Twenty years ago a piece of legislation was passed that would change radio forever–and not for the better. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 lifted ownership restrictions on stations, unleashing an onslaught of acquisitions, consolidation and the ultimate devastation of local radio in communities across the country.

Dr. Christopher Terry from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee joins to explain how this process happened, and what the prospects are for reversing the tide.

In College Radio Watch we count down towards Jennifer Waits’ 100th station tour, as she shares her recent visit to KUSF at the University of San Francisco.

Finally we discuss why January 31 was internet radio’s Sunday Bloody Sunday, and try to figure out if there’s any way to slow the bleeding.

It takes hours of time and effort to travel for radio station tours and do the kind of research and reporting needed to accurately and fairly report on issues like internet radio royalties

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Show Notes:

* Archive of all Jennifer’s radio station field trips

* KUSF.org Field Trip Report – 2015

* KUSF Field Trip Report – 2009

* Solving the Mystery of the Ubiquitous Radio Station Call Letter Signs: The Leo Blais Interview

* Independent Internet Radio Still Imperiled

* Podcast #31 – It’s the 13th Hour for Small Webcasters

* Podcast #29 – Will 2016 Be the End of Indie Internet Radio?