To whom It May Concern:

ACRN (99.3 cable FM) is a carrier-current FM radio station operating out of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. ACRN is entirely run by its staff of approximately 150 Ohio University students, and, while not regulated by the FCC due to its carrier-current status, follows an identical set of regulations (logs, indecency policies, etc.). ACRN's one and only goal is to educate students in commercial radio. Money earned from selling airtime is funneled right back into operations.

The local cable supplier in Athens is going to stop carrying ACRN'S signal sometime in the next six to twelve months, so it was with considerable interest that we here at ACRN read about comments by Mr. Kennard about the possible licensing of low-power FM transmitters. A transmitter has always been part of ACRN's long-term planning, and the microradio proposal as set before the Commission would be a boon to our operations. Any sort of proposal that brings down to an affordable sum the cost of an FM license would be highly beneficial.

Athens is a tiny, isolated town of 10,000 permanent residents and 20,000 students (closest city, Parkersburg, WV, is fifty miles away) and has anything but a crowded radio dial. Only a handful of stations operate out of Athens proper, with a smattering of additional outlets situated around the neighboring towns. Interference possibilities should ACRN move to low-power FM transmissions would be infinitesimal. We believe that as an Ohio University student organization, under the banner and regulation of the OU School of Telecommunications, that we offer a myriad of ways to effectively serve the public interest of both students and residents of Athens. Just last weekend we raised more than three hundred dollars for a local charity through a "Fast From Shelter" benefit staged on campus.

ACRN supports any and all positive action regarding the current microradio proposal set before the FCC. We hope that the Commission will consider that it is not just "pirate" broadcasters that are in favor of the proposal. Thank you for your time.

Joey Ley
General Manager, ACRN-FM

Scott Slonaker
Assistant general manager, ACRN-FM