From Boing Boing

In the latest MAKE Weekend Projects video, Bre Pettis and Joe Grand show you how to use radio frequency modules to make wireless gizmos. Click here fro mp4 and mov files.

From Eliot Van Buskirk in Wired:

A federal bill that would reset music royalties at a more affordable rate for thousands of internet radio stations is losing steam in the House of Representatives, raising new fears for the future of webcasting.
First-time webcasting fees proposed by recording industry royalty-administration group SoundExchange took effect last month, setting off a wave of protests and last-minute negotiations aimed at reducing the hit for smaller webcasters and capping rates for sites that support hundreds of customized stations.
Negotiations are ongoing, but chances of broad legislative relief in the form of the Internet Radio Equality Act, or IREA, are fading fast, according to several people familiar with the effort. Rather, Congress appears resolved to let SoundExchange and the various strata of webcasters negotiate individual settlements.
"We met with members of the House and Senate judiciary committees this week, and while they all were supportive of small webcasters, time after time we heard the IREA was not going to pass," said Rusty Hodge, founder of webcaster SomaFM.
A legislative setback could make it harder to dislodge the new fees, which took effect last month after a federal appeals court refused to postpone the payment deadline. With the threat of congressional backlash fading, SoundExchange could find little incentive to budge from its current position.
The importance of legislative pressure in the negotiation process was underscored late Thursday. In a joint statement, Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) said they were "troubled by the lack of negotiating progress" and promised to take action to push the IREA bill forward if agreements are not made by Sept. 3. Given the lack of support in the House, however, the chances of the bill becoming law currently look remote.
SoundExchange has already proposed changes that could relieve small and custom-streaming sites from charges they could not possibly afford to pay, at least in the short term. Many expect a small-webcaster deal to be done by early September, when Congress goes back into session. But the deal on the table hasn't changed since SoundExchange extended an offer in May to charge them 10 percent of gross revenue under $250,000, or 12 percent of gross revenues over $250,000, with a revenue cap at $1.25 million.
Webcasters say they are wary of the deal because of a provision that would shift webcasters from the percentage rate to the higher per-stream rate once they exceed certain usage caps.
"That's the sticking point," said SomaFM's Hodge. "In our optimistic projections, SomaFM won't hit the revenue cap for a couple years, (but) when we hit it, our royalties would go from $150,000 a year to over $2 million a year. "
For larger webcasters, such as custom-streaming site Pandora, coming to terms could take longer. Talks are ongoing over a proposal to cap per-station fees, but Tim Westergren, co-founder of Pandora, said there has been "no material change -- we're in a slow negotiation process now."
Reaching a settlement with SoundExchange could take even longer for the largest webcasters, which have been given no hint of a deal beyond the current Copyright Royalty Board rates. In the absence of any alternative, they will likely seek to strike deals directly with the major labels rather than accepting SoundExchange's mandatory license.

From Prometheus Radio Project:

Hello supporters of low power FM Radio, and Greetings from the Prometheus Radio Project! Read below to get your Congressmembers signed on to expand low power FM radio to America's cities, smaller communities, and your neck of the woods.

You last heard from us in late June, when community radio hopefuls and broadcasters alike announced a breakthrough in the fight to bring low power FM radio licenses to thousands more cities and towns. On June 21, Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA) joined Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE), as well as Senator John McCain and Senator Maria Cantwell, to introduce the Local Community Radio Act of 2007. This bill -- H.R. 2802 in the House and S. 1675 in the Senate -- is what we have been fighting for for years -- a chance for community radio hopefuls from Omaha to Orlando to get new licenses to build their own low power FM radio stations. (Learn more about how Congress limited low power FM radio in most American cities here -- http://www.prometheusradio.org/take_action/lpfm_in_congress).


Please help us to continue this momentum and get more Congressmembers to support low power FM radio. If we are able to get more Congressmembers to cosponsor this bill over the next week before Congress goes on vacation -- we'll be in great shape for a vote to expand community radio in the fall. No one will do this work for you -- we need you to make this call, or write a letter, for community radio, today.

You can find your Congressmember's information at
http://www.congress.org, or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. You can also look them up at http://www.freepress.net/lpfm/.

Want more background? Read House Bill 2802 here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.2802: -- and read Senate Bill 1675 here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.1675:.
Or get summaries of low power FM facts at http://www.expandlpfm.org,
http://www.prometheusradio.org, or http://www.freepress.net/lpfm.

Check and see if your Congressmember has cosponsored the low power FM radio bill here -- http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR02802:@@@P -- some Congressmembers have committed to signing on, like the ones mentioned above, but aren't listed yet!

PPS -- Read a few great stories about the low power FM bills at MyDD.com:
http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/6/21/13024/5742

At the Black Agenda Report:
http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=259&Itemid=39

And from the United Methodist Church:
http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2072531&ct=4027825

PPS -- Here's Mr. Doyle's question on low power FM radio today, at the Congressional Oversight Hearing for the FCC:

In 2004, the FCC issued a report to Congress on the Low Power FM Interference Testing Program after getting public comment on the engineering studies it commissioned. After reviewing all the facts, data and potential for interference, the FCC said in that report quote "Congress should re-address this issue and modify the statute to eliminate the third-adjacent channel distant separation requirements for LPFM stations." Anyone disagree with that?

(silence) Good.

Let the record show that the silence was deafening. My friend, Lee Terry and I have a bill to allow the FCC to expand the benefits low power FM onto more places on the radio dial across the country. LPFM has been critical during emergencies like Hurricane Katrina, to religious groups trying to spread their message and to community groups interested in serving their community. It's my hope that the Commission will continue to support these stations until and after we get this bill
signed into law.

From Radio Ink:

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has come out strongly against the reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine, saying in a letter to Rep. Mike Pence, "In my judgment, the events of the last two decades have confirmed the wisdom of the [FCC's] decision to abolish the Fairness Doctrine."

Martin's letter, dated July 23 and made public today, was written in response to a July 19 letter in which Pence asked Martin for his views on "the appropriateness of the Fairness Doctrine in today's broadcast environment."

Pence and Rep. Greg Walden on July 11 introduced the Broadcaster Freedom Act, which would take away the FCC's authority to reinstate the policy that until 1987 required broadcasters to present both sides of any controversial issue, and the bill now has more than 130 co-sponsors. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate last month.

In his letter, Martin states, "Discussion of controversial issues over the airwaves has flourished absent regulatory constraints, and the public now enjoys access to an ever-expanding range of views and opinions. Indeed, with the continued proliferation of additional sources of information and programming, including satellite broadcasting and the Internet, the need for the Fairness Doctrine has lessened even further since 1987."

Martin concludes, "In short, I see no compelling reason to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine in today's broadcast environment and believe that such a step would inhibit the robust discussion of issues of public concern over the nation's airwaves."

From Daily Wireless:
In one of the largest studies into the short-term health effects of mobile phone technology, just completed in England (pdf), Essex University measured “heart rate, blood pressure, and skin conductance,” for reactions over three years. The research study all but debunkes the theory that cell phone towers, or electronic interference, is making people physically ill, reports the BBC.

Britain’s Health Protection Agency (HPA) said that they could find no scientific evidence that feelings of anxiety, nausea, and tiredness occur due to the presence of electronics, or GSM and 3G cell phone equipment or WiFi.

The Key Points in their finding:
There is no consistent evidence to date that exposure to RF signals from WiFi and WLANs adversely affect the health of the general population.
The signals from WiFi are very low power, typically 0.1 watt (100 milliwatts) in both the computer and the mast (or router) and resulting exposures should be well within internationally accepted guidelines.
The frequencies used are broadly the same as those from other RF applications such as FM radio, TV and mobile phones.
Based on current knowledge, RF exposures from WiFi are likely to be lower than those from mobile phones.
On the basis of current scientific information, exposures from WiFi equipment satisfy international guidelines. There is no consistent evidence of health effects from RF exposures below guideline levels and no reason why schools and others should not use WiFi equipment.

Summary: On the basis of current evidence, the HPA does not consider there to be a problem with the safety of WLAN.

Artists are invited to submit proposals for the free103point9 Wave Farm Transmission Sculpture Garden. This is a three-part application process. The review panel will be comprised of members of free103point9’s staff and Advisory Board of distinguished artists, critics, and curators.
Submission Guidelines Phase I
Postmark Deadline September 30

Artists are encouraged to visit Wave Farm before submitting a proposal. See free103point9 Wave Farm for dates and details about upcoming events.

Artist Name:

Artist Contact Information:

Artist Resume / CV:

Artist Statement:
Please describe your artistic practice in a brief statement not exceeding 300 words.

Preliminary Project Description:
Please describe your proposed project in a brief statement not exceeding 500 words. Proposals selected by the review panel will be invited to submit a comprehensive proposal in order to assess feasibility based on installation schematics and program funding.

Past Project Work Samples:
Please include work samples relating to two or three past projects. Work samples should be submitted in electronic formats including jpegs, PDFs, QuickTime, MP3s, etc. Please do NOT submit slides.

Submission Address:
info@free103point9.org (subject: Transmission Sculpture Garden Proposal: Artist Name)
or
free103point9 Wave Farm
Transmission Sculpture Garden Proposals
5662 Route 23
Acra, NY 12405


Phase II
(Notification: October 31, 2007)

Up to five projects, selected in Phase I, will be invited to submit a second comprehensive proposal that includes detailed installation schematics and an itemized budget.

Phase III
(Notification: January 15, 2008)

Selected projects will either be scheduled for installation, funding permitting, or free103point9 will work with selected artists to secure project funding to enable installation at a future date.

The free103point9 Wave Farm Sculpture Garden is supported, in part, by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Individual Artists and Electronic Media and Film Programs of the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency; and the Greene County Legislature through the County Initiative Program, administered in Greene County by the Greene County Council on the Arts.

For more information see:
http://www.free103point9.org/sculpturegarden.php

New York, New York, New York
So nice we named it thrice.
December 14, 2007 through January 2008
Deadline: October 1

This is an open call for artists working in all media to participate in Flux Factory’s Winter 2007 show, New York, New York, New York.

New York, New York, New York is an interactive, multimedia installation consisting of a large model of New York City inspired loosely by the Panorama at the Queens Museum. It will be located in five separate spaces (one in each borough). Instead of being an exact replica to scale of the city of New York, this project offers a mental map, a replica of an imaginary New York. The goal of the show is to explore the architectural and conceptual elements of everyday space. It is an investigation into the collective unconscious of the cultural capital of the planet.

Each artist will contribute a building, a landmark, a street, an avenue, a block, a park, a neighborhood, an expressway, a bridge, an island, an airport—one or several elements of the urban environment. All of these individual works will be combined to produce a cohesive yet chaotic installation, a multimedia, scale model version of the city.

We want artists not to think so much about New York as it actually is, but New York as a possible space. We encourage participants to explore the city's great myths and urban legends, grandiose unrealized projects, future visions from the past, as well as individual and personal experiences of the city.

Models will be installed on the gallery floor, keep in mind that each project needs to be integrated with the rest of the show. Think of your production as a single piece in a larger puzzle. Scales can vary between 1:200 and 1:2000.

Please send us a CV as well as a less than one page descriptive text and a couple of visuals. Please include specific dimensions and materials. Documentation of past relevant work will also be accepted. Also (and importantly), please be very specific about the location of your piece: specify the Borough and the exact neighborhood you want to work on.

Email all proposals to Jean@fluxfactory.org or mail (with S.A.S.E) to
Attn: NY-NY-NY
Flux Factory
38-38 43rd Street,
LIC, NY 11101 USA

From Eliot Van Buskirk in Wired:

In the US, television and terrestrial radio stations don't have to pay statutory royalties to artists and labels, the way net radio, satellite, and cable stations do.

Last Thursday, July 19th -- the same day SoundExchange and webcasters met with Congress to try to hash out fair royalty rates for webcasters -- President George W. Bush indicated to attendees of a speech at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, that he hadn't exactly been following those proceedings.

From an official press release from Bush's Press Secretary:

Question: Mr. President, music is one of our largest exports the country has. Currently, every country in the world -- except China, Iran, North Korea, Rwanda and the United States -- pay a statutory royalty to the performing artists for radio and television air play. Would your administration consider changing our laws to align it with the rest of the world?

The President: Help. (Laughter.) Maybe you've never had a President say this -- I have, like, no earthly idea what you're talking about. (Laughter and applause.) Sounds like we're keeping interesting company, you know? (Laughter.)

Look, I'll give you the old classic: contact my office, will you? (Laughter.) I really don't -- I'm totally out of my lane. I like listening to country music, if that helps. (Laughter.)

From Michael Arrington in Tech Crunch:

I was very pleased to see Google publicly wade into the upcoming FCC auctions for the 700MHz spectrum that will occur early next year. Should all go well, the new spectrum could be used to create a new open-access wireless broadband “pipe” into people’s homes and devices. If things go less well, the existing wireless giants would buy the spectrum and impose similar usage restrictions that exist on cellular networks in the U.S. today, putting us further behind Europe and Asia.

CEO Eric Schmidt sent a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin stating that they would commit to bid at least $4.6 billion in the auctions if four key platform rules are adopted. These rules will define what types of services the winner could offer, and would require third party access to the bandwidth:

Open applications: Consumers should be able to download and utilize any software applications, content, or services they desire;
Open devices: Consumers should be able to utilize a handheld communications device with whatever wireless network they prefer;
Open services: Third parties (resellers) should be able to acquire wireless services from a 700 MHz licensee on a wholesale basis, based on reasonably nondiscriminatory commercial terms; and
Open networks: Third parties (like internet service providers) should be able to interconnect at any technically feasible point in a 700 MHz licensee’s wireless network.
Given the sorry state of the mobile landscape in the U.S., I’d expect the FCC to adopt these pro-consumer rules without any fuss. But the incumbent players, including AT&T and Verizon, are saying they are opposed to open access and may not participate if these rules are adopted. Google’s public move was made to let the FCC (and the public) know that there are companies very happy to bid in an open-access world.

AT&T’s response to Google’s letter was breathtaking in its audacity:

Not satisfied with a compromise proposal from Chairman Martin that meets most of its conditions, Google has now delivered an all or nothing ultimatum to the U.S. Government, insisting that every single one of their conditions “must” be met or they will not participate in the spectrum auction. Google is demanding the Government stack the deck in its favor, limit competing bids, and effectively force wireless carriers to alter their business models to Google’s liking. We would repeat that Google should put up or shut up— they can bid and enter the wireless market with any business model they prefer, then let consumers decide which model they like best.

For anyone who doesn’t look too closely at the issue, AT&T’s response seems very reasonable: keep government regulation out of the spectrum let the market decide which services win. But that isn’t really what would happen at all. If fewer government restrictions are placed on the bandwidth the auction winners will be able to extract more profits at the expense of competitors and consumers. So naturally they don’t want to see open access rules like those recommended by Google. The incumbents also don’t want to see Google play in their sandbox and bidding against them - so they have yet another reason to oppose their proposal.

The FCC has competing goals of maximizing revenue from the auction (suggesting less regulation) and protecting the public (suggesting more rules to force competition). Having open access requirements like those suggested by Google will spur competition and grow an economy around this spectrum. It will also put commercial pressure on mobile operators and broadband companies to reduce the restrictions they have on current broadband and mobile services.

Google isn’t always not evil, but in this case they are going to bat for all of us against some players with pretty bad history when it comes to offering consumer products. I’m behind them on this. And to the FCC: please learn from past mistakes, ignore the lobbyists this time, and do what is in the best interests of the public.

From David Pescovitz in BoingBoing:

Developed in the 1940s, Stratovision was a system to rebroadcast TV and FM radio signals via transmitters mounted on airplanes. Westinghouse radar engineer Charles E. Nobles invented the technology to bring media to "small town and farm homes" that he believed terrestrial transmitters atop city buildings couldn't reach. A 1948 demonstration fueled hype that Stratovision had the potential to transform media deliver. Two years later though, it was obsolete. From Air & Space Smithsonian:

(On June 23, 2948, a) B-29, orbiting 25,000 feet above Pittsburgh, rebroadcast the Republican convention directly from WMAR-TV in Baltimore, 9 to 10 p.m. EDT. The bomber was outfitted with an eight-foot mast on its vertical stabilizer to receive programs; the signal was sent from the antenna to the cabin, and on to the broadcast antenna. The antenna, stored horizontally in the bomb bay, projected 28 feet down when operating.

After the convention transmission, Martin and Westinghouse representatives trumpeted Stratovision’s future. They foresaw a nationwide Stratovision network, with programs beamed from one airplane to the next. Fourteen airplanes could bring TV and FM radio to 78 percent of the population; a comparable ground installation network would require more than 100 relay points, Westinghouse estimated. A fleet of 60 Martin 202 airliners would suffice...

In 1949, AT&T set up a coaxial cable network to connect the East Coast with the Midwest, largely through underground wiring. Westinghouse dropped Stratovision in 1950.

From Farhad Manjoo in Salon:

Late last week SoundExchange, the recording-industry group that collects royalties from Internet radio stations, agreed to limit one key part of the new fees that threatened to shut down a great many webcasters. But now it seems that SoundExchange's benevolence came at a price: in exchange for reducing fees, the recording industry wants webcasters to prevent listeners from copying the music they get through Internet radio -- despite the fact that such copying may be perfectly legal.

SoundExchange had previously asked radio stations for $500 for each channel of music that they send out to listeners, a fee that would have added up to more than a billion dollars for the industry. On Friday, the royalty group agreed to cap the amount at $50,000 per webcaster. The fee cap all but saved Internet radio from certain death.

As Ars Technica points out, though, SoundExchange says in a press release that it will only extend the deal to webcasters who "work to stop users from engaging in 'stream ripping' -- turning Internet radio performances into a digital music library."

Stream ripping refers to the practice of recording songs from an Internet feed. Several programs -- StationRipper, RadioLover, Streamripper, among others -- make this a pretty easy process. Once your record a song from an Internet radio channel, you can play it like any other MP3, in any order you choose, without logging back in to the webcaster's stream. Considering how easy that sounds, some industry observers have speculated that people who were scared off by file sharing may be moving to stream ripping as an alternative source of free music online.

But there isn't much firm data about the practice. The recording industry has trouble estimating how many music files are traded illegally online, but recording a Web radio stream, like recording a show on TiVo, occurs off the network, in the privacy of your own computer. And even if stream ripping is widespread, it's not clear what radio stations can do to stop it. Stream rippers work by capturing the music going straight to your PC's speakers, in much the same way that your TiVo or your VCR copies video as it flies between your cable box and your TV. Copy-protection programs simply can't stop this sort of copying.

And though legal opinion is unsettled on the question, many copyright experts argue that stream ripping, like recording TV shows on your VCR, is legal. All you're doing is "time shifting" -- recording something at Time A to play back (for yourself) at Time B.

Like the music industry, Web radio stations aren't big fans of stream ripping. They'd rather have you come back to their site each time you want to listen to music. But many also stay away from the main methods to combat ripping -- webcasting at a lower bitrate, mixing promos and jingles over the music, crossfading songs so they don't start and end cleanly.

You have to wonder if the recording the industry -- now that it's got webcasters locked in negotiations for their future -- will have any trouble imposing such reduced-quality streams.

From a press release from Nydia M. VelÃzquez:

Last night, Chairwoman of the Committee on Small Business, Nydia M. VelÃzquez and Ranking Member Steve Chabot came together to introduce bi-partisan legislation in a final attempt to postpone the implementation of new royalty rates for webcasters and allow additional time to find a solution. The new rates put into place by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), are scheduled to go into effect this Sunday, July 15 and many caution that their implementation will mean the end of the industry for Internet radio. Efforts to reach a compromise have not yet been successful, and this legislation, HR 3015, would delay implementation of the rate increase by 60 days, allowing continued negotiation so a satisfactory arrangement can be reached.

"We are coming down to the wire on this issue, and as the royalty rates currently stand, I am concerned that webcasters and musicians alike will be harmed, perhaps even irreparably," said Chairwoman Velázquez. "There has not yet been an agreement reached that provides fair compensation to artists while allowing broadcasters to stay on the air without excessive fees. I urge my colleagues to support this bill to allow an opportunity for that compromise to be reached."

H.R. 3015 would postpone the implementation of the CRB decision for two months, allowing internet broadcasters and the music industry more time to come to a suitable compromise. Under the current fee structure, firms pay a percentage of their revenue, a system beneficial to small companies with lower profit margins. The new regulations would designate a flat fee that must be paid each time a song is played. For many small broadcasters, this would drastically increase their costs and some industry insiders have projected that royalty payments will more than double. The new fee system will also cover all broadcasts since January 1, 2006, leaving webcasters open to high back payments and possible legal action for unauthorized public performance. H.R. 3015 would maintain the current revenue based system for 60 days past the July 15 deadline, during which time, a more equitable system can be agreed upon. VelÃzquez and Chabot sent letters to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, urging them to adopt this legislation. A letter was also sent to Sound Exchange and the Digital Media Association advising the groups to use the 60 days to make earnest negotiations.

"The July 15 implementation date of the CRB's ruling is making on-going negotiations more challenging," said Congressman Chabot. "During last month's Small Business Committee hearing on this issue, there was a consensus among the Committee Members that it would be preferable to have this matter resolved between the parties. This legislation creates a positive environment to encourage continued dialogue and negotiation."

The Committee held a hearing on June 28 to hear testimony on the impact the CRB decision will have on internet broadcasters, musicians and record labels. Both sides of the issue came to the table and the consensus was that fair compensation to musicians was crucial, but that the royalties as they currently stand could be prohibitively expensive for small internet broadcasters. Additionally, independent musicians voiced there support for internet radio, citing its promotional value,
as most terrestrial radio stations limit their broadcasts to mainstream
artists.

"We must find a solution that will satisfy both sides of this issue, and a little more time may be all that is necessary," Chairwoman VelÃzquez said. "It is critical that we take steps to ensure that small internet webcasters continue to thrive."

Several reports on the New York Radio Message Board indicate there is a microcasting station calling itself "Lincoln 101.5 Radio" operating on 101.5-FM in New York City. Other reports have 88.9 Mhz (covering WSIA) & 90.5 Mhz, in Spring Valley Ney York and at 90.9 theres an orthodox Jewish pirate from Brooklyn. I can hear the station with a weak signal in my car all along the western bank of the Hudson in New jersey & into NYC. The two Creole operations at 88.9 & 90.5 are 24/7 stereo stations now.

From Electronic Frontier Foundation:

Negotiations on the proposed WIPO Broadcasting Treaty ended on Friday with some welcome news. WIPO Member States agreed to postpone the high-level intergovernmental Diplomatic Conference at which the draft treaty could have been adopted, and have moved discussions back to regular committee meetings, down a notch from the last two "Special Session" meetings.

The Diplomatic Conference had been scheduled to take place in November 2007. It has now been postponed indefinitely until Member States reach agreement on the objectives, specific scope and object of protection of the proposed treaty. Given the vast differences between Member States' positions that emerged this week on core parts of the treaty, agreement does not look likely in the near future. Although the treaty is still on WIPO's agenda and by no means dead, the practical effect of today's decision is that it is no longer on the fast track. That's good news indeed for the Internet Community, including the over 1500 podcasters who signed an Open Letter to WIPO expressing concern about the treaty, which EFF delivered to WIPO this week. Member States refused to set a date for a diplomatic conference. They rejected proposals from the WIPO Copyright Committee Chair, Mr. Jukka Liedes, to postpone the diplomatic conference to November/December 2008, to convene a further "Special Session" of the WIPO Copyright Committee focused on finalizing the treaty, and to create a "modern framework" for "webcasting organizations". Instead, it was agreed that the subject of protection of broadcasting and cablecasting organizations would stay on the agenda and be discussed in regular sessions of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights. After the jump we have the full text of the conclusions of the meeting, together with notes from today's meeting.

Before a Diplomatic Conference can be convened, Member States must reach agreement on the core elements of a treaty - the objectives, specific scope and object of protection. While this week's informal session discussions may have helped clarify Member States' positions, it does not seem to have brought them closer. There is widespread agreement amongst many Member States, public interest NGOs. libraries and the tech industry that any treaty must focus on the issue of signal theft and not the creation of exclusive rights that will harm those communities. However, it's equally clear from this week that broadcasters will not settle for anything other than exclusive rights.

In the meantime, apart from pulling the plug on a diplomatic conference that seemed doomed for failure, as the delegate of India and Jamie Love of Knowledge Ecology International have both noted, today's decision also provides a much-needed opportunity for WIPO to start focusing on other initiatives, such as facilitating access to knowledge, evaluating the impact of legally-enforced technological protection measures on exceptions and limitations, and Chile's 2004 proposal for mandatory exceptions and limitations to copyright law for education, the disabled and libraries and archives. Now that would be good news indeed.
June 22, 2007.

From Reclaim the Media:

Senators Maria Cantwell and John McCain have introduced a Senate bill to authorize hundreds of local, noncommercial Low Power FM radio stations to communities across the country. A companion bill was introduced in the House. The Local Community Radio Act of 2007 would remove the artificial restrictions imposed on LPFM by a 2000 law passed at the urging of corporate radio giants and NPR, claiming that small community stations would interfere with the signals of larger stations. While these claims were debunked by a taxpayer-funded study in 2002, Congress has not yet acted on those results - denying many communities the opportunity to apply for LPFM stations.

If passed, this bill will pave the way for educational groups, nonprofits, unions, schools and local governments to launch new local radio stations across the country. Get additional details from the Prometheus Radio Project, and express your support for local radio by signing the online petition at ExpandLPFM.org.

Bipartisan legislation was introduced today in both the House and Senate that would bring hundreds of local, Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations to cities and suburbs across the country.

On a national press call this morning, the Indigo Girls joined religious groups, community radio broadcasters and public interest advocates in support of the "Local Community Radio Act of 2007" sponsored by Reps. Mike Doyle (D-Penn.) and Lee Terry (R-Neb.) in the House, and Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the Senate.

"Radio should reflect the vibrant diversity of music, points of view and news in our communities, not just the narrow content a few large radio conglomerates deem profitable," said Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls. "The Local Community Radio Act can make this idea a reality and deserves the support of Congress and community groups across the country."

On the call, the House co-sponsors of the Local Community Radio Act explained the importance of the legislation.

"Diverse, informative, thought-provoking, locally oriented programming has been dramatically restricted across the country by the current federal laws governing the separation between broadcast frequencies," Congressman Mike Doyle said. "Enactment of this legislation would improve the quality of life in communities across the country by providing new and different programming -- and especially programming addressing local interests and events -- to these communities."

"I really believe Low Power Radio has the potential to make communities stronger," Congressman Lee Terry said. "Congress should be expanding the forums for our local communities to communicate. There are several groups in the Omaha area that want to apply for an LPFM station, and that s why I am working to push this legislation forward. I encourage my colleagues to jump on board and get more local stations on the air."

In response to the introduction of the Local Community Radio Act, FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said: "Localism and diversity have always been at the heart of radio. Many Low Power FM stations across America reflect the best of these traditions and have flourished despite existing interference standards. As I've traveled throughout this country, I've seen local churches, schools and other community-based organizations use low power stations to broadcast locally relevant news, information and music. That's the essence of radio, and we should do all we can to promote it."

LPFM stations are community-based, noncommercial radio stations that broadcast to neighborhoods and small towns. LPFM licenses make owning a radio station possible for churches, schools, labor unions and other community groups that best understand the needs of their local communities.

"The founders of WRYR built our station to help educate our community, promote its uniqueness, and assist in fighting sprawl along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay," said WRYR-LP founder Mike Shay. "The station has focused people in our area to care even more about local businesses and environmental issues. Because of Low Power FM radio, we are more politically active, caring, and engaged, which has enabled us to make a difference in our community."

LPFM stations have also been essential in times of crisis. During Hurricane Katrina, LPFM stations in the Gulf Coast region stayed on the air and provided their neighbors with lifesaving information.

"Our low power station helped many people find shelter and restart their lives after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," said John Freeman, director of the Southern Development Foundation and founder of Louisiana's KOCZ-LP, Opelousas Community Zydeco Radio. "Folks knew to listen to us during the storm, and to work with us and our community to rebuild, because our station was the strongest source of Zydeco music in the town where it was founded. Opelousas is relying on KOCZ for church services on Sunday, youth hip-hop programming, Gospel, health information, and more. Low Power FM is helping our community to grow."

In 2000, Congress authorized the FCC to issue LPFM licenses. But legislators attached an unnecessary rule that limited LPFM stations to rural areas. Since then, thousands who submitted applications with the FCC to operate their own stations have been blocked.

"Effective and meaningful communication vehicles are a must for cities like Omaha," said Tim Clark, president of the 100 Black Men of Omaha Chapter, an organization that has been unable to obtain an LPFM license. "The need for Low Power FM radio stations for inner cities is so important when it comes to creating a sense of community and purpose, and uplifting a people to move to action. With so many commercially driven stations mostly driven by the bottom line, the community does not have a voice -- no way to mobilize the community to action. New community Low Power FM stations will give an opportunity for people to have a greater appreciation for their history, cultural enrichment and community pride."

Since 2000, the FCC has awarded more than 800 LPFM licenses to church groups, schools and civil rights organizations. The bills introduced today would authorize the FCC to license hundreds -- if not thousands -- of new LPFM stations in cities, towns and suburbs across the country.

"We ve been building radio stations that strengthen local music and culture, give families access to their local governments, help diverse communities get on the air, and save lives -- in rural communities," said Hannah Sassaman, organizer with Prometheus Radio Project, a group that helps set up community radio stations. "We applaud Congressman Doyle and Congressman Terry for their great vision in bringing this vital service to America's cities."

"Radio consolidation has shrunk playlists and knocked whole genres of music such as jazz and bluegrass off the commercial dial," said Future of Music Coalition s Policy Director Michael Bracy. "The Local Community Radio Act holds the promise to return radio to what made it great: cutting edge music, diverse genres and voices, and local, community-based programming. This is something Congress should have done a long time ago."

In 2003, the FCC released a $2 million, taxpayer-funded study -- known as the "MITRE Study" -- which unequivocally found that increasing the number of LPFM stations would not cause significant interference. The FCC urged Congress to repeal the restrictions it had placed on licensing LPFM stations. But no action has been taken.

"The number of churches that could have been granted LPFM licenses could have been beyond 500 had the FCC been allowed to accept applications from more communities," said Dr. Ken Bowles, general manager of Midwest Christian Media and founder of KHIS-LP in Cape Girardeau, Mo. "The MITRE study was done at the direction of Congress. Congress now ha
s an opportunity to remove the ill-advised ban and allow Christian low power broadcasting to flourish -- bringing new formats and localization to urban areas."

LPFM stations have been instrumental in allowing religious groups to broadcast their church services, reaching new audiences and people who are unable to leave their homes.

"We believe it is the responsibility of the church to foster public dialogue about matters that affect the quality of life of people in local communities. It is our experience that Low Power FM radio is more responsive to this dialogue and serves the community more effectively than corporations far removed from local concerns," said Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications.

"The power to speak is the power to persuade, and thus the power to change the world," said Cheryl Leanza, managing director of the United Church of Christ Office of Communication, Inc. "Low Power Radio is about giving many people voice who have been voiceless and powerless. The United Church of Christ is excited that this legislation will enable more community groups and churches to bring their voices to the airwaves."

The 1996 Telecommunications Act dramatically increased media consolidation - and decreased media diversity. LPFM stations provide opportunities for people of color and women to run local radio stations and for local groups to address issues affecting their community.

"Media consolidation has made it extremely difficult for women and people of color to become radio station owners," said Joe Torres, government relations manager of Free Press. "People of color own just 7.7 percent of all full-power radio stations and women own less than 6 percent. This important legislation would provide more people of color and women with opportunities they are denied in the commercial sector."

"Consumers Union strongly supports this legislation to provide more creative opportunities for communities to be heard in what has become a very consolidated radio marketplace," said Gene Kimmelman, vice president of federal and international affairs at Consumers Union.

"We are extremely pleased to see Congress moving forward legislation to bring more LPFM radio stations to communities throughout the country," said Parul Desai, assistant director of Media Access Project. "LPFM stations serve the needs of the local community, which are often neglected by commercial broadcasters. Our hope is that Congress acts quickly on this legislation so that constituents can begin to reap the benefits of a local voice in their community."

"Common Cause urges members of Congress to support the Low Power FM bill, said Lauren Coletta, senior director of media programs at Common Cause. Low Power FM stations are organized by local people to serve their communities in unique ways that commercial broadcasters are unwilling to do."

"In California, we've seen the value of radio stations that are local and community-driven," said Jeff Perlstein, executive director of Media Alliance. "It's high time Congress put these public resources -- these radio frequencies -- to work for the public."

"LPFM is a low-cost, high-democracy form of community media, said Anthony Riddle, executive director of Alliance for Community Media. "There ought to be a way for every community with the will and an idea to have its own voice. Congressmen Doyle and Terry shouldn't just be applauded-- they should be joined by every other member in supporting this eloquent and simple ideal."

"While other forms of media are consolidated and homogenous, Low Power FM remains an innovative outlet for local and diverse voices," said Amina Fazullah, staff attorney for U.S. PIRG. "This legislation is a great step forward towards a responsive media that serves citizens and not the corporate interest."

From Kate Gilman, Press Secretary, House Small Business Committee, Majority Staff Chairwoman, Nydia M. Velázquez, NY-12:

The House Committee on Small Business will hold a hearing June 28 titled "Assessing the Impact of the Copyright Royalty Board Decision to Increase Royalty Rates on Recording Artists and Webcasters." Small Webcasters that provide daily music entertainment to individuals nationwide will be at risk of going silent on July 15, after an increase in royalty rates from the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) comes into effect.

The hearing will examine the decision to raise rates, the impact it will have on Internet Radio, and the challenges of providing fair compensation for copyright owners while maintaining a business environment that allow small Webcasters to thrive. The committee will hear testimony from various Internet Radio outlets, as well as music artists that stand on both sides of the issue.

*Thursday, June 28, 10 a.m. at 2360 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington D.C.

From Cory Doctorow in Boing Boing:

The National Association of Broadcasters of America has broken its own by-laws and trampled the position of NPR and PBS, endorsing a controversial policy at the United Nations.

This week, the UN's World Intellectual Property Organization is holding a critical debate on the "Broadcast Treaty." This treaty would establish a new copyright-like right, but whereas copyright goes to people who make creative works, Broadcast Rights go to companies that broadcast other people's copyrighted works. The Broadcast Right isn't subject to the same fair use limits as copyright, which means that even if copyright lets you record a broadcast for criticism or parody, you will need to separately get an exemption under the Broadcast Right. More gravely, if means that if you license your work under Creative Commons, the people who distribute the files or air the program can overrule your generosity and insist that your fans not copy your work.

This treaty threatens the Internet as we know it. Novel services like YouTube and novel practice like podcasting would not exist today if this treaty was already implemented.

The General Assembly of WIPO has ordered Jukka Liedes, the chairman of the relevant committee to cut this out, instructing him to oversee a much narrower treaty that will block "theft of signals" (hacking free cable or satellite), while leaving all this other business off. The chairman has gone rogue, ignoring the direction of the Assembly and producing a draft that's even worse than the previous draft.

The Chairman isn't the only one who's gone rogue, though: the National Association of Broadcasters of America has been lobbying hard all week for the treaty. One problem: PBS and NPR -- members of NABA -- oppose the treaty and have not authorized the association to lobby for this measure.

"National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service do not support a Diplomatic Conference to adopt a treaty based on the April 20, 2007 non-paper because they do not believe the treaty provides adequate protection for the fair use of broadcast and cablecast matter for newsgathering and other purposes. Bell ExpressVu does not support a Diplomatic Conference because it believes the proposed exclusive retransmission right exceeds what is necessary to prevent signal piracy or protect investment and does not contain a reservation that would permit a signatory to limit or not apply the application of the retransmission right."

Call for Papers: Canadian Journal of Communication
Special Issue on: Wireless Technologies, Mobile Practices
Mobile wireless devices such as handheld pdas, cellular telephones, and portable computers are part of a changing landscape of communications and culture. In the last decade alone, for instance, the use of cell phones has increased fourfold in Canada signaling a remarkable shift in the telecommunications industry, the convergence of a number of technologies onto a single platform, and new ways of conducting person-to-person communication and creating community. In addition to these devices, Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth, WANS, and GPS comprise integrated segments of the new infrastructure of the so-called wireless world as well as an emergent vocabulary for citizens and consumers. The Canadian Journal of Communication invites submissions, in English or in French, for a forthcoming special issue on mobile communications and wireless technologies. We are interested in innovative, critical approaches that decipher a range of mobile technologies and practices in wireless contexts. Possible themes include:
Everyday uses: sharing our lives via the mobile (text, voice, video)
Civic engagement, activism and mobile technologies
Wireless services and emergency communication
Privacy, surveillance and mobile phones
Community Wireless Networks
Policy: CRTC regulations and spectrum policy
Mobility, Labour: new conditions of work
Shifting notions of space, place and time in a mobile world
Rhetoric and discourses on mobility and wireless worlds
Art, design and mobile technologies
Mobile genres and cellular convergence
Global and international perspectives on mobile technologies

Full-length papers (@ 7000-8000 words) should be submitted electronically following the guidelines laid out on the CJC submissions website (http://www.cjc-online.ca/submissions.php). Make sure to write in all caps "MOBILE" in the Comments to the Editor field, and to include it on the cover page of your article as well. Do not include your name on the cover page. Deadline for papers is Sept. 1, 2007. Papers selected by the editors will then be sent for peer review for final decision.

New York state assembly legislators "A. LATIMER, GALEF, AUBERTINE" introduced a bill (A1214) sponsored by "M. of A. BOYLAND, CLARK, DelMONTE, D. GORDON, GRANNIS, McENENY, MILLMAN, PHEFFER," according to the New York State Assembly web site, that would make a person convicted of unauthorized radio transmission guilty of a class D felony, "punishable by imprisonment and a fine in the amount of not less than $10,000.00." A version passed the New York State Senate in 2006 (S.7074/A.9647-A); another has been introduced by Volker this year.

Assemblyperson Pheffer also wants to enact the "radio frequency identification right to know act" (A222) which would, "require retail mercantile establishments to disclose the use of RFID devices." Pheffer also has introduced two other RFID bills, A225B and A261. One establishes a task force on the privacy implications of radio frequency identification technology and the other requires the labeling of retail products or packages containing a radio frequency identification tag and provides for enforcement by the attorney general.

Tune in or turn out to Wave Farm events this summer

July 7: Tune (Out)))side
Over 30 performers playing into FM transmitters

July 21: Summer Winds
Artists using air or wind in performances.

Aug. 3-5: Campfire Sounds
Weekend avant-folk festival with camping.

Aug. 25: Animals
Performers using "animals" as a theme.

Oct. 13: Radio Festival
Unique radio art performances.


At all performances:

Wave Farm Transmission Sculpture Garden

Inaugural installations by Matt Bua and Jeff Feddersen. Special Wave Farm installations for 2007: Works by LoVid, Douglas Repetto, Michelle Rosenberg, Tianna Kennedy and Tarikh Korula, and Giancarlo Bracchi.

More details below.

Wave Farm
free103point9 Wave Farm
5662 Route 23
Acra, NY 12405
(518) 622-2598
http://www.free103point9.org/wavefarm.php

free103point9 Wave Farm is located on 30 pastoral acres in the northern foothills of Catskill Mountain Park, 120 miles north of New York City. The property features ponds, meadows, walking paths through a mature pine forest, and mountain views. Situated within the spectacular Hudson Valley, Wave Farm programs include artist residencies, a study center, a transmission sculpture garden, and a performance and exhibition series.

WAVE FARM TRANSMISSION SCULPTURE GARDEN
http://www.free103point9.org/sculpturegarden.php
The Wave Farm Transmission Sculpture Garden provides a unique opportunity for artists to conceive of and realize a long-term outdoor transmission-based installation open to the public in a retreat-like rural setting. Artists are invited to submit proposals for sculptural works that incorporate the transmission spectrum in concept or practice. Artists are encouraged to consider recycled materials in their work and utilize renewable energy sources (if power is required). Works will be installed within the 15-acre evergreen forest, situated throughout already the established
walking paths, at Wave Farm. Coinciding with free103point9 tenth anniversary celebration, free103point9's Transmission Sculpture Garden will open July 7, 2007, with inaugural installations by Jeff Feddersen and Matt Bua.

Jeff Feddersen: EarthSpeaker
EarthSpeaker is an installation of multiple units of an outdoor sonic sculpture. Each unit is a large, solar-powered, electro-acoustic speaker, which absorbs sunlight during the day and emits low frequency sounds at dusk.

Matt Bua: Sing Sun - Room
Sing Sun - Room is a customized extension built onto an existing mobile home located on the Wave Farm property. This gazebo-like structure harnesses natural elements (wind, water, and solar) to create a site-specific installation where live-sound is composed based on the surrounding environmental conditions.


SPECIAL WAVE FARM INSTALLATIONS FOR 2007
http://www.free103point9.org/wavefarm.php
LoVid, "7105"
The earthwork, "7105," is a large-scale planting of the self-seeding annual Radio Calendula. These orange quill-like flowers bloom from early summer until frost and are positioned so to create the numbers 7105, which become visible from from the birds-eye vantage point of the Wave Farm Study Center.

Douglas Repetto, "puff bang reverb"
"puff bang reverb" is a kinetic sculpture and semiaccurate, two-dimensional hyper-zoom, which exposes the secret life of displaced air molecules. "puff bang reverb" was originally commissioned by Festival Rümlingen 2005 and recently re-installed for the exhbition [silence], 2007, co-organized by free103point9 at Gigantic ArtSpace in Manhattan.

Michelle Rosenberg, "Auricle"
"Auricle" is a mobile parabolic sound reflector. It amplifies the Wave Farm waterfall to listeners standing in the focus point of the curve with adjustable plastic semi-spheres that include openings for ear placement.

"free103point9: Selected Works"
A video compilation featuring selected recordings from ten years of free103point9 archives. Compiled and edited by Giancarlo Bracchi.

Tianna Kennedy and Tarikh Korula, "Restored Archeoacoustic Recording Kit and Documentation"
Restored recording stylus, circa 1930. Kennedy and Korula performed a series of experiments in Red Hook Brooklyn (Winter 2007). Archeoacoustic research is concerned with extraction of historic, environmental sound from found objects. Exhibited in [silence], Gigantic ArtSpace, 2007.


TUNE (OUT)))SIDE 2007
http://www.free103point9.org/event.php?eventID=1168
July 7, 2007 : 3pm - 9pm
$5 admission
This outdoors variation of free103point9's Tune(In))) event features artists playing directly into five FM transmitters at free103point9's Wave Farm. No sound is amplified. Attendees tune in with radio headphones as they explore 30 acres of meadows, forests, and ponds.

Streamed live on free103point9 Online Radio.

CHANNEL ONE (entrance stage)
Marina Rosenfeld
Todd Merrell
Chris Forsyth
Matt Bua
Edmund Mooney + Jonny Farrow
Marievel Knievel
Mara Barenbaum

CHANNEL TWO (under large tree in the forest)
ben owen is curating this channel.
Gill Arno
Richard Garet
Scott Allison
Andy Graydon
ben owen
Michael Farley
Andy Hayleck

CHANNEL THREE (stage near the ponds)
Giancarlo Bracchi is curating this channel.
Mudboy
Elliot Sharp
Blues Control
Bunnybrains
QXW: Ron Rosenmon + Kyle Lapidus
Giancarlo Bracchi + Juan Matos Capote

CHANNEL FOUR (DJ booth)
()
Radio Ruido
Tom Roe
Tianna Kennedy
Sarah Margaret Halpern
John Morton
Oh My Fucking God: Jamie from Bunnybrains with Shemika Moody

CHANNEL FIVE
"free103point9: Selected Works"
A video compilation featuring selected recordings from ten years of free103point9 archives. Compiled and edited by Giancarlo Bracchi.



SUMMER WINDS
http://www.free103point9.org/event.php?eventID=1166
July 21, 2007 : 1pm - 8pm
$5 admission

Artists using wind instruments, breath, or air. Performances will take place throughout Wave Farm, both in the fields near Wave Farm's ponds, and in the forest. Free jazz, sound art, installations and other forms of wind will blow.

Audio and video web streams for this show available at www.free103point9.org.

Performers include:

Tintinnabulate - an ensemble of improvising artists founded by Pauline Oliveros at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2005. Performers often include Jonas Braasch, Alex Chechile, Pauline Oliveros, Elizabeth Panzer, Charles Veasey, Jefferson Pitcher, C. Ryder Cooley, Mike Bullock, Dan Valente, and Bart Woodstrup. The lineup for this show is not yet set.

Stars Like Fleas (Brooklyn) - In contrast to similarly free-mindedgroups currently fusing folk, noise, electronics, and as in the works of Marcel Dzama (who created the cover art for their last record) Stars Like Fleas stands out for the delicate way they commingle the disturbing, harsh and confrontational with something undeniably direct, sincere, silly, joyous and unashamedly romantic. Their set will play to the theme of wind and air.

Hassay, DeChellis, Nakatani Trio
- Gary Hassay (sax) + Dan DeChellis (piano, synth) + Tatsuya Nakatani (percussion).

Sparkle Projects - Members of the Gold Sparkle Band, with special guests.

DizzySparkle - Tom Roe with members of the Gold Sparkle Band.

Kenta Nagai + Michelle Nagai

Christopher McIntyre and others. - "Simultaneous installation-style solo and ensemble performances scattered around Wave Farm."



CAMPFIRE SOUNDS 2007
http://www.free103point9.org/event.php?eventID=1167
A
ugust 3, 2007 : 5pm - August 5, 2007 : 1pm
Camp overnight for $18. $7 admission.

free103point9's Campfire Sounds is a two-day avant folk festival on 30 acres at free103point9's Wave Farm in upstate New York. Enjoy views of the Catskill Mountains with ponds, streams, fields, and forests. Food/beverages sold. This year will be the third annual Campfire Sounds show at Wave Farm.

Streamed live on free103point9 Online Radio.

FRIDAY AUG. 3
6-9 p.m.

DJ Dizzy

Mike Tamburo (PA)

Coal Hook
Featuring Ron Schneiderman (of Sunburned Hand of the Man, Aethr Myth'd, Massachusetts) and Jørgen Teller (Belgium).

SATURDAY, AUG. 4

Shawn Onsgard (Brooklyn)

Kim Cascone (California)

Sunburned Hand of the Man (MA)

MV & EE with the Golden Road (Vermont)

Samara Lubelski (NYC)

Franklin Mint (Ulster County, NY)
Phil Franklin of Sunburned Hand of the Man plus others.

Dan Matz (Philadelphia)
Matz is a member of Windsor for the Derby.

The Dust Dive Flash (Laura Ortman, Brooklyn)

The Dust Dive (Brooklyn)

Latitude/Longitude (Brooklyn)



ANIMALS
http://www.free103point9.org/event.php?eventID=1181
August 25, 2007 : 2pm - 8pm
$10 admission

Artists performing works on the theme of "Animals." Curated by Slink Moss. A portion of the proceeds goes to Animal Kind.

Audio and video streamed live on free103point9 Online Radio.

Performers include:

Evolution Revolution
- From Albany Times Union: "Led by the one and only reel-to-reel tape manipulator Jason Martin, the band not only sings Martin's quirky fauna-friendly anthems, but the floating membership of musicians also regularly performs in animal costumes, too."

Dan Saxton Bunny
- From Justin Stewart review in The Wire of Bunny Brains set at "Campfire Sounds 2006" at Wave Farm: "Beefheart disciples...feral freak-act...head-scratching mindfuck circus show."

Latitude/Longitude
Brooklyn-based free103point9 Transmission Artists Michael Garofalo and Patrick McCarthy began performing as Latitude/Longitude in 2004. Teasing melodies out of prepared and alternately tuned guitars while electronics murmur in a nest of instrument cables at their feet, the duo weave electro-acoustic dream songs from cross-circuit chaos.

S.M.O. (Slink Moss Orchestra)
- From Mark Guarino, Daily Herald: "Moss is an enigma, with a persona more in line with voodoo wildman Screamin' Jay Hawkins and T. Rex.... Vocally, Moss is Buddy Holly without the hiccups."

Guitar Trips
- From Mike Wood in foxy digitalis: "Guitar Trips is New Yorker Doug Anson, who makes a joyful solo noise on his axe, creating bluesy, trippy sound loops with plenty of sonic paths to follow. The lo-fi, recorded in a bedroom feel adds to the richness, as if this is a series of improvs done quietly, out of sight and only for self-satisfaction."

Flaming Fire
- "Well, at least some of the kooks have stuck it out in New York City and they are in Flaming Fire, an awesomely kooky, theatrical band singing songs of biblical plagues and Egyptian sexual practices. Picture the Butthole Surfers, the Residents, the Manson Family, and the B-52s all running amok in a Kenneth Anger film."
-Meg Sneed, Vice.

Animental
- Animental is an outlet for expression in its purest form, drawing inspiration from animals. Animental explores the ideas of innate reactions and behavior of animals vs. the programmed or acceptable actions of the human animal. It hopes to empower the individual who is performing as well as transport the audience to another realm of reality. Inspiration, freedom, hope, creativity, individuality, power, and feminism are things Animental hopes to transpire. We use sound, costumes, movement, storytelling, props, lights and what ever else the participants and performers bring.

Melanie Moser
- "Adult contemporary psych."

Owl

Cabinet of Natural Curiosities



RADIO FESTIVAL 2007
http://www.free103point9.org/event.php?eventID=1230
October 13, 2007 : 2pm - 8pm
$5 admission

The public component of a weekend long artist retreat including the free103point9 Transmission Artists and 2007 AIRtime residents, Radio Festival features a series of afternoon workshops and evening performances.