Long-term Programmatic Goals

The Center’s Board of Directors has established a strategic plan for the Center’s future. What follows are programs under development and/or consideration.

• Radio Free Richmond (RFR) is an Internet “broadcast” operation.

RFR can trace its beginnings to 1995 when its founder, Christopher Maxwell realized a vast void in what was and was not reported on the local broadcast stations. It was through his efforts and the dedicated contributions of an all-volunteer force that led to phase one of the project - the Internet feed. The Internet feed (http://www.radiofreerichmond.org) has been in operation since 2000, and remains a viable means of serving its listeners a menu of diverse music and commentary.

• WRIR-LP Richmond Independent Radio.

The Center has received a permit from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to construct a low-power FM radio station. WRIR-LP, 93.7, will have the potential to reach upward of 250,000 listeners in the Greater Richmond Metropolitan area. The Center will soon undertake a major fund raising initiative to construct and equip the studio. The Center plans to initiate broadcasting in January, 2005.

• If I Had A Hammer is a talk show that highlights issues in the Richmond City area - and sometimes life in general. Always entertaining and enlightening, it is cablecast live and offers viewers the opportunity to call in and join the dialogue.

• Home-spun C-Span is another show on Comcast Cable Access Channel 6 that airs tapes of speeches, meetings and other public-interest activities that occur in the area.

• Low-power AM Neighborcasting consists of strategicly-placed low-power AM transmitters in neighborhoods throughout Richmond. Currently, the transmitters relay the "broadcast" signal of Radio Free Richmond's Internet programs. Anyone with an AM radio can receive the programming within a five-block radius of the transmitter. Future application of this technology will empower neighborhood groups to initiate their own programming and have it broadcast throughout a relevant geographic area.

• Citizen Televison The Center, through partnerships, plans to re-organize and utilize the community-access cable channels to present provocative local public-affairs programming.