INSIDE REPORT/July - Aug. 94 Folio

The Pacifica Network Comes of Age
by Marci Lockwood, KPFA General Manager

        There will soon be a new level of meaning to the words,
"Pacifica Network". That's right, technophiles, we're hooking up the
five stations via satellite, on a permanent basis. You may, or may not,
want to know that the technology involved is called a "Ku satellite
transmission band." What's important is that this will allow
cross-country studio interviews (a la ABC's Nightline, for instance),
national concerts, and generally a greater flow of programming between
stations. It's a tremendously empowering leap for us all.

        As of our National Board meeting in May, we allocated up to
$150,000 to lease our very own satellite channel and purchase the
necessary hardware. In the old days we had to rely on National Public
Radio's expensive C-band satellite system.  Using the technologically
simpler Ku-band, Pacifica can now afford to connect its five stations
permanently. No more booking the satellite months in advance for
national programming, no more fretting over the cost of C-band time.
We'll still have access to the C-band, but we'll have a lot of new
options.

        We hope to link KPFA to KPFK in Los Angeles as early as
Thanksgiving, 1994, with KPFT in Houston joining soon after.  WBAI in
New York and WPFW in Washington are a little more problematic, and will
enter the system as soon as some bugs are worked out.

        The Ku-band is a new technology, so we have yet to discover all
its many benefits and uses. This is the dawn of a new era:  Pacifica is
beginning to be a real network, in today's sense of the term.

        Now, the local angle: To go with Pacifica's new satellite
channel, KPFA is trying to raise the money to buy a portable satellite
uplink. With a portable uplink, we'll be able to broadcast from
anywhere in the Bay Area or even beyond, on short notice. Imagine the
possibilities for news, public affairs, music! Today, if we want to air
a remote event, such as the Lesbian/Gay Day Parade, our options are
rather primitive. We can attempt a microwave hookup, which only works
within direct line-of-sight of our Grizzly Peak tower. A building or a
hill that's in the way can ruin everything. Or we can rent phone lines,
which is expensive. A demonstration in the South Bay would be too
costly to air live. If we can get a portable uplink, we can just dump
four suitcases of equipment into the back of my Honda and go. Presto:
Live coverage!  KPFA needs this capability.

        Did you notice the little "if" about funding this new
technology? This is why, during the next couple of months, you'll be
getting a phone call asking for an additional donation. So when the
phone rings, think of what the portable satellite uplink means in terms
of bringing live, on-the-scene events to listeners like yourself, and
then chip in as much as you can. By the way, tele-fund-raising is a
very cost-effective way for KPFA to raise money for projects like this.
However, if you find it annoying and would prefer to be taken off the
list for future phone drives, just tell us when we call.

        Another step into the future is that more and more of us here
at the station are reachable on Internet. You can reach the station at
kpfa@well.com, or me at Lockwood@well.com. Check the September 1994
Folio for a full listing of people and departments that are on line.

        Late and missing Folios have been a hot subject for the past
few months. Longtime subscribers know this as a chronic problem that,
in some ways, goes back to the very beginning of KPFA.  But things may
have gotten worse. To date, we've taken a number of actions attempting
to correct the problem. We've been working with our mailing house to
ensure that postal procedures are followed to the letter. We've
contacted the Berkeley postmaster directly, and he has given assurances
that his office is on top of things. We're attempting to move up the
Folio production schedule in order to give the post office a couple of
extra days to facilitate timely delivery. We've even tried filling out
Postal Watch forms. There are many bureaucratic boondoggles that must
be attacked from all sides.  It's unclear whether we're winning the
battle yet.

        If your Folio arrives late, there are two things you can do to
help us deal with this problem. First (in the case of second-class
mail), inform us: drop us a note to let us know when it arrives, and
include the postal information that's above your address on the label.
That way we'll have solid information upon which to base our reports.
Second, inform your local post office.

        Wouldn't it be great if, just once, all Folios arrived on
time?  That's the goal, and we needyour help and support to get there.

        I just received a note from KPFA events organizer Bob Baldock,
who wants me to thank the following individuals for their help this
spring: Barbara Lubin, Howard Levine, Penny Rosenwasser, Jane Heaven,
Jessica Lombardi, Harry Britt, Cory Potts, Mitch Ritter, Bill Sokol,
Lewis Sawyer, Anne Dowley, Doug Palmer, Nina Serrano, Herb Caen, Larry
Kelp, Jos Sances, the Berkeley Community Theatre staff, and
particularly their union, Stageworkers Local 107. And I want to take
this time to thank Bob as well. Not only do these events raise
additional monies for the station, but they're another great way for
KPFA to be involved and visible in the local community.

        We're just finishing the June Marathon, and as of this writing
it's too soon to know if we've made our goals. I do know how fantastic
the programming has been, and how exciting it was to tune into 94.1 FM
this past month. Big thanks to Program Director Ginny Berson, the
programming staff, our faithful volunteers and everyone who pledged. If
you've subscribed or renewed, please pay your pledge promptly, allow
four to six weeks for premium delivery, and remember that the faster
you respond, the quicker we can process your subscription. Thanks,
everybody!
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