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TechnographIf they build it, they will broadcast
By Jenn Rourke
Posted: 10/20/05 Section: News
Rome may not have been built in a day, but the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center hopes it can build a radio station in a weekend.
On Nov. 13, Urbana should get a new community radio station. WRFU will broadcast at 104.5 FM after a weekend-long, intensive building effort by over 200 volunteers from around the country.
"We're basically taking all the parts we have and turning it into a radio station in the course of a weekend," said Lynsee Melchi, community outreach director for WRFU and a 2003 University alumnus.
The construction efforts will run from Nov. 11 to 13.
The community is urged to volunteer, Melchi said. Although there is a registration fee, the Independent Media Center will not turn away any volunteers who cannot afford to pay, Melchi added. Experience level does not matter to WRFU, which will enlist the help of anyone, Melchi said. She pointed to herself and her bachelor's degree in Animal Science, as a prime example.
"I think people (might say) 'I don't have any money, I don't know anything about radio,'" Melchi said. "Me neither, but I'm going to be there."
The station has been five years in the making, Melchi said. Prometheus Radio Project spearheaded the effort by coming to the Champaign area in 2000 to educate local groups on recently released low power FM licenses by the Federal Communications Commission, a scarce commodity, Melchi said.
"There was a five-day window to apply for a license, and we got one," she said.
A barn-raising consists of Prometheus organizing technical and financial support on a national level and assembling volunteers from around the country to "descend on Urbana or whatever community they're working in," Melchi said. That effort is coupled with volunteers from the local community.
"We're doing local outreach, local organization, and finding people places to stay," Melchi said of the Independent Media Center's efforts.
This is the ninth such barn-raising Prometheus has done so far, and the only one in the Midwest, Melchi said.
On Nov. 13, Urbana should get a new community radio station. WRFU will broadcast at 104.5 FM after a weekend-long, intensive building effort by over 200 volunteers from around the country.
"We're basically taking all the parts we have and turning it into a radio station in the course of a weekend," said Lynsee Melchi, community outreach director for WRFU and a 2003 University alumnus.
The construction efforts will run from Nov. 11 to 13.
The community is urged to volunteer, Melchi said. Although there is a registration fee, the Independent Media Center will not turn away any volunteers who cannot afford to pay, Melchi added. Experience level does not matter to WRFU, which will enlist the help of anyone, Melchi said. She pointed to herself and her bachelor's degree in Animal Science, as a prime example.
"I think people (might say) 'I don't have any money, I don't know anything about radio,'" Melchi said. "Me neither, but I'm going to be there."
The station has been five years in the making, Melchi said. Prometheus Radio Project spearheaded the effort by coming to the Champaign area in 2000 to educate local groups on recently released low power FM licenses by the Federal Communications Commission, a scarce commodity, Melchi said.
"There was a five-day window to apply for a license, and we got one," she said.
A barn-raising consists of Prometheus organizing technical and financial support on a national level and assembling volunteers from around the country to "descend on Urbana or whatever community they're working in," Melchi said. That effort is coupled with volunteers from the local community.
"We're doing local outreach, local organization, and finding people places to stay," Melchi said of the Independent Media Center's efforts.
This is the ninth such barn-raising Prometheus has done so far, and the only one in the Midwest, Melchi said.
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