MORE Fed Obstruction of News from Astrodome

[snot]

Katrina: LPFM station for Astrodome blocked <http://www.boingboing.net/2005/09/07/katrina_lpfm_station.html>
Xeni Jardin:

Rita Obey is the person that told Austin Airwaves they had to have 10,000 radios before they could broadcast. We purchased a number of radios and while we’ve had some issues with this, it was just a meaningless golden egg. We called her bluff by getting the radios lined up to be purchased and they threw something else out.

At 16:29 (CST) today, RW Royal Jr. Incident Commander of the JIC (Joint Information Commity) has denied Austin Airwaves the ability to run the emergency low power FM radio station inside of the dome. This is contrary to the FCC licenses that have been issued to Austin Airwaves. However RW Royal Jr is a member of the JIC. He has decided to deny the request. When they asked why they were being turned down, they were told that the Astrodome could not provide them with electricity. When the Austin Airwaves team offered to run on battery backup, they were still denied. This is an OUTRAGE.

The people on the ground I spoke with personally asked me why I was there. I told them that I was with a group helping to bring emergency information to them over a radio inside the dome. Those people were overjoyed to hear that they would get a radio station with emergency information, with information on job interviews, with information on food, housing, clothing and other important information. It breaks my heart.

Why has this man denied this? Why is the government going out of its way to stop us from helping people?

Link <http://jacob.wordpress.com/2005/09/07/radio-station-has-been-blocked/> to Jacob's account, and here's the LPFM station website: evacuationradioservices.org <http://www.evacuationradioservices.org/>

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/09/07/katrina_lpfm_station.html

[lostnfound]

1. This is a little different than the KPFT report this evening.

THey interrupted the replay of the DemocracyNow! segment on this subject with an update by two of the principles involved, saying the project was shot down by the FEMA employee Royal, and that it wouldn't go forward without George Bush or the head of the "Dept of Homeland Security" approving it.

Unfortunately it doesn't show up on the kpft archives since DN! is a replay and replays are archived.

[meisje]

2. Was Texas obligated to accept these people?

NO! Well then I guess they get to make the rules.