Building partnerships

Last week, we reported that KZSM-LP 104.1, San Marcos TX, received a broadcast license that allowed the station to move its transmitter, an expensive proposition. Careful readers noticed that the station’s fundraising included a partnership with the American Red Cross.

This nationwide nonprofit organization saw that a community-run radio station is an asset in an emergency. Through its Community Adaptation Program (CAP), the American Red Cross helped pay for the engineering and equipment costs to move the tower and get the FCC’s approval.

On its “About” page, the station explains:

KZSM is committed to forwarding all Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages to listeners. In contrast, most other stations meet only minimal EAS requirements, but do not voluntarily relay all life-saving EAS alerts, warnings and notifications from local and state emergency managers to the public.

The American Red Cross recognizes that, for communities to bounce back after disaster strikes, they must be resilient and have some resources already in place. CAP provides expertise, training, volunteer exchanges, data sharing, equipment, and money to build that resilience. Explore this map to learn where the agency has partners and programs in place.

Or read more about the CAP program and what the partnerships have done for vulnerable communities in Northern California, for example.

KZSM’s need to move its tower to higher ground is a case study in the value of community connections and partnerships. As is often the case in community-building work, few funders have formal requests for proposals or calls for grant applications that fit the mold. But the KZSM case shows that a station’s community connections and partnerships can lead to valuable sources of support.

Communications Act of 1934, Sect. 326.

Nothing in this Act shall be understood or construed to give the Commission the power of censorship over the radio communications or signals transmitted by any radio station, and no regulation or condition shall be promulgated or fixed by the Commission which shall interfere with the right of free speech by means of radio communication