The following letter (recently published in the Vail Daily and Daily Trail) sums up the RFM ideal:

Every now and then an opportunity comes along that’s just too good pass up, no matter the risks. Such was the case a year ago when a friend approached us with the idea of establishing a radio station here in the Vail Valley. Not another commercial radio station, the likes of which we'd long suffered to the point of exasperation. The station we envisioned would offer a non-commercial format comprised of long stretches of jazz, rock, blues, classical and ethnic music. It would be the only community-produced FM broadcast in the Vail Valley, peppered with home-spun commentary and information about ski and weather conditions, local events and ideas.

With a little Internet savvy and a modest investment, the pipe dream soon became a reality, albeit an illicit one. Just the same, Radio Free Minturn (94.9 FM) was born in November, 1997, risks and all.

It was a modest attempt to demonstrate to friends and neighbors the tremendous good a community radio station could offer our valley. Similar stations in Aspen, Telluride, Crested Butte and numerous other ski towns serve not only to inform and entertain, but also provide the social glue that our community so desperately needs right now.

In spite of its immediate acceptance and seemingly universal popularity among those it reached, Radio Free Minturn fell silent last November after officials from the Federal Communications Commission warned that continued operation could result in a big fine and even jail time for the operators.

In the aftermath of our compliance with the FCC, many loyal listeners have expressed their dismay over the station’s absence and pledged support toward a legitimate non-profit radio station conveying the ideals and idiosyncracies of Radio Free Minturn.

As we all know, these are uneasy times here. A host of competing interests threaten to unravel an already loosely woven social fabric. Our local newspapers provide an important forum for discussion of issues and ideas, but the diverse, local voices heard on a non-commercial community radio station can only help inject a sense of humanity to the public discourse.

Not that community radio programming is merely about politics and social issues. It’s about whatever locals want it to be about --- from music to skiing to humor to public service. We took this to heart at RFM. When a stray dog was found, our listeners used to the station to find the puppy’s owner. On the eve of an important town council meeting, we reminded locals to show up and let their voices be heard. When a struggling local bar showcased local musicians, we played their music and encouraged folks to come out and show their support. Those who listened to the broadcasts did just that, not only donating their favorite CDs, but also committing their time to program music and help operate the station.

Sadly, the realities of the nation’s radio industry—and the laws that currently govern it—represent a daunting roadblock to building a community station in Vail. Although the radio dial may appear relatively empty up here, the small slice of the spectrum currently reserved for non-commercial broadcasters is taken up by Denver-based Colorado Public Radio and a Christian broadcaster from Colorado Springs. Meanwhile, the commercial bands are monopolized by corporate broadcasters from outside the community; the only thing local about their programming is the cheesy commercials they play over and over again.

Those who started Radio Free Minturn were aware from the beginning that a pirate station could never serve the community as well as a legal one. The idea was simply to plant a seed --- to offer a small glimpse of the possibilities and to inspire others in the community to help build a legitimate station that reaches the ears of anyone in the county who cared to listen.

Our goal got a little bit closer last week when the FCC announced a proposal to allow low power broadcasters to operate legally. Now open to public comment, the plan could help clear the way for us to get Radio Free Minturn (or some similar community-based station) back on the air. Convincing the FCC to award us a license will nevertheless take a formidable lobbying effort, as well as thousands of dollars in engineering and legal fees.

So please, if you've ever grimaced as you've tried to find something worth listening to on the radio dial, now is the time to speak up. We've started a web page with further information about how you can get involved: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Falls/2777/

And to raise money, some local friends helped us create a very cool T-shirt sporting the RFM logo. They're available for a donation of at least $25 at the Cougar Ridge Café on Main St. in Minturn. Over the next few months, we hope to garner enough support to put on several fund raisers, as well as petition drive to convince the FCC that community radio should have a home here in Eagle County. Please call us at 970-827-9503 if you'd like to help out.

Thanks,

The RFM Gang.