The Progressive Voice of the Mountains

In this historic election year, MAIN and WPVM are working on two critical and related issues:

*Solving the rural broadband problem and preserving Internet freedom

*Fixing the WPVM signal problem and expanding local voices on the public airwaves.

We need your help! Both of these battles to “Free the Airwaves” are happening NOW in Washington.

We need your tax-deductible donations to ensure that our voices are heard in Congress and at the FCC.

Please give today and help MAIN and WPVM continue our record of media reform achievements!

Current MAIN/WPVM efforts your dollars will support:

*MAIN is working with the Media & Democracy Coalition and the Wireless Innovation Coalition to get FCC approval in October for use of the vacant TV channels, which come available next February when TV goes digital. This spectrum is critical for solving the rural broadband problem and providing a high-speed alternative to the cable and telco duopoly.

*MAIN is working to pass the Community Radio Act in Congress, which would free the airwaves and allow WPVM to fix its signal problem - and allow more communities to launch low-power FM radio stations.

*MAIN is working to make Asheville a “Wi-Fi City” to boost economic development, small business incubation, digital job training - and to reach low-wealth, underserved neighborhoods.
*MAIN is perfecting one of the nation’s first alternative media business models based on a simple principle: Give citizens the option of spending their Internet dollars to support local, independent media.

More on MAIN

The Mountain Area Information Network (MAIN) is a non-profit, community-based provider of wireless Internet services. Since 1996, MAIN’s public-service achievements include:

*the first local Internet access in 14 counties of Western North Carolina
*the first public Internet access in libraries and community centers in 12 counties of WNC
*recycled computers and free or reduced-fee Internet access for more than 400 citizens with disabilities
*helped create the local nonprofit fiber network, ERC Broadband
*boosted disaster-recovery efforts via a pioneering partnership with local ham radio operators
*is leading the fight in Congress and at the FCC for high-speed Internet access in rural North Carolina - and the nation
*a national leader in preserving Internet freedom and online privacy
*led the decade-long effort to create URTV, the first and only public access TV station in WNC
*returned local voices to the airwaves via radio station WPVM 103.5 FM -”the Progressive Voice of the Mountains”
*unique business model: allow citizens to spend their Internet dollars to support local voices, privacy, and community self-help.

On-air Tuesdays 2-4PM — Archived Wednesdays for one week. Nazis are just one head of the same old monster… … …

But just for today, enjoy mash ups, new music and perhaps take heed — The Last Word! Commentary: Mumia Abu Jamal - Never again? Really?

Email: easymark @ wpvm.org or feedback @ wpvm.org