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.

This week on Off the Record I’ll be interviewing Asheville’s own The Poles who are playing a Local Showcase this week.  They will be sharing tracks off of their first full length debut yet to be titled or released!!  As always we’ll be checking out new tunes and talking about today in history.

Tune in every week on Monday’s from 9am-noon or check out archives at our archives page!!

•  BELE CHERE  - A moment I will always remember from Bele Chere,  is   one with the crowd silently massed around  picketers on Place de La Concorde, pardon me, Place Vance.  Imagine the scene.  One man is holding the usual  ” Homosexuality is  Sin ” banner.  Next to him, shoulder to shoulder,  another man  holds another one ” Proud of my Homosexuality”.   Bele Chere was a place of intense solitude …
• CICADA - Some of those alien insects have not returned to  their spaceships, and like ET, they are still vibrating around.  I  invite you to hear the special report I did for WPVM/Paris of the South radio hour  in June when the first neighbors discovered the site of the landing.
• The European Philosophy Festival : The French economy may be gloomy but you can still have fun with philosophy.  A special festival in Saint- Emilion near  Bordeaux where the theme is… happiness. 

 ALSO meet the PLEASERS , Philippe Katerine, oldelaf , Mrs Sarkozy singing and CACTUS …. Click here to listen to the show  

Just to clear up any rumors that may have been started by jealous people walking by the Orange Peel at 1:30 a.m. Friday morning….Becky did not run off and get married to Rhett Miller, lead singer of the Old 97’s…but you can’t blame a guy for trying.Because of blown fuses on stage, the group didn’t get to play their single, “Dance With Me.” Listen in Monday from 2 to 4 to hear the song, and lots of other fun tunes that will make you want to jump out of your chair and boogie. See more great pictures from our rock star adventure as well as links and playlists here.

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

Wednesday, July 16

11pm - 1am

TUNE IN TONIGHT!

WE’RE GIVING AWAY A PAIR OF TICKETS TO NOMO!

NOMO (Ubiquity Records) @ Stella Blue / Thursday, July 17

www.nighttimeswerve.org 

On-air Tuesdays 2-4PM — Archived Wednesdays for one week.

Ho! This week your host Easy Mark rebroadcasts the December 25th 2007 show. Mazel tov!

The Last Word! Commentary from Mumia Abu Jamal - Crossing the Rubicon.

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

(On-air Tuesdays 2-4PM — Archived Wednesday to Wednesday)

Your host, Easy Mark, plays hot new music — interviews Peter Poffenberger, host of Ooze Out (on-air Tuesdays at 10PM), and features summertime mash ups from djbc.

The Last Word! Commentary from Mumia Abu Jamal - Tribute to Paul Robeson.

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