Fulcrum represents northwest Seattle, and is one of 13 city groups that were granted a spot on the dial when the FCC opened up an application window for low-power FM stations in late 2013. A low-power FM station is radio that broadcasts at 100 watts or less, which means its reach would be about three miles. Fulcrum plans to set up their antenna at the Norse Home on Phinney Ridge, and expects to reach about 100,000 residents in Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford, Greenlake, Greenwood Queen Anne, and Magnolia. They’ll be on 107.3 FM, and expect to webcast as well.
One of the organizers, Eric Muhs, says their volunteer-run group needs to get moving quickly – they have to be up and running within the next year. They have to build a studio, install an antenna, and develop internet simulcasting. “But more importantly, it means getting the community involved – we want to make and broadcast what the community wants and needs,” Muhs tells us. “We need to develop a small army of broadcasters, journalists, djs, fundraisers, and organizers.”
