CMAP strives to further the cause of community radio programming. We work to identify and assist local, community organizations to be aware of opportunities to apply for non-commercial radio stations, and then help them through the process of submitting an application. The goal is to provide broadcast services to underserved voices and audiences, reflecting values of peace, environmental protection, diversity and human rights.”

     Community Media Assistance Project (CMAP)     is a coming together of two diverse individuals and a common dream. That dream is to help local, diverse community groups get more non-commercial radio stations. 

     Too many times people from local community organizations have said to us, “I wish I had known about that opportunity before it was gone,” the opportunity to apply for a non-commercial radio station. The purpose of this project is to do a thorough, systematic and comprehensive outreach effort, so we don’t hear this again. CMAP’s goal is to help facilitate more locally controlled and locally relevant radio stations that will take on the issues of social justice and equality.

     CMAP does outreach to communities in plenty of time for the interested community groups to prepare an application. Working in concert with the Engineering Consultant and Attorney of their choosing, we will help the applicants prepare the strongest possible competitive application. Additionally, we will work to mobilize many local groups, to increase their organizational capacity to be able to produce community-based media with locally-based programming. In addition (or instead of if a group does not get a radio station license), it might include such activities as audio streaming on-line and having a leg up on preparation for a future low power FM FCC window of opportunity. The overall goal is to promote radio programming that reflects the communities in which they are based.

     CMAP works in cooperation with The Prometheus Radio Project (Philadelphia) and Common Frequency (Davis CA) to not duplicate outreach activities. These three organizations (including CMAP) are the only ones we have identified who will be doing such outreach.

The People

     CMAP consists of two professionals, Michael Brown and Betty McArdle who both have long track records of working with community radio.

     Betty McArdle has 15 years of professional experience with community outreach and public involvement. And, through volunteer work, she has worked with many citizens groups over the past 40 years. Betty grew up in the radio community and has assisted Michael Brown in his engineering work with community radio.

     Michael Brown is an engineering consultant who has more than 35 years of experience in both commercial and non-commercial radio engineering. He has prepared more than 150 of the applications like those we will be helping local community groups to prepare. Through his work he has developed good working relationships with many community groups.  He has been a key technical resource for several community radio organizations, including: Native Public Media, National Federation of Community Broadcasters, Prometheus Radio Project and Public Radio Capital.