Taking Back the Airwaves

Federal regulation requires radio stations to serve local communities in return for airwaves. A group of young activists and musicians in California say the media giant Clear Channel is shirking this responsibility, resulting in monotonous programming (for anyone without an Ipod) and neglected communities. The Youth Media Council challenged two Bay Area Clear Channel affiliates with petitions to deny future licensing on the grounds that the station “did not serve their local communities and did not provide adequate access to their public records,” Wiretap reports.