ON THE EDGE
Local Radio Issues

SAVING WYAP

   Sometimes we take things for granted. Stuff that we take as forever, sometimes it goes away. We’re talking about non-profit community radio stations.  For County Clay, it all started 20 years ago.
  Before WYAP was licensed by the FCC for the FM dial, “Clay FM” originated  as an online only radio station.   It was heard around the world just not on local radios.
   When Federal rules changed and allowances were made for low power stations, a group gathered to hatch a station for this county. After two years of applications and objections from full power stations, it happened. Clay County Communications was licensed on 101.7 on the FM dial.
   Eight years ago, YAP radio helped license two other local stations. WTUB (106.7FM) down at Clay County Services Limited and WULL (104.3FM) with the Ivydale Community Action Network, received the FCC go ahead.
  With the three stations in operation and symulcasting the YAP radio audio product, the county finally had a nearly county wide service.
  Licensed as an non-profit educational station, the Feds put limits on the audio. Instead of playing the normal blaring of loud mouth DJ’s and the same Top 40 tunes over and over, we had to be different. That difference includes, no commercials. None. Instead, only “sponsors” could be mentioned on the airwaves.
  All along, over the 20 years, finances have always been an issue for the nonprofit operation.
  Today with businesses at an all time low in the county, County Clay is in danger of losing a hard to get asset. Without WYAP in the front and supplying the audio product, everything may crumble.
  This is a begging letter seeking funds, real funds, to get the operation out of the hole and back on track. We’re talking upwards of $1500 is needed to get back on track. Can you help?
  We’re trying too. YAP radio is considering moving the operation to a lower cost per month building. To could back on expenses, if the new location pans out, monthly utilities will be shared. Instead of operation expenses coming in at $370 per month, if the new location pans out, monthly expenses will go down to around $250 per month.
  There you have it in plain English. To keep an this asset, it’s going to take local support.  It’s going to take support from you and you over there too.
  If you can become a monthly sponsor, great. If you can make a larger one time contribution, that’s fine as well. To make it easy, there is a pay pal donation button on the homepage of the wyap.com website. Whatever you can do, 101.7FM needs it now.
  Thanks and see you on the radio.
                            WYAP Staff and highly paid volunteers