RADIO REBELS
(in development)
“Radio Rebels” will tell the story of the micro radio movement and introduce some of the individuals involved in this decade-long rebellion - individuals who routinely defy convention in the name of free speech, democracy, and cultural identity.
The program will examine how these passionate characters got involved in micro radio, and document the highlights and frustrations of these radio rebels as they fight for their first amendment rights.
SYNOPSIS:
In 1987 in the town of Springfield, Illinois, Mbanna Kantako - blind, black, and broke - began broadcasting a weak radio signal from his home. He had no idea he had just founded the modern micro radio movement. His tiny, one-watt transmitter had enough oomph to reach several thousand neighbors in his predominately african-american community. Surviving entirely off public donations, Kantako - still on the air today - has used his micro station as an organizing and advocacy tool to address political and social issues in his community.
Inspired by the success of Kantako (and disheartened by the major media's coverage of the Gulf War), a twenty-four year old Stephen Dunnifer started broadcasting a 20 watt signal to his neighbors in Berkeley, California in 1994. An electronics whiz, Dunnifer soon expanded the revolution by producing the first affordable micro radio kit. Today, using one of Dunnifer's inexpensive kits, just about anyone can broadcast a signal that covers up to several square miles. The Federal Communications Commission now estimates the number of micro radio stations in the U.S. at over 1000, despite having shut down more than 400 in the last two years.
Micro radio operators such as Kantako and Dunnifer - who frequently operate in basements and out of hidden or mobil locations - assert that this medium is perhaps one of the last channels for the expression of alternative, non-corporate viewpoints in the American media system. Unfortunately, they must operate outside the law in order to get their message across, since micro stations have been legally banned since 1978. They also claim that the airwaves in the United States have become the exclusive domain of the wealthy since high power licenses can cost millions in an urban market. And the billion dollar commercial stations that dominate the system - despite broadcasting over public airwaves - have practically no obligations to public interest, localism, diversity, or civic action. Amazingly, this violates the spirit of the legislation which created the FCC - the 1934 Communications act - with the mandate of regulating the airwaves in the public "interest, convenience, and necessity."
As a result of the telecommunications act of 1996 and the ensuing spate of corporate mergers and buyouts, micro radio stations are speaking to an increasingly under-represented public in their quest. Mbanna Kantako has focused his efforts on raising the consciousness of listeners to police brutality in his neighborhood, and to this day he continues to address community oriented issues of equality, justice, and social welfare. In addition to local politics, Micro radio operators offer a significant amount of music and cultural programming as well - many micro stations broadcast the music of local artists who are not normally heard on the mainstream stations, as well as poetry readings, literature, and discussions by local authors.
Micro radio broadcasters assert that their signals do not interfere with their high-powered brethren - to do so would be counter productive. Yet the industry group that represents corporate media - the National Association of Broadcasters - has repeatedly and publicly stated their desire to see micro radio eliminated based on this claim. And the FCC has mounted an offensive against micro radio broadcasters in the last two years - harassing, confiscating equipment, and fining these citizen activists, forcing shutdown after shutdown, leaving the impression that the agency's mandate is to enforce the will of corporate media, not to serve the public interest.
Currently however, the FCC is currently administrating the creation of a low-power license for micro radio stations. Yet initial licenses issued by the FCC indicate that this may be a veiled attempt to silence the voices of current micro radio operators. For instance, according to current FCC rules, all new licenses must be put up for auction and sold to the highest bidder. For this and other reasons, micro advocates are outraged that these new licenses will never end up in the hands of grass roots activists like the rebels who currently broadcast on micro radio stations.
©2009 Differential Films