How To Start A Community Station

A 10 Step Guide
Establishing a community radio station requires energy, enthusiasm and good planning. Here are ten key areas that require attention to gain a permanent community radio licence.

1. The Concept
You will have to find out what community radio is and how it can service your community. To do this you need to be familiar with;

• Broadcasting Services Act (1992)
  
• community broadcasting code of practice
  
• constitutional requirements to meet licence conditions.

Refer to the CBAA Handbook chapter on Broadcasting Services Act and code of practice for specific detail. If you require help interpreting the various requirements, contact the CBAA on (02) 9310 2999 or email office@cbaa.org.au

2. The Likelihood of a Frequency
Once you decide you want to pursue a community broadcasting licence, you need to contact the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and check whether there is a reasonable chance that there is a frequency left on the dial for a new community radio station in your area. The telephone number for the ACMA is toll free 1800 22 666 7. If there is a reasonable chance of a frequency,ask the ACMA to forward you the application form and paperwork for a Temporary Community Broadcasting Licence.

3. The Commitment
Once you know that a frequency may be available you need to gauge the level of support the station might receive from the community you plan to serve. In other words, does anyone other than two or three enthusiasts want this station? You will need to get in touch with key individuals and organisations in your community, such as interest groups, local and state government, educational institutions and the business community. You should seek out concrete levels of support.
 
For example if you were to receive a licence might the local council accommodate your studio; will the TAFE run the community broadcasting training course; can the Rotary / Greens club do a weekly program; which businesses would consider sponsorship?

As part of the process you might set up a discounted membership rate of maybe $5 so interested individuals can stay informed about the potential development of the station. From this outreach you should be able to get a rough idea if you have reasonably broad support. If so, you will then need to rely on a few enthusiasts to keep active on the following tasks.

4. Inaugural meeting
Now that you have a basic idea of community broadcasting and a good feel of how you stand with community support it is time to set up your organisation. Widely advertise the time and date you intend to hold your inaugural public meeting, inviting as many people as you can from your community, including representatives from local and state politics. Involvement at the very beginning of a new initiative tends to motivate people to support a cause more energetically and for longer periods.

At this meeting a steering committee must be formed and a Public Officer appointed. From this meeting you can also call for volunteers and future members, being sure to take their names, contact details and area of interest eg: fundraising, publicity, administration, etc.

5. Incorporation
Before you can apply to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for a Temporary Community Broadcasting Licence (TCBL) your organization must be incorporated. Either the Steering Committee or a subcommittee should be charged with the responsibility of moving the loose group of community radio supporters into an incorporated association. For more information about legal structures, options and required processes refer to the CBAA Handbook chapter on Incorporation.

Development of the station’s constitution is a large part of the incorporation process especially as the Model Rules (provided by the relevant state department) do not meet requirements set by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Contact the CBAA for the suggested amendments for your state.
 
In designing your constitution you should reflect on the organisation’s primary objectives. How do these objectives reflect and support the community broadcasting code of practice, as well as the needs of your community? For more information on how to incorporate your philosophies into the constitution refer to the CBAA Handbook chapter on Management

You need to go through a specific process to formally approve the constitution (see CBAA Handbook chapter on Incorporation). With the approval of your membership the Public Officer must lodge the completed constitution and application for incorporation with the relevant state department.

6. ACMA Application for Licence and Frequency Allotment
Once your group has incorporated, you need to complete the ACMA application for a Temporary Community Broadcasting Licence. It is advisable that you lodge the documents at least 4 months before you want to start broadcasting as it takes time for the ACMA to assess the paperwork and allocate a frequency.
 
The application will ask for specific information eg. intended transmission site (northings and eastings), the power of the transmission and dates of the transmission. It is clearly useful to have someone in your group who knows about technical matters involved in this process. If you are unsure about any part of the application process call the ACMA or CBAA.

7. Funding and Revenue for the Station
Hopefully a motivated fundraising subcommittee has been building up the station’s bank account while others have been involved with incorporation matters. There are many forms of income that can assist in the financing of the station prior to licensing. The following
are some areas that can be tapped:

a. The General Community: Here are some fundraising ideas for your committee; raffles, trivia nights, car rallies, backgammon tournaments, “buy a watt” certificates, membership fees, training fees, concerts, merchandising, etc. Fundraising activities in your community have a multiple purpose for your organisation, you can raise much needed funds, as well as raise community involvement
and awareness of your station. For more information refer to the CBAA Handbook chapter on Fundraising.

b. The Business Community: The business community can assist greatly. You will find as the station gains more profile and support small business in your area may be willing to assist in your fundraising ventures (eg. donation of prizes for a raffle) or agree to a contradeal arrangement where services are exchanged (eg. radio equipment for mentions in your newsletter) or straight out sponsorship announcements during your test transmissions. For more information refer to the CBAA Handbook chapter on Sponsorship.

c. Public and Government bodies: As the station grows it will become eligible for grants through Federal, State and Local Government initiatives. Always make an effort to apply for a grant even if you feel that you may not be successful as your application may be considered or taken into account when reapplying. In general the Community Broadcasting Foundation tends to fund permanently licensed stations or stations very close to receiving a permanent licence. For more information refer to the CBAA Handbook chapter on Grants.

8. Technical and Test Transmissions
Before you can conduct your first transmission, you need a studio and the approved technical infrastructure. The ACMA requires stations to conform to certain technical standards therefore you need to recruit the support of a technical advisor that understands these requirements. (No formal technical credentials are required).

Your technical advisor will hopefully be involved on your committee. If you don’t have a good technical person, contact the closest community radio station in your area and ask if their technician would care to be involved with your transmissions or if they would know of anyone who could assist. Due to the nature of community broadcasting, most community stations will be happy to oblige and assist in getting you up on air with technical and procedural advice.

 
The CBAA has a Technical Consultant to assist with problems and difficulties if needed. The CBAA has 14 watt transmission equipment available at very low rental (book well in advance) and a list of companies that rent and sell broadcast equipment. See the CBAA Handbook chapter on Technical Resources for more information.

9. Recruiting Volunteers
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the community radio station. Hopefully you would have attracted some level of volunteer interest via your meetings and promotional work. There are a number of ways to attract volunteer interest such as advertising in the local paper, placing posters in community meeting places and positive word of mouth.
 
It is recommended that you develop a volunteer application form to help manage the volunteer placement. This form might also overview Volunteers Rights and Responsibilities. For more refer to the CBAA Handbook chapter on Volunteers.

10. Going To Air
You will require all sorts of information to prepare for radio broadcasting. This Handbook carries chapters on issues such as sponsorship, copyright, training, logging, etc.

The CBAA can provide additional information, advice and support upon request.

Good Luck, and call the CBAA if you need advice or support on (02) 9310 2999 or email office@cbaa.org.au

This information was written with the help of Paul Le Bars.