WOU Radio Station

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WOU Radio Station

• A non profit student radio system

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The Idea

• A low cost student ran radio station
• Streaming web simulcast

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Scenario one

• Build an AM radio station on campus

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Pros

• Would be able to reach the community and
  students.
• Lower cost than a full fledge FM station.
• Provides students with valuable training.

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Cons

• Expensive to build
• Licensure proved costly
• High voltage safety concerns
• RF hazard makes antenna location difficult.
• Height of antenna makes construction difficult.

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Scenario Two

• Build a low power FM radio Station on campus.

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Pros

• Would be able to reach the community and
  students.
• Lower cost than a full fledge FM station.
• Lower cost than a full fledge AM station.
• Antenna smaller with lower RF.
• No high Voltage
• Provides students with valuable training.
• No licensing --- just royalties

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What the FCC thinks

• Low Power FM Broadcast Radio Stations
• This page contains information about the Low
  Power FM (LPFM) radio service, which was created
  by the Commission in January 2000. These stations
  are authorized for noncommercial educational
  broadcasting only (no commercial operation) and
  operate with an effective radiated power (ERP) of
  100 watts (0.1 kilowatts) or less, with maximum
  facilities of 100 watts ERP at 30 meters (100
  feet) antenna height above average terrain
  (HAAT). The approximate service range of a 100
  watt LPFM station is 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles
  radius). LPFM stations are not protected from
  interference that may be received from other
  classes of FM stations. A construction permit is
  required before a LPFM station can be constructed
  or operated.
• LPFM stations are available to noncommercial
  educational entities and public safety and
  transportation organizations, but are not
  available to individuals or for commercial
  operations. Current broadcast licensees with
  interests in other media (broadcast or
  newspapers) are not eligible to obtain LPFM
  stations.
• LPFM stations must protect authorized radio
  broadcast stations on the same channel or
  frequency (cochannel), as well as broadcast
  stations on first, second, or third-adjacent
  channels above or below the LPFM station's
  frequency. This protection is accomplished
  through the use of minimum distance separation
  requirements, which are set forth in 47 CFR
  73.807 PDF.

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Cons

• Lower output wattage travels under 10 miles.

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LPFM radio station
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What is in it

• 50 watt FM Stereo Transmitter
• Integrated CD Player
• Integrated Cassette Player
• Built In Audio Mixer
• Professional Microphone and Cables
• Omni directional 3.4db Gain Antenna and Coax
• Installed and prewired in a high impact road
  case!
• Dedicated media server for simulcast.

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Why not LPFM?

• The FCC is currently not taking applications for
  LPFM radio licensing.

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Why Streaming Web cast?

• Unlimited listening audience
• No FCC Licensing or involvement.
• There are more than 12,000 radio stations online
  it is the future of broadcast.
• U of O, OSU, PSU, SOU, EOU, all have a radio
  station presence.
• All of the equipment can be used in a full
  fledged radio station in the future.
• Excellent training opportunity for students who
  are interested in radio broadcasting.

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What do students think about a WOU internet
radio station?

• Out of approximately 150 students polled in a
  recent survey
• 86 Listen to the radio 1-10hrs a day and another
  2 listen even more.
• Over a third of the students could see themselves
  listening to a WOU internet station.
• A small number of students expressed interest in
  hosting their own radio show.
• When asked if they would prefer a mix or
  different music in timeslots. WOU students were
  split right down the middle.
• Most students would like to hear WOU sporting
  events online.
• Most students also said they would be more likely
  to attend campus events if they heard them on the
  web cast.

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Webcast system needs

• Computers
• 3- CPUs 64 Bit Bus 3.46 GHz with 2 GB RAM 
• PCI express slot
• 17 Monitors
• Windows server 2003
• 500 GB Hard drives
• CD/DVD RWs
• PYRO1394b PCI Firewire 800 card
• Primary Computer has these differences
• 1_at_ Audio Science ASI6544 professional PCI sound
  card (See Slide)
• 1_at_ External 250GB Hard Drive USB
• DSL Internet connection
• A direct IP connection.

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Webcast system needs

• Software
• Adobe Audition 3 Broadcast creation tool
• Simian 1.8 Professional Radio Automation Software
• Natural Log Professional Reporting Software
• Natural Music Scheduling Software
• Natural Grid Log Builder

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Webcast Hardware needs

• Broadcast
• 360 Systems Instant Replay audio clip player

Adds Ethernet networking that lets you control
internet and email technology for on-the-fly
updates to your stored sound clip library. Audio
clips can be transferred to and from a PC with
point-and-click ease. Last-minute additions can
be rapidly retrieved over the web, and instantly
uploaded. Fast, one-touch back-ups can also be
performed, providing an extra protection for
critical content. The hard drive will hold 1,000
minutes of sound clips at your touch.
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Webcast Hardware needs

• Broadcast
• Audio Science ASI6544 professional PCI sound card

designed for use in radio broadcast automation.
Providing 12 play streams that are mixed to 4
balanced stereo outputs and 8 record streams fed
from 4 balanced stereo inputs. PCM, MPEG-L2 and
MP3 formats with sample rates to 96kHz.
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Webcast Hardware needs

• Broadcast
• 1- Mackie Onyx 1640 16-Channel Mixer with
  Firewire option

• Premium 16-channel / 4-bus small-format analog
  mixer
• 16 mic preamps comparable to boutique preamps
• 4-band Perkins EQ with dual sweepable midrange
  controls provides warm, musical sound
• 96kHz FireWire option for streaming 18
  independent channels of audio to computer with
  near-zero latency

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Webcast Hardware needs

• Broadcast
• 2 Mackie 4-channel 402-VLZ3 Mixers

• Premium 4-channel analog mixer
• 2 studio-grade XDR2 Extended Dynamic Range mic
  preamps
• 2-Band Active EQ
• High-resolution 8-segment stereo meters

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Webcast Hardware needs

• Broadcast
• Harman Kardon - 300W 5.1-Ch. A/V Home Theater
  Receiver
• 4 sets JBL - 4" 80W 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers

• 300 watts total power 60 watts x 5
• Surround sound decoders Dolby Digital, Pro
  Logic DTS, Neo6 and 96/24

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Webcast Hardware needs

• Broadcast
• 4- pairs of Bose TriPort Headphones

Through acoustic equalization, these headphones
mimic the worlds most advanced full-size
speakers to deliver exceptional sound. Small,
comfortable earcups cradle your ears and surround
them in rich, full sound while they lessen
outside distractions.
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Webcast Hardware needs

• Broadcast
• 4- Marshall MXL990 Professional Microphones

• 20mm Gold-sputtered, 6-micron diaphragm
• FET preamp with balanced output
• Supplied with shock mount and mic stand adapter
• Legendary MXL sonic characteristics
• Comes in rugged carrying case

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Webcast Furniture needs

• 2 Large desks for equipment
• 1 Custom half octagon broadcast booth
• 3 Office chairs
• Auxiliary lighting (on air etc)

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Webcast Building needs

• 3 Rooms
• 1 DJ Broadcasting room 200 Sqf
• 1 News booth 100 Sqf
• 1 Production / engineering room 200 Sqf
• Acoustic Tiling for sound proofing
• Booth / Desks
• Five hundred square feet total

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Layout
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Reason for webcast studio design plan

• The design of the radio station as envisioned by
  the group is a fishbowl that students and
  prospective students alike can see in its daily
  operation.
• The layout is borrowed from an actual radio
  station design.
• With the design outlined in our study we believe
  that we can create an unparalleled environment
  for learning in a true to life broadcast center.
• Students will leave the WOU studio with the tools
  that they will need to be successful in a career
  in broadcasting and radio production.

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Content Licensure for Radio Stations

• Regular multicast (Radio and internet)
  broadcasting licensure
• Licensing through the BMI
• BMI is a performing right organization It
  collects license fees on behalf of its
  songwriters, composers and music publishers and
  distributes them as royalties to those members
  whose works have been performed.

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Content Licensure requirements

• All campus radio stations will furnish BMI weekly
  lists of each stations performance of all
  musical works. These lists will include
  information as to whether or not the stations
  performances were transmitted over the Internet.
  The compositions performed will be indicated by
  title and composer upon written request by BMI
  with not less than two weeks notice. Such lists
  need not be furnished for more than two weeks for
  each contract year.

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Content Licensure requirements cont.

• The Two-tier Option is for colleges with lower
  full-time enrollment and fewer musical
  attractions than larger institutions. This option
  requires that each musical attraction (that is,
  those only promoted by the school) be reported
  separately.
• This option consists of a two-part license
  fee(A) The first part is an annual payment,
  calculated by multiplying the Per Student Fee
  times the full-time equivalent (FTE) student
  enrollment in the fall academic term. There is a
  minimum fee for this option for each contract
  year.(B) The second part of the fee structure
  for the two-tier option is a fee for any musical
  event presented on the college premises and
  promoted only the institution itself and where
  the entertainment costs total 1500 or more. This
  fee is determined by two factors
• - the seating capacity of the facility and -
  the gross ticket revenues.

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More

• requires the payment of an annual CPI-adjusted
  fee. This compulsory fee is charged for each
  campus radio broadcasting station which does not
  receive revenue from the sale of air time and
  which is not licensed under the terms of any
  license agreement between BMI and NPR.
• On an annual basis, you will be asked to submit
  an updated Exhibit A to assist BMI in identifying
  web sites affiliated with your college or
  university that use music so that BMI will know
  to exclude them for its routine Internet
  licensing sales efforts.
• 
  -BMI

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Cost projection

• 18,100 for station Hardware
• 3937 for station software
• 500-1000 a year in Royalty licensing
• 15,400 est. labor materials for initial setup
  / construction.
• Total Estimated 38,437 and the yearly cost of
  BMI thereafter.