots that they have ads running, but that you can cut out and air your own ads in their place (that you can sell and earn the money for selling).

The reason clearance is needed is two-fold: copyright/performance right laws, and exclusivity contracts in some markets.

For example, if (heaven forbid), you wanted to run Rush Limbaugh on your micro-radio, Rush Limbaugh would have to make sure you running his show would not take away listeners from another station in the area that already runs his show. It would not be fair for Podunkville Truth Radio in a suburb of Los Angeles to be granted the right to air Rush Limbaugh, when KFI has been running his show for decades and has established an audience (a marketable commodity: listeners for potential advertisers to reach) that could be diminished (taken away by your station).

It is possible that a station that airs a show for altruistic purposes (rather than strictly for commercial gain) may allow another local station to air the same program, if they are committed to the cause of that program and getting it to the widest number of persons possible, without care for how the person gets to listen to it. When I operated a microradio station, several local stations gave permission for shows to be cleared to broadcast on my station as well.

There are no legal reasons why you cannot run ads on an unlicensed, legal, Part 15 microradio station. The only thing you need to be concerned with is whether you are operating the station as a business, and whether that causes you to fall under local business license and sales tax rules, among others (zoning, for example). If you sell ads, some jurisdictions may require you to collect and remit sales taxes, for example.

Feel free to ask any questions you will. I've been in broadcasting since 1990 and operated a microradio station for several years intermittently, as well as worked in broadcasting in a professional (FCC-licensed) capacity for quite some time.

One more caution: when I started my radio station, there was no internet like we have today. I accidentally chose a set of call letters for my station that was being used by, believe it or not, three other radio stations nationwide (two unlicensed microradio and one FCC-licensed station). Because I aired some programming that was from national sources, this caused some confusion at times with the programmers. [Sometimes I would be sent tapes that were intended for the other stations, who would then have no tapes to air that week, requiring the program producer to have to FedEx tapes to the other station (or me) at great expense (large, 12 inch tape reels were quite costly to FedEx).]

Now that we have the internet, research your intended station name, and make sure not to pick a name to similar to an established station. In fact, avoid four letter W- and K- calls altogether, I recommend, as those can only be officially licensed by the FCC. Picking a four letter W- or K- call sign might lead to a letter from the FCC, especially if a new licensed station wants those call letters and finds out you may be using them. Pick a name, rather than a call sign, is my recommendation. Even though you may be operating 100% within the law, you'd rather just not even get onto the FCC's radar for any reason at all. Why draw unnecessary attention?

As for software to run your station: I would suggest a timer-based program such as Audio Hijack Pro (www.rogueamoeba.com), possibly combined with iTunes or VLC for playlists. I once ran a commercial radio station using iTunes as my audio library and playlist creation software, and automation.

AudioHijack will allow you to set up timers to trigger any audio event you want on your system. Want a program that comes from an internet feed? Simply give AudioHijack the URL and it will launch the appropriate program (Real Player, Windows Media, iTunes, etc.) and play the program (and also record it).

You can set up some pretty sophisticated automation routines. I have.

Good luck!

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that a guy was able to put up his own radio station legally (w/o a license) for less than $1,000!! It pissed off the FEC.. but it was totally legal..

I would imagine a person who has access to some resources .. could get a kit assembled that would allow a freedom radio station placed in their own community with a range of 1-10 miles !!

This could easily convert/and alert local community members to more truth than.... any other way!! (short of buying time on a radio or tv station...)

here is the link
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/75372