COM 215 Media History Popular Radio and The Origins of Broadcasting “An invisible empire of the air”

Outline Regulation and radio’s potential (discussion) Radio Regulation and Network Neutrality Tim Wu’s Thesis Early Technology and Development of Radio Rise of Chains Cultural History of radio 1950s FM and radio in the 1960s Break Alternatives... Pacifica, Air America

Discussion How has the regulation of radio both supported its development and curbed its potential? Wireless Ship Act of 1910 Radio Act of 1912 Radio Act of 1927 Communications Act of 1934 Telecom Act of 1996

Discussion disruptive inventions "lead to periods of openness and utopian visions and great hopes for the future" and then become closed -Tim Wu (2010) Kronos Effect

Discussion Cronos Effect: the efforts undertaken by a dominant company to consume its potential successors in their infancy” (p. 25).

Discussion: Bonus Round How did US come to dominate radio?

Electromagnetic Spectrum Radio waves

Early Technology and Development of Radio 1860s Maxwell - theorized 1880s Hertz - demonstrated 1897 Marconi – transmitted Lodge – tuned (selective resonance) Reginald Fessenden improved transmission (continuous wave transmission) Lee de Forest – amplification

Early Technology and Development of Radio Lodge – can reach the spiritual dimension reached through radio

Early Technology and Development of Radio Crystal sets, cat whiskers, and amateur enthusiastscat whiskers

Early Technology and Development of Radio 1920s the Boom Years

Early Technology and Development of Radio millions sets – mass medium

Early Technology and Development of Radio 3 Distinct Phases of Listening  Dxing  music listening  story listening

Early Technology and Development of Radio Regulation  Radio Act of 1912  Radio Act of 1927  Communications Act of 1934

Early Technology and Development of Radio Rise of Chains - Networks

Golden Age of Radio October 30th, 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast by Orson Welles and Mercury Theater on the Air Grover's Mill, New Jersey

Golden Age of Radio How did radio adapt to the arrival of TV? Lessons learned?

Golden Age of Radio Cultural History of radio in the 50s

Golden Age of Radio Frequency Modulation ( )

Golden Age of Radio FM and radio in the 60s

Online radio Customized music services Social music stations

Alternatives: Pacifica and free speech Pacifica, Independent Radio Network (KPFA, KPFK, WBAI, WPFW, KPFT) Listener supported  John Douglas heard George Carlin’s monologue “Seven Dirty Words” (1972), with his 15 yr old son.  FCC issues a warning to Pacifica  Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation (1977) ruling in favor of FCC (upholds FCC’s definition of “indecency”

Alternatives: Air America Radio Air America (March 2004-Jan 2010) Progressive talk radio network Format (1/2 hour): news, talk, comedy, interviews, guest editorials, listener’s phone calls

Media Democratization: LPFM 2000 FCC launched the low power FM service 2011 Local Community Radio Act allowed FCC to license new LPFM stations 2013 (Oct 15-29) licensing window

LPFM Low power FM stations can operate at a maximum power of 100 watts Provides coverage within a 3.5-mile radius can reach radios up to 10 miles away.

Media Democratization: LPFM Costs:  $500 - $3,000 engineering study  $15,000 worth of equipment  $3,000-$10,000 per year music licensing fees, equipment maintenance, and people power  $? studio space  Max total: $28K (w/free rent)

It strengthens community identity amateur musicians diversity: women and racial minorities young people, especially college students farmers Benefits of LPFM

If you ran a LPFM radio station, what format and services would you provide to the community? Check so that you don’t repeat what’s already here. Discussion (small groups)