Palenville and Athens may have new radio stations soon, as non-profit groups in those towns have filed applications with the Federal Communications Commission for low-power FM stations. Applications from the jazz non-profit Planet Arts, from New York City/Athens, and the Maetreum of Cybele, Magna Mater, Inc., a "pagan" non-profit in Palenville, face no competition, and the FCC says it will attempt to get such "singletons" on the air as soon as possible. Both groups are in good standing with the IRS, according to online records. The Palenville group's Facebook page says, "Radio Free Paganville may become a reality," and claims the signal will cover Catskill, Saugerties, and into Columbia County on 102.9-FM. Catherine Platine from the group told WGXC it will be a community radio station. Planet Arts is a jazz record label run by Catskill's Thomas Bellino, looking to air jazz programming on either 93.9-FM or 96.7-FM (there are two applications online) in Athens, Hudson, and Catskill. He has put on occasional jazz concerts at the Athens Cultural Center, and puts on jazz shows regularly in New York City. In all, New York had 65 applications for low-power stations, most in non-competitive situations. In the Hudson Valley, two groups that applied in the 2007 full-power application window made second attempts: Birds of a Feather in Woodstock (104.1-FM), and the Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy. In Troy, five applicants are vying for the same 92.7 frequency. In Dutchess County, a new community group in Amenia is likely to begin broadcasting at 107.7-FM, and "Pawling Public Radio" hopes to occupy 103.7-FM. In Albany, the Grand Street Community Arts group is likely to receive permission to broadcast at 107.1-FM. Upper Room Ministries of Richmondville applied for 105.9-FM in Stamford in Delaware County, and, in Poughkeepsie, New York Catholic Radio applied for 94.7-FM. The stations without competition will all likely get construction permits if their applications are in order. Non-profit groups could apply for low-power FM stations on available frequencies from Oct. 17-Nov. 15.
Click here to listen to an interview with Bellino from Planet Arts. PLAY CLIP (5:46)
Click here to listen to an interview with Platine from Maetreum. PLAY CLIP (4:34)