Published: October 05, 2008 12:00 am            

Progressive radio the goal for local activist

It wasn't what she'd planned on.

In fact, the thought really didn't even enter her mind, until that trip to Portland.

And even afterward -- after the trip was over and she'd done the research -- she still wasn't keen on the idea.

But Mary Francis believes in community.

She's big on diversity.

And she likes to hear other voices.

So the self-described hippie-turned-community-activist decided to roll up her sleeves and give the project a shot.

And now, she's trying to build a radio station -- from the ground up.

"I have a friend in Houston," she said. "We met in Portland at a Unitarian General Assembly and got to talking. She realized she'd heard me on her local radio station doing a commentary about the trial of a soldier who refused to go to Iraq."

That conversation proved to be a pivotal one.

"Later that summer, I met another friend who told me the Federal Communications Commission was taking applications for a new public station."

One conversation led to another and soon Francis was considering trying to start a progressive, public radio station in Norman.

"I wrestled with the idea for about a week," she said. "Then I finally said OK."

Since then Francis has hired an attorney, found an engineer, raised money and filed an application with the FCC -- all for a dream that she really hadn't planned on.

A dream to fight, what she believes, is an ever-growing increase of right-wing religious broadcasters.

"I think the thing that really irritated me was the fact that 80 percent of the public airwaves are owned by religious stations," she said. "This chance is one of the last airwaves available. If we don't do something now, we'll never get another shot."

And for Francis, that shot is worth the effort.

"These religious right groups figured out a long time ago that they didn't just have to talk to their congregation, or their 200 people; they could talk to the world and, now, they've gobbled up 80 percent of the radio stations in the country."

So Francis started her campaign.

She wants a secular radio station.

A radio station that focuses on community.

A radio station that reports local issues.

A radio station to the left of the political spectrum.

"I want a community station," she said. "I participated in a telephone conference and then started fundraising and looking for money."

Her first goal was simple: come up with enough cash to hire an attorney.

She succeeded.

"I found a nationally known attorney who reduced his fee because he believes in the cause," she said. "Then I found a great deal engineer."

From there, she started fundraising and, before long, raised almost $6,000 from a national Unitarian Universalist organization.

"We're off and running," she said. "We're currently working very hard at fundraising and we're waiting to hear from the FCC."

And while it could take a while to hear from the feds, Francis is leaving nothing to chance.

She continues to push the issue, build support and raise money. In fact, just a few weeks ago, Norman's Unitarian Universalist Fellowship hosted a fundraiser for the station, "Funny Songs About War, Ignorance, and Greed -- The Music of Roy Zimmerman."

"Things are going well," she said. "We think we need about $103,000 to get us on the air."

In addition to her current efforts, Francis is approaching the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and private donors seeking support for the project.

"Groups like CPB and NPR and the federal government will help pay for things like the tower and directional antenna and even help fund staff positions," she said. "And the grant from the Unitarian foundation is recurring so we can apply for those funds every year."

And while the federal application process is, at best, cumbersome, Francis said her efforts are beginning to pay off.

"Originally we thought we were going to have to wait another year, but I believe we're at the head of the list," she said. "We have two competitors for the airspace, but I'm pretty sure we can handle that."

Should her application be approved -- the station would be at 87.9 on the FM side -- Francis said she will reach out to community groups and organizations to help provide unique, locally created programming for the stations.

"My goal is local," she said. "A community radio station that covers issues in our community."

A station that Francis believes, could be one of the few remaining, non-commercial, non-religious voices left.

"This is the last of the airwaves," she said. "We'll never have another chance to get any airspace if we don't don't this. The time is right now."

Even if it is something she had never planned on doing.

M. Scott Carter 366-3545 scarter@normantranscript.com

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.