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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2000)
FCC decision aims to widen scope of interest WASHINGTON (AP) - By summer, hundreds of new low power radio stations could crop up on the FM dial, giving voice to community groups, churches and even novice disc jockeys. The Federal Communications Commission adopted rules Thursday to sup port the creation of at least 1,000 low-power stations to better serve the needs of local commu nities. -. Officials said they envi sioned a wide range of interests getting representation on the air waves. “Every day it seems we read about more and more consolida tion in the broadcast area,” said FCC Chairman Bill Kennard, the driving force behind the plan. “What low-power FM radio will do is create an important new outlet.” The commission hopes that by May it will begin awarding the noncommercial, educational licenses to groups that want to operate 100-watt and 10-watt stations. This would give broadcast ers between 4 and 7 miles of cov erage area. In the nation’s largest radio markets - New York, Chicago and Los Angeles - there will be no room for 100-watt stations, according to the FCC. Cities like the District of Columbia could accommodate three 100-watt stations, while Miami has room for four. Less dense parts of the coun try have room for dozens of sta tions, according to the commis sion. The plan, approved by a 4-1 vote, still could face a legal chal lenge from the nation’s commer cial broadcasters. They say that adding hundreds, of new stations to the FM channel will mean more interference for existing stations. “It’s a sad day for radio lis teners,” declared Edward Fritts, president of the National Association of Broadcasters. Several lawmakers, includ ing Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., chairman of the House Commerce subcommittee on telecommunications, said they had die same reservations. Even some FCC officials admitted they were uncertain about the effects. “I must confess that I have no clear idea as to whether or not existing broadcasters will suffer intolerable interference,” said FCC Commissioner Michael Powell. Join NU Directions at the StarShlp 9 Friday, Jan. 28, at midnight Student ID required. Four films to choose from. $1.75/seat. Dark side of the moon Nikki Fox/DN MEGAN WEBER, a freshman advertis ing major, watches the partial lunar eclipse at the UNL Student Observatory on Thursday night. Tom St. Germain, a junior computer sci ence major, also visited the observa tory and said his mother had inspired his interest in the sky. “At the last eclipse, my mom woke me up in the middle of the night to see it,” St. Germain said. Martin Gaskell, physics and astrono my professor, ran the observatory until midnight. He not only helped students take photographs but also showed them Jupiter and Saturn through the telescope. i i 9 ) 1 l Convenience store employee suspected in theft Robert Brososky Jr. left his shift at the Gas ’N Shop early on Tuesday, and police think he may have taken some cash and money orders on the way out, Lincoln Police Ofc. Katherine Finnell said. The 24-hour Gas ’N Shop at 3201 West O St. was reported closed Tuesday at 4 a.m. Police investigated and found Brososky, 2340 W. O St., Apt. 12, had left early, and $500 in cash and $5,700 in money orders were miss ing, as well as keys to the Gas ’N Shop, Finnell said. The Shawnee County Sheriff’s office found Brososky in Topeka, Kan., on Wednesday. Brososky was being held on local charges in Kansas. He also could face felony theft, Finnell said. Police recovered most of the items. Police: Con men confuse clerks out of money Twice this week, men entered stores and tried to confuse the clerks by asking for a specific breakdown of change. On two occasions, two men entered a business, attempted to buy an item, handed the clerk a $50 bill, i z « z then requested different kinds of change until they had more than they originally handed the cleric, Finnell said. The two incidents appear to be related, Finnell said. The first incident occurred at Tubby’s, 5801 Wildcat Circle, at about 8:50 p.m. Tuesday. The men attempted to buy a $.75 pop and left with $100 and the foun tain pop for free. The second incident happened at 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Gas ’N Shop at 3010 Comhusker Highway. The men attempted to buy a car ton of cigarettes and left with an addi tional $47.02, Finnell said. In both cases the suspects were described as black males, one about 5-foot-10, medium to stocky build, and the second also about 5-foot-10 with a slightly smaller build than the first. The clerks told police that the first man would do all of the talking, and he was reportedly wearing black pants and a black parka with fur on the hood. The second man was described as wearing a light jacket and tan pants. A cleric said their car looked like a late model Honda Civic. Police have no suspects. Compiled by staff writer Michelle Starr. - --—i d a 11 y n e b . c o m