What is “community” radio?
All over the country there are low-power radio stations pumping out high-powered content relevant to their local communities. These stations are built and operated by community members, students, seniors, business people, towns, parents, colleges, neighbors and friends. The KLSN community is people joining together to contribute their time and talents to create diverse and special programming.
Programming
Our programming falls into the following main categories:
- Classic hits of the 70s, 80s and 90s
- Broadcasting for the sporting events at local high schools,
- News, stories and events with a focus on our East County Communities,
- Community programming produced by local residents and students.
KLSN Broadcast Radius
KLSN's broadcast tower is located on the ridge near Bypass Road and Lone Tree Blvd.
The transmitter's range varies from 5 to 15 miles depending upon the weather. If you're having difficulty hearing us, remember that large obstacles or thick building walls may block our signal. Click here for suggestions on improving radio reception. Our signal reaches Oakley, Antioch, Brentwood, Knightsen, Byron, Discovery Bay, and parts of Pittsburg, Bethel Island and Sherman Island. Within our broadcast area, there are a combined population of approximately 270,000 residents, 6 public high schools and two college campuses.
Volunteers
KLSN runs on the enthusiasm, creativity and energy of its volunteers! Join the team that runs KLSN Community Radio!
Volunteer
Internships
Internships and apprenticeships are available to both high school (16 years and older) and college students whose educational track would benefit from radio broadcasting experience. Contact the station for more information.
Donations and Sponsorships
KLSN Community Radio is listener-supported! We provide a local alternative to for-profit commercial radio with lots of ads. Your support keeps us on the air. Please donate!
Corporate Sponsorships made this community project possible.
Find out how your company can be a part of a unique community-based radio station!
Donate! Sponsorships
Underwriting
Businesses and organizations that make donations to cover our operating expenses and underwrite our programming will receive on-air acknowledgements of their contributions as well as on our Sponsor's Page. Learn more about including KLSN radio in your marketing plan.
Underwriting
The Friends of Oakley Community Foundation
If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.
Booker T. Washington
KLSN Community Radio is a nonprofit project of The Friends of Oakley Community Foundation.
This is our governing board.
Since 2007, The Friends of Oakley has worked to strengthen our community by inspiring philanthropy, promoting volunteerism, and providing community leadership to deal with the demands of an ever-growing community. Learn more about The Friends of Oakley Community Foundation and how you can help by donating money or time by visiting their website.
KLSN is proud to be a project of The Friends of Oakley Community Foundation and shares their commitment and vision of community service.
The San Francisco Study Center
The San Francisco Study Center is the fiscal sponsor for KLSN. They process all donations for KLSN and make sure that the bills get paid.
Since 1972, The San Francisco Study Center has provided fiscal sponsorship to dozens of of community project that provide a spectrum of services from the arts to human services. The Study Center edited, publishes and distributes Fiscal Sponsorship: 6 Ways to Do It Right, the authoritative book by nonprofit tax lawyer Gregory Colvin.
The San Francisco Study Center also manages The Fiscal Sponsor Directory, a searchable database of 180 fiscal sponsors in 32 states, Washington, D.C., and two Canadian provinces.
Learn more about The San Francisco Study Center by visiting their website.
The Local Community Radio Act
Nonprofit Low-Power FM stations are an important part of the community
As a result of the Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act of 2000, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established Low Power FM (LPFM) as a new designated class of radio station. These stations are allowed to operate at up to 100 watts of power, compared to the minimum 100 watt requirement for commercial stations. J&MC Quarterly Journal described LPFM as:
... necessary to offset the growing consolidation of station ownership in the wake of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which removed caps on radio ownership, as well as the decline of locally produced radio programming.
After President Obama signed The Local Community Radio Act of 2010 into law on January 4, 2010, FCC chairman Julius Genachowski said,
Low power FM stations are small, but they make a giant contribution to local community programming. This important law eliminates the unnecessary restrictions that kept these local stations off the air in cities and towns across the country.
Compared to an average commercial FM station, LPFM community stations are very affordable. And they can be crucial for small communities in times of emergencies. A LPFM radio station can stay on the air even if the power goes out. Did you know that LPFM community stations saved lives during the Katrina hurricane disaster?
A LPFM station can strengthen community identity, create diversity on-air, and open up opportunities for interested students. It gives a voice to schools and organizations to promote many service-related projects that help better local neighborhoods.
Source: Wikipedia