RTV Theory and Practice - Special Issue

establishment of community radio as a third tier of rađio broadcasting distinct from both the state and commercial sectors . These new stations would be based on non-profit-making types of ownership in the widest sense of the concept. 'What is community rađio. . .it is rađio that is owneđ , managed and made by its audience.' (Jones 1987/8; 15) The CRA attacked the Green Paper for failing to make the distinction between community and commercial stations . The Association appealed to the Home Office's paternalism by saying the government was failing '. . .to consider the wider social benefits of community radio in enhancing community development, promoting racial and social harmony and encouraging volunteers'. (CRA 1987) While the Home Office's is interested in encouraging neighborhood stations from the top-down, the association wants the new stations built from the bottom-up. 1 . . . (neighborhood stations) shoulđ be broadly-baseđ in their local communities and encourage their involvement, they would seem ideal candidates for being run as community trusts, listener co-operatives or community businesses.' (Partridge 1988: 3) Though this type of community broadcasting is closest to the approach acceptabie to the Home Office and defenders of the BBC , it is also supported by the anarchist fringe of the community radio movement. While the establishment like low-powered stations because they are no threat to the national services , the anarchists want community radio kept small so it can be democratically controlled. ‘Апуопе with апу pretensions to breaking down the mystification round transmitter and progpam construction and proviđing a medium open to all is deluding themselves if they see high powered transmitters actually providing an 'alternative' voice, unless its the spurious 'alternative' of hip capitalism . . .no matter how good the intentions , accountmg inevitably becomes more important than content.' (Hooligan 1987; 8) These type of stations may be prefered by white radicals , but they offer no solutions for ethnic communities and specialist music fans who are scattered over wide areas . This is why the establishment of large-scale community radio stations is *. . .more problematic . . .' (Partridge 1988: 3) There are specific problems withm many communities over who will control the new stations . For example , in Paris , the Ziomsts and anti-Ziomsts were forced to share the same frequency for