(Columbus) The Columbus Common Council gave the green light for the city’s Cable Commission to apply for a low-power FM radio station license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). To apply for a license, a local government entity must create a mission statement, select a channel, call sign, tower location and a possible studio site. While the council gave the commission the green light Alderman Adam Steiner had some questions.
“As it comes to building a radio station, I don’t have a lot of information as to what is prepped for that, and there’s a lot that goes into starting this thing,” Steiner says. “Like, budgeting-wise, are we gonna have new employees? Who is, is it a new commission or is it gonna be the cable commission running it? What kind of content is gonna [be] created?’ Who is gonna create that content?’ How long does this stuff run for? Is it every day or just meetings?”
Steiner says he wants to see this happen but is concerned the council is jumping the gun. However, Alder Ian Gray assured him that the vote was just for the application.
“We’re not approving the actual radio station, or any sort of cost involved,” says Gray. “So, for now, we’re just seeing if it’s something that they’ll be able to do and then kind of move on from there.”
The station would be used to broadcast hyperlocal content, including government meetings. If the license is approved, construction of the radio tower, transmitter, and studio would take place no later than a year and a half after the approval date. The deadline to apply is November 8th.
