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This Issue 02/04/2010

• Overheard: 2.4.10
• Sparks Fly
• Gadgets The Cool Kids Have
• All Co-oped Up
• Defibrillator: Simon & Garfunkel, "Cecilia" (1970)

As she hauls in a box of dusty Motown records, the DJ formerly known as Condom Lady situates herself inside the WPEB studio preparing for her Saturday afternoon radio show. This week she’s featuring musical selections from a box she found on the side of the road, supplemented by a discussion on needle safety. The Condom Lady began her career illegally as a West Philadelphia radio pirate. Now, 11 years later, she no longer has to broadcast out of vans, avoid the Federal Communications Commission or answer to her old name. Due to the success of the Low Power FM movement, she can legally operate out of West Philadelphia’s WPEB 88.1 and use her real name: Diane Fleming-Myers.

WPEB 88.1 is West Philadelphia’s one-watt community radio station. Without the black WPEB lettering, its white sign would blend with the silver barred door, making it look like just another abandoned West Philly building. Though the facade suggests that its radio signal wouldn’t even reach 10 feet, the waves extend about a mile in each direction. In other words, the 52nd and Hazel Street station reaches listeners all the way to the Schuylkill. Inside, the studio is stocked with a switchboard, computer, mics and a retro red “On the Air” sign that lights up while Diane plays the Temptations' “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.”

After frequency interference allegations shut down WPEB in 2005, three West Philadelphia alternative media hubs — the Prometheus Radio Project among them — bought the station a few years ago, hoping to revive it and provide a much-needed local media outlet. Now 88.1 serves as the voice of the community. Volunteers like Diane prepare shows that specifically appeal to the area’s listeners. Her show often focuses on sexual health and drug-related diseases. “If someone hears this by chance and really takes it to heart, then that’s great. That’s why I do what I do,” she says.

Every programmer comes to WPEB with a different purpose. Another DJ, Renee McBride-Williams ­— a West Philly native with a journalism and communications degree from LaSalle — hosts the “Public Eye News Journal.” Like Diane, Renee tries to appeal to the community’s needs: her show focuses on the revitalization of West Philadelphia. “We bring in community activists, we bring in artists and performers … we bring in people in the community who are movers and shakers,” she says. Recently she hosted U.S. Representative Jim Roebuck and his opponent Bryant Brown to talk not about their election strategies, but rather what they have accomplished, “so people can make educated choices about politics.” And of course, WPEB plays music — especially jazz. “They love jazz, we have great jazz programming,” Renee declares with her deep scratchy voice, perfect for cruising the radio’s waves.

There are about 800 low-power community radio stations in the country; however, stringent FCC rules ensure none exist in urban areas. Low-power stations are non-profit, non-commercial stations that operate between 10 and 100-watts, or reach three to five miles. The current laws state that no low-power stations can exist on the third adjacency — three clicks away from a full power station on the dial. This means that, in areas that are already saturated with stations, no room exists on the dial for LPFM. Though WPEB is a community station, it does not technically fall within classification of “low power radio” — even as a one-watt station — and therefore has authorization to operate in the Philadelphia area. Given the success of community stations like WPEB, the Prometheus Radio Project, a national non-profit dedicated to community and the low power radio movement, hopes to change the status quo.