The Local Community Radio Act of 2010 set the stage for a huge transfer of media infrastructure from corporations to people. But to get the most out of this opportunity, hundreds of community groups all over the country will need to be mobilized to grab these 100 watt frequencies and put them to work.

Ever been frustrated by the lack of local news, information and culture? Tired of online-only communities? Want to do something hands-on to change the conversation in red America?

Consolidation of ownership in U.S. broadcast and print media to six major corporations has been rolling along for 20 years. The results are clear to see: a bunch of pap, growing sensationalism, manufactured consent and the breakdown of community. Many are fighting against these trends in creative and innovative ways (as detailed on this website and and many others), but these counter-narratives struggle for space and audience, especially in non-urban cores.

Imagine a thousand little points of light (we don't need to cede the metaphors to the right wing) telling these counter-stories in a locally grounded physical place where people can go and participate and share and be a part of it, not just click on links. Imagine what that means in Missoula and Peoria and Weehatachee. It's democratic discourse in action and meaningful organizing. Not to mention something to listen to besides dials filled with right-wing talk ranting, religious sermons, and pre-packaged corporate music packages delivered from thousands of miles away.

Opportunities are just that ... opportunities. And we have a challenge on our hands to take advantage and turn potential into reality. We could also end up with 1,000 new Family Camp Radio outlets. There is a better outcome. You can be a part of it by volunteering to do outreach to potential low-power applicants.

Please come to these Bay Area workshops to plug in to the effort to reverse media consolidation and put the public airwaves back in the hands of the public. The filing window (tentatively scheduled for October of 2013) will be here in a jiffy and there is a mountain of work to do. We need your volunteer energy and so do the potential applicants out there!

Learn about what is possible, how the application process will work and how you can get the word out and support the entry of local nonprofits, neighborhood-associations and social justice affinity groups into accessible, low-cost and vital media-making across the country.

Co-hosted by Common Frequency and Media Alliance

Friday, Feb. 8 at 4 p.m. Sacramento/Davis: Davis Media Access, 1623 Fifth St., Davis

Monday, Feb.11 at 6 p.m. Oakland/San Francisco: Media Alliance, 1904 Franklin St., #325 (Third Floor Conference Room), Oakland

Contact us at lpfm@commonfrequency.org


Facebook event pages:

Oakland/San Francisco

Sacramento/Davis

(Editor's Note: This piece reflects an individual opinion and is not a reported story from Oakland Local. Oakland Local invites community residents to share their views about events and issues in Oakland. For guidelines, see: http://oaklandlocal.com/tos)