Local congregations encouraged
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, February 18, 2000
LOUISVILLE – The General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church (USA) will decide this week whether to encourage local congregations to establish low-power radio stations to serve their neighborhoods.
The Federal Communications Commission recently authorized thousands of new FM frequencies ranging from 10 to 30 watts in power. That would cover a broadcast radius from one to 3.5 square miles.
The National Ministries Division Committee voted unanimously to ask the council to inform local congregations of their opportunity to apply for a license and to provide limited technical assistance in the application process. The council was also asked to appoint a staff task force to study expand the denomination’s role in assisting congregations and possibly supplementing local programming.
Fred DensonFred Denson, a former moderator of the General Assembly Council, introduced the idea during the council’s meeting in Louisville.
In a report to the council, Denson said the FCC decided on Feb. 20 to make the new frequencies available for low-power stations. “The period for receiving applications is not yet open,” he said. “It is anticipated that the window for receiving applications will be very short when the dates are announced.”
Denson predicted that many religious groups will seek licenses. Presbyterian congregations interested in acquiring licenses, either on their own or with other local congregations, will have to move quickly once the application process begins, he said.
Denson did not provide estimates of costs for set-up and operation.
Denson said there was an ideological rationale for Presbyterians to get into local broadcasting. “Over the past 10 years, there has been an explosion in the number of ‘Christian’ radio stations. The vast majority of those stations are aligned with the ‘conservative Christian right’ … There is a need and market for stations whose programming policy emphasizes Reformed theology and ‘mainline’ views.”