Low Power FM radio activists make a plea for stations in our cities — Will the Chairman tune in?

The Prometheus Radio Project, an organization that advocates for Low Power Radio Stations, welcomed tidings of a new ‘localism initiative’ from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). But despite small concessions Chairmain Powell made to Low Power Radio on Wednesday, Prometheus intends to pursue the lawsuit it filed last week with the Media Access Project against the FCC’s new ownership rules.

FCC Chairman Michael Powell launched his new “Localism in Broadcasting” initiative on August 20th, in response to a huge public push to protect diversity of voices by limiting the power of major media corporations. This public outcry came in response to the June 2nd vote at his FCC, a vote that moves to allow the nation’s biggest media corporations to own more outlets in America’s towns and cities. At a press conference in Washington, Powell promised to convene a panel to study issues of localism in our communities this fall — after the consolidated media rules established this summer go into effect.

The United Way recently announced that all future contributions made to the ”Donor Option” category will be assessed a whooping 50% “carrying fee” in addition to their usual 12.5% assessment for “administrative” costs. This ill planned decision virtually kills donor option giving in Central Ohio.

In essence, this means that a $100 donation given to United Way’s “Donor Option” plan melts away to a $37.50 gift after United Way’s highway robbery.

After failing to meet their 2002 goals, a desperate United Way Board has decided to play hardball with alternative charity groups like Community Shares of Mid Ohio (CoSMO), which has over 28 member organizations including The Columbus Free Press.

CoSMO will continue the struggle to resist the United Way’s monopoly on workplace giving. This fall CoSMO has access to 10 public sector workplaces and is in over a dozen private sector campaigns. CoSMO has continued to grow steadily ever year. Its expanding success as well as other federated charities has threatened the chokehold United Way has on local companies.

This September, The Third Hand Bike Co-Op is partnering with the Cap City Transit Coalition and the Mason Unit of the Salesian Boys and Girls Club to offer a Bike Club as part of the Mason Unit’s after-school programming. The youth participating in the Earn-a-Bike program will earn a recycled bicycle and a helmet by earning credit through attending workshops on basic bike maintenance, bike repair skills and bike safety. The Bike Club youths will also learn about map reading and bike safety on group outings into the community and on local bike paths. This is the first program to be put on by The Third Hand Bike Co-op. To lend financial or volunteer help, or to donate an “un”used bike to the Co-op, contact Jason at 614-222-8933 or info@thirdhand.org

Sunday evening, August 24, 2003, Pastors for Peace in Central Ohio sponsored a meeting about Cuba at the Olentangy Christian Reformed Church. Caleb Steindam, resident of Columbus and participant in the July 2003 Pastors for Peace 14th Friendshipment to Cuba, summarized the impressions he gained of Cuba while on the trip. Also at the meeting, David C. Jehnsen, Chair and Founding Trustee of The Institute for Human Rights and Responsibilities (IHRR) of Galena, Ohio, outlined the exciting initiatives being taken to equip Cuban churches and their leaders to meet challenges of the future. USA-Cuba relations have plummeted to a new low, fueled in part by a series of provocative actions by the USA government and its officials. It was in this context that Pastors for Peace, an action project of IFCO (Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization), arranged for the 14th Friendshipment of aid to Cuba, including medicines, hospital supplies, school supplies, and even school busses and ambulances.

Presidential candidates have become fond of asking whether Americans are better off now than they were four years ago. Looking back at a sensational Time magazine story that appeared in late September 1999, we might want to ask a similar question: “Are media values better than they were four years ago?”

     The enthralling title of Time’s 20-page cover story -- “GetRich.com” -- heralded scenarios for wondrously swift elevation into the ranks of the wealthy. The spread had its share of wry digs and sardonic asides, but reverence for the magnitude of quick money in dotcomland seemed to dwarf any misgivings.

     Although the magazine explained that “it’s not all about the money,” the punch line arrived a few dozen words later: “But mostly, it’s the money.” And back in 1999, there was plenty of it moving into new digital enterprises. “In the second quarter of this year, venture-capital funding in the U.S. increased 77 percent, to a record $7.6 billion. More than half went to Internet start-ups.”

     At the time, Silicon Valley executives were holding stocks and options valued at $112 billion -- a few billion dollars more than the