Save the Pulse radio station

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From Geelong we already can get about six ABC stations so we do not need any more. The plan is for the ABC to take over the Pulse's 94.7 FM radio frequency. Not happy about that. Our community radio station is worth saving as we don't want it to go to some little place on the dial that can't reach people who want to listen to the Pulse.

Here's a letter sbout it from the station manager:
From: Gary Dalton
Station Manager
94.7 The Pulse

There has been a lot of confusion and misunderstanding recently regarding the re-allocation of the 94.7 FM radio frequency from the Pulse to the ABC. The possible loss of our radio frequency is an issue that has shocked and disappointed the whole of the Geelong region, as evidenced by the rush of public support and press coverage following the Australian Communication and Media Authority’s proposal.

The 94.7 frequency, which we have held for 7 years, allows the Pulse to reach an audience of up to 500,000 people from Geelong through to the Surf Coast and the Otways regions, the Mornington Peninsula and southern suburbs of Melbourne. It is a powerful reach. But without that reach, the Pulse would lose significant sponsorships; and without the 94.7 bandwidth, the Pulse would face the impossible workload and expense of re-establishing itself from scratch. If ACMA is allowed to seize our audience and offer us one of the lesser strength bandwidths available, the impact on the Pulse and our listeners would be unacceptable.

The alienation of the Surfcoast/Otways populations which have relied on the Pulse for real local news and information, and are now excluded under the proposal, is a blow to the fabric of these communities. The ABC will never provide the personalised local coverage currently supplied to these communities by the Pulse.

All we are asking is to retain our 94.7 frequency number and be given a permanent broadcasting licence on this frequency.

This is the one chance to lodge objections, so let ACMA know how you feel about this issue. The deadline for letters and submissions is 5pm Friday 19th of September.

If we stay silent we don’t have a chance, so please send your objection to ACMA and pass this email on to the people in your address book and ask them to do the same.

The ACMA address for objections is:

Draft LAP Variation - Geelong
Australian Communications and Media Authority
File number 2007/2007
PO Box 78
Belconnen ACT 2616

Or email to:aas@acma.gov.au