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, and through the build process. 

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 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. 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. Also  (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 opportunity.

     Once the community group has a permit to build their station, CMAP helps the groups through the convoluted rules and regulations, tips to dealing with equipment manufacturers, local permitting, and so much more.  The people at CMAP have decades of experience in this process and working with the FCC. We would like to share that experience with the groups to make their experience less arduous.

The overall goal is to promote radio programming that reflects the communities in which they are based.

The People

     The Executive Director of CMAP is Betty McArdle who has a long track record of working with community radio.

     Betty McArdle has 20 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 radio engineers in their engineering work with community radio for decades.

    The Tecnical Advisor is Michael Brown of Brown Broadcast Services.



Michael Brown and Betty McArdle