CITY OF DUNES CITY    LANE COUNTY , OREGON  

RESOLUTION SERIES 2010, NO. 5 ( 12/09/2010 )

A RESOLUTION acknowledging the FCC award of a new noncommercial-educational FULL POWER FM RADIO STATION construction permit to Lane County nonprofit, WEST LANE TRANSLATOR, INC. 

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1.   WHEREAS, West Lane Translator, Inc., a 50-year-old Oregon nonprofit corporation, has served the public interest in Lane County in providing free on-air broadcasting content to the residents of western Lane County through at-cost operations of several television translator licenses, including rebroadcasting of NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX; and  

2.   WHEREAS, West Lane Translator communication tower ownership and operations provide low-cost support to many Lane County noncommercial and commercial on-air radio broadcasters, secular and religious, which contributes to and helps promote a diverse mix of available public broadcasting for no public cost; and  

3.   WHEREAS, the United States Federal Communications Commission has, on October 22d, 2010, awarded nonprofit West Lane Translator, Inc., a permit for construction of a noncommercial-educational, full-power, FM radio station, on a frequency of 90.7 FM, to serve the public interest in western Lane County; and  

4.   WHEREAS, citizens, families and businesses in west Lane County, including residents of the communities of Mapleton, Deadwood, Tide, Swiss Home, Brickerville, Cushman, Siltcoos Lake, Ada, Glenada, Florence and Dunes City, have need for, and may potentially benefit from, more diverse sources of free on-air radio broadcast information on matters of emergency services, public health, schools and education, police and fire, and other vital community information; and  

5.   WHEREAS, West Lane Translator is seeking an operational and community-accessible local "main studio" within its intended community of license, in order to allow for, encourage and support a volunteer-operated, non-commercial educational full-power FM station; and  

6.   WHEREAS, West Lane Translator, as a nonprofit corporation, and abiding by FCC rules for noncommercial-educational radio stations, will operate in the public interest independent of and free of certain commercial constraints; and  

7.   WHEREAS, West Lane Translator envisions, as set forth in its FCC educational program guidelines, a volunteer-driven station supporting the cultural, economic, entertainment, social, and public affairs needs of the community, with students and community nonprofits having meaningful participation at all levels of station operation, where the station will present accurate and comprehensive programming on relevant matters affecting the listening community, using local production where possible; and  

8.   WHEREAS, increasing national consolidation of radio license ownership risks diminishing both diversity of radio programming and meaningful public participation and access to the public radio airways in order to exercise free speech traditions embodied within the 1st Amendment and public broadcasting traditions; and  

9.   WHEREAS, maintaining availability of locally controlled on-air broadcasting media outlets, both commercial and non-commercial, is fundamental to promoting informed citizen participation in public affairs, rapid and effective response to natural disasters, and maintaining vibrant democracy; and that noncommercial-educational radio stations rightfully have a recognized essential role in our community;  

NOW, THE REF ORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE DUNES CITY COUNCIL:  

The City Council of Dunes City acknowledges the achievement of West Lane Translator, Inc., in securing the October, 22, 2010, FCC award for a noncommercial-educational full-power FM radio station, the diverse potential public benefit such noncommercial-educational radio station may provide both in programming and public participation, and duly encourages public awareness, future enjoyment and meaningful access to the public airwaves consistent with the educational mission filed by West Lane Translator with the FCC.  

ADOPTED BY THE DUNES CITY COUNCIL THIS 9th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2010.  

Ayes: ___5___       Nays: ___0___          Abstain: ___0___           Absent: ___1___  

[ Signed copy available at City Hall ]

Eric D. Hauptman, Mayor  

ATTEST:  

[ Signed copy available at City Hall ]

Fred Hilden , City Recorder

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