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.
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d a 11 y n e b . c o m
