BILL 'BAL(D)SLEY'
By Lewis Griswold, The Fresno Bee (Friday August 4, 2006)
Bill Balsley, 58, who started KVLP 101.5 FM low power radio station in Visalia, got a buzz cut Tuesday while the 1960s anthem "Hair" played in the background. The self-described "old hippie" let his locks grow long as a gag after his high school class reunion. Then he raised money for charity by promising to lop it in return for donations. He raised a groovy $700 for the Miracle Mile of Quarters, a project of the Kiwanis Club to benefit Children's Hospital Central California.

To view the entire BUZZ-CUT photo galley, click on over to the West Visalia Kiwanis website. Here a couple of examples.
Mike pledged the most money to Children's Hospital and was delighted to take the first swipe with the clippers.
As wife Marge watches intently, Christina finishes up. (Note the glare off his head...)

"GIVE AN OLD HIPPIE A BUZZ CUT"
Press Release - July 30, 2006
For several years, the eighteen Kiwanis Clubs in Tulare and Kings Counties have raised money to help young patients at Children's Hospital Central California (formerly Valley Children's Hospital). The "Miracle Mile of Quarters" project is getting a boost this year from Visalia's low-power radio station 101.5 KVLP.

Its General Manager, Bill Balsley, hopes to bring over $500 to the annual campaign with his "Give an Old Hippie a Buzz Cut" event. This Thursday at Amigo's Restaurant & Cantina, his ponytail will be chopped off and his hair trimmed "high and tight" as his fellow club members donate cash and pledges for the Children's Hospital fundraiser.

A licensed beautician from nearby Cuts-Plus will oversee the event and operate the clippers. "But I'd like the first pass with the clippers to come from the person who pledges the most money", the shaggy musician said. Songs from the 60's musical "Hair" will accompany the event.

Balsley, 58, who once opened for the Jefferson Airplane and lived in a treehouse, is also Kiwanis Club of West Visalia past-president and an active member for fifteen years. A recent high school reunion gave him all the excuse he needed to grow his hair a little longer than usual. "With this recent heat wave, a haircut will almost be a blessing," he quipped.

The public is invited to attend, and donations are welcome.
- - - WHERE: Amigo's Restaurant & Cantina, 5113 West Walnut, near Akers
- - - WHEN:� Thursday, August 3 at noon

WHAT'S THE FREQUENCY, KENNETH?
Low-Power Radio Signal to Broadcast from Tulare - by Robin Kaufman for
Tulare Voice Newspaper, Tulare CA (June 21, 2006)

[photo caption: Volunteers raise the tower for the low power radio station KVLP-LP 101.5 FM in Visalia.]

Tulareans in time may tune in to a new radio station at 98.1 MHz on the FM dial. Don Manro and the non-commercial education organization called the Lorax Society plan to broadcast a low-power radio signal, not from "the far end of town where the Grickle-grass grows," but in downtown Tulare.

The fledgling station has received some technical assistance from Bill Balsley, general manager of KVLP-LP, a Visalia low-power radio station at 101.5 FM. His Visalia station has been in operation nearly one-and-a-half years. Balsley has assisted about 20 groups in getting their low-power radio stations up and running. "I have a technical engineering and regulatory bent," says Balsley.

Manro would like to be broadcasting by Independence Day, but one last piece that is back ordered is keeping him from raising the antenna tower. He hopes to have a "barn-raising" soon. Manro plans to run the broadcast from his home, which is two blocks east of the civic center. He hopes that this is a temporary situation and that someone will step up to provide a more public location. It is likely that the signal will reach eight miles, but until the station is fully functional, Manro is unsure of how far the broadcast will go. The station is limited to a 100-watt transmitter, "like a lightbulb," says Balsley.

In May 2000, both Balsley and Manro applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to run low-power stations. It then took Balsley five years to get the Visalia station up and running. "The law changed while we were midstream," says Balsley. Balsley says that several other organizations were interested in running a low-power radio station in other valley communities: two in Porterville, one in Pixley, and one in Allensworth. "They had permission but just didn't follow through," says Balsley.

Currently, Manro has a broad spectrum of non-commercial pre-recorded programs. He also hopes to attract independent musicians and showcase their talent over the airwaves. Manro characterizes the format of the future Tulare station as "non-commercial community radio."

"I'm hoping for the format to evolve to reflect the involvement of the volunteers in the community," says Manro. People in the community seem to have an interest in participating in the local radio effort, Manro says. However, he has found that very few people, who have given their verbal commitment to the effort, have produced anything for broadcast.

Balsley says these types of low-power radio stations are sometimes run by one person or it is sometimes a collaborative effort of hundreds of people. "They (the FCC) allow everything from schools and churches, to Wiccans and tree-huggers," says Balsley. The format that any low-power radio station follows is up to the organization that runs it. "Each is completely independent," says Balsley.

Much of the music Balsley airs on 101.5 FM in Visalia is not what listeners would find on other stations. "We're not interested in promoting the sale of music. We don't even announce the titles," says Balsley. In fact, some of the music on KVLP-LP is out of stock in most stores. Balsley says that people will sometimes stop him on the street to ask about the titles and artists of particular songs they hear on the station. Balsley characterizes the KVLP-LP format as "a more thinking person's type of music."

As a non-commercial education organization, Balsley's Visalia station runs a variety of music, documentaries, and local content such as announcements of community events and other local information. For the November 2005 Visalia City Council race, KVLP-LP aired 30-minute interviews with each of the eight candidates. "Nobody else would give those candidates that kind of coverage," says Balsley.

Local Radio Continues To Disappoint
Visalia Times-Delta Opinion Page (Monday, January 2, 2006)

Thumbs down to the mix of local radio programming. The variety and diversity of local radio, most of which emanates out of Fresno, becomes narrower with every year. Two morning talk shows that were popular with listeners were cut and replaced with formatted programming and a show out of Chicago. With each year, there are fewer choices for radio listeners.

Some of the tried and true local stations, KJUG in Visalia, KTIP in Tulare/Porterville, and KMJ in Fresno, and a couple of innovators - a new station at 104.5 [see correction below] this year - are about all that are preventing the local radio dials from becoming a homogenous wasteland. Formatted stations fall into one of three categories - syndicated playlist, Spanish language, and Christian broadcasting. Nowhere to be found are any stations playing innovative rock, rock, jazz, classical music, or international music. The area deserves better.

CORRECTION (three days later, after a couple of phone calls to the editor)
"KVLP-LP, a low-power, independent radio station in Visalia, is at 101.5 FM. Because of a writer's error, it was listed incorrectly in an editorial in Monday's Times-Delta."

2005 Low-Power Radio Round-Up
Davis, CA (October 8 and 9, 2005)

Low-power radio broadcasters, hopefuls, and supporters gathered for an exceptional two-day event on the UC Davis campus, celebrating five years of successful local media experiences and laying the groundwork for a sustainable future.

KVLP-LP's General Manager Bill Balsley presented a paper about studio equipment and other resources. More details and downloadable versions of the handouts are available online from KDRT-LP. Thanks to all who contributed to the experience!

LOW POWER LOCAL RADIO STATION MAKING WAVES
Interviews with local candidates draw listeners
Visalia Times Delta, Visalia CA (October 6, 2006)

For weeks, many Visalians havve been hearing voices - if they've tuned in to 101.5 FM. The low-power station usually transmits a mixture of oldies, classic rock, and local artists in about a 5-mile radius from a tower on Houston Avenue and Burke Street. More powerful radio station waves from Bakersfield or Merced begin to overpower the little station if a listener is farther away than five miles.

Yet, since September 11, the station has shown a different kind of strength. KVLP-LP 101.5 workers have been playing a 30-minute pre-recorded interview of each of the eight City Council candidates about every other hour.

It's all because of Chris Haberman and Bill Balsley. The Federal Communications Commission authorized the use of low-power FM radio service in January 2000 in order to help cities broadcast educational programs rather than the canned music of corporate airwaves. The FCC has given about 3,000 towns a low-power station, said KVLP-LP 101.5 General Manager Balsley. He began broadcasting from the KVLP-LP station in February 2004, persisting after his application was dismissed twice.

Mindful of the November 8 election, Balsley and Haberman chose to broadcast interviews with candidates Rusty Barker, Greg Collins, Walt Deissler, Jesus Gamboa, Don Landers, Sam Logan, Victor Perez, and Amy Shuklian. Balsley said it's hard to get enough information about candidates in a typical three-minute sound byte or political forum, but the longer interviews offer a little more information - and they're a rarity. "This has never really happened in Visalia," Balsley said.

Starting in August, Haberman met candidates at home, in the office, and even in the breakfast room of the Comfort Inn and Suites. His digital recorder captured their views on growth, education, public safety, and the environment. He also asked each candidate about their personal background and reason for running. "I think, generally, people don't know enough about the people that are running in city government and what they stand for," said Haberman, who worked for Bourdette and Partners for ten years and is still a licensed attorney. He is also currently the co-owner of Marketing Over Time in Visalia.

As a favor, Haberman's friend, Doug Long, transferred the digital recording to compact disc. Balsley later converted the discs to mp3 files for the radio station. Long, owner of Orange Blossom Junction and also an attorney, credits Haberman's gift for asking in-depth questions, being respectful and bring candidates out of their shells to Haberman's experiences as an attorney asking hard questions. "If voters actually took the time to tune in and listen, they might actually learn something about each candidate," Long said.

Grassroots Radio and Prometheus - This Sounds So Amazing!
by Hannah Sassaman, prometheusradioproject
sent to the Grassroots Radio Coalition's listserv (Tuesday, March 15, 2005)

congratulations to KVLP and to bill balsley and company!

this sounds so very amazing. i was just talking at the ford foundation about how these barnraising-style models are not at all something that just prometheus does, but something that groups in community media all across the country use and understand.

if you launch a radio station over a weekend, with a group of people who have varying levels of skills but who can all participate somehow, with their energy, donated music, a turn on the hammer or at the soldering iron, what you are launching isn't just a radio station, but an essential piece of the movement for democratic media.

i'd go so far as to say that if we are going to convince funders, the mainstream media, and the world at large that community media is the key to making media more democratic and flexible for all of our communities, then we need to think more about how the barnraising model can be worked into our station building and training experiences. the more we can energize new volunteers, local press, and regional supporters every time we make our stations stronger, the more influential and powerful we will be in our communities!

The Grassroots Radio Coalition is a loose coalition of community media activists which hosts a listserv and a conference every year. There are no dues, no hierarchy and no bylaws, only a mission statement.

Community Radio Station Promises to Bring Back Oldies
Valley Voice Newspaper, Visalia, CA (March 2, 2005)

Two dozen volunteers from three community groups joined forces on a sunny Saturday afternoon to launch a new radio station in Visalia. Members of West Visalia Kiwanis Club, Tulare County Amateur Radio Club, and 2Big2Stop gathered to put KVLP on the dial at 101.5 FM.

A donated tower was brought in and tilted into place, guy wires were clamped and tightened, and the antenna and cable were installed. Dubbed as a "tower party", music was selected by ad-hoc disk jockey Ray Quinn. A coordinated effort on the rooftop and on the ground made creating the antenna look easy. All eyes were focused on Mike Irving as he climbed the tower to make the finishing connections. Then the station's General Manager, Bill Balsley, slowly winched the aircraft cable to bring the top of the antenna to fifty-five feet in the air. When the 100-watt transmitter was ready to go, KVLP board member Margaret Balsley-Neufeld switched on the large cast-aluminum "ON-AIR" lighted sign, and the volunteers toasted to their well-done effort, as digital cameras captured the moment.

Circles on a map outside the transmitter room shows just how local the station really is. From Quaker Oaks to the Goshen Ocean, and from Mooney Grove to the unnamed sports mega-park, "101.5 Visalia Local Power" is just for Visalia. Hundreds of innovative community stations are being federally licensed by the FCC since low power FM was created in 1999. The map is also available on the station's web site at www.KVLP.org .

"Oldies!" is returning to the air, after corporate media giant Clear Channel yanked Fresno's 92.9 and its staff off the air, according to Balsley. Just because a corporation claims to be 'your station', doesn't make it true", he added. "Since we're totally commercial-free, no station could possibly play more music than us."

"Bill's been working on this for five years," says supporter Vicki Stasch, who was out helping this past weekend. "It's a tribute to Bill's tenacity." Balsley retired from the county recently and plans to devote plenty of time to Visalia's newest media outlet. Friend Steve Leoni says the new station will fill a need out there. "There is a tremendous bubble of us Baby Boomers who want an alternative to the canned music of Clear Channel," he says. Steve plays in a bluegrass band with Bill and looks forward to this type music along with other local music.

Testing of the new station's output will go on for about a month, says Balsley seeking to increase the strength of the signal coming from the new tower. Balsley says zoning laws limit the height of the tower to 55 ft. although it's possible to go through a city hearing process to raise the tower. Right now the signal warbles sometimes facing competition on the dial from a strong Bakersfield station. But Balsley says he has parked his car at the quadrants of the community and heard The Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" coming on strong - the classic song Balsley picked to test the signal.

The station also expects to bring jazz, blues, and adult alternative album programming when the all-volunteer station is fully operational in the coming months. "Visalia clearly supports these kinds of artists in live shows; we wish to provide diversity and a voice for under-recognized performers, especially local talent." Non-profit community organizations and local public affairs will be featured from time to time.

West Visalia Kiwanis Club provides community service and leadership opportunities. Youth projects include Crowley School's "Student of the Month" program, and sponsorship of the Builder's Club at Divisidero School and the Key Club at El Diamante High School. WVK also supports Children's Hospital and the Special Olympics. These projects and more will be featured on upcoming broadcasts. For information about Kiwanis Clubs, visit www.KIWANIS.org .

Tulare County Amateur Radio Club promotes interest in ham radio, amateur television, emergency communications and voice over the internet. No license is needed to become a member of TCARC. To learn more, visit www.TCARC.net and www.ARRL.org .

2Big2Stop is a private charitable organization in Visalia. They consider themselves to be "a ramshackle bunch who dabble in philanthropy", funding projects that leave a lasting impression on our community. Their mark is in the sidewalk in front of the Fox Theater, at The Creative Center, and many other sites.

Station Hits Airwaves in Visalia
By Lewis Griswold
The Fresno Bee (published Friday, March 11, 2005)

Radio station KVLP is now on the air in Visalia. Bill Balsley and two dozen fellow community radio enthusiasts installed a 55-foot transmitting antenna on Feb. 26 in the back yard of a home on Houston Avenue. Balsley spent five years getting the low-power station from Federal Communications Commission approval to broadcast. "From dreaming about it to hearing it is way cool," he said.

Tower Permit for a Small Hole In The Ground (November 29, 2004)

The City of Visalia has issued our building permit to install the antenna tower, with our broadcast antenna and an "amateur radio" antenna (for emergency purposes). Thanks to Jason Scott of JMS Engineering in Visalia for his work in proving that the structural calculations were adequate.  For the time being, there’s not much more to show than a small hole in the ground with rainwater in it, but the work continues.  The tower itself is now refurbished, and will be relocated to the tower site after the concrete foundation is poured and has cured properly.

Antenna Test, Tower Delay, Studio Design (August 20, 2004)

The antenna was recently assembled and precisely tuned to 101.5 mHz with the transmitter set at its lowest power output. However, it is not up and running just yet. Equipment trouble at a specialty contractor is delaying the exterior finish of the tower.

Meanwhile, work continues at the transmitter/tower site. A major remodeling project was completed last week inside the principal structure, and the new tenant has taken occupancy. Within an accessory structure (where the transmitter and related equipment will operate) , several re-wiring tasks are under way.

Back at the rancho, designs for the on-air and production space are being considered. Some of the materials to construct the studio are coming from RESTORE, the building materials thrift store in Visalia operated by Habitat for Humanity. The detailed engineering of the audio signals and the computer equipment is a daunting task that will undoubtedly be changing as the station matures. The studio design has to take into account the need for change, and therefore be open and flexible from the beginning.

Several volunteers with excellent backgrounds in radio have offered their time and energy to KVLP. If you have relevant experience in marketing, voice work, engineering, or another aspect of community radio, let us know about yourself.

FM Broadcast Antenna and Tower (May 5, 2004)

A new FM broadcasting antenna is on its way from Amateur Radio operator Van Iderstine (W4ADU), whose service to the radio community (and whose prices) are very much appreciated. Amateur Radio operator Joe Simons (WA6MUD) has generously donated to our station a 3-section 54-foot-tall antenna tower manufactured in Tulare by TriEx. Simons' community involvement includes community service in the Lions Club; he is also Past-Treasurer of the Tulare County Amateur Radio Club.

The tower was designed and built by the "father of crank-up towers," Lou Tristao (KG6VY SK) of Visalia.  It is being thoroughly refurbished by John Taylor at the legendary Taylor Machinery Inc headquarters, right down the street from the Goshen Ocean.  Taylor is Past-President of the West Visalia Kiwanis Club, stays involved in a variety of church activities, and still has time to slap a mean hockey shot.  The tower itself is a veteran Ocean surf-bum, having spent its early years at Point Dume in Malibu.

FCC Grants KVLP’s Request  (April 5, 2004)

Wow! It’s been five years, and we’re finally allowed to begin making the station a reality.  Our new transmitter location in northeastern Visalia has been approved, and we’re negotiating for a tower and the FM antenna system.  It won’t be long now.

Unique visits to www.KVLP.org in March 2004 = 93

Emergency Alert System   (March 16, 2004)

KVLP has purchased the HollyAnne HU-961 Encoder/Decoder to satisfy FCC requirements for participating in the Emergency Alert System.  An AM tuner with digital frequency selection and a crystal-controlled VHF receiver for National Weather Service alerts and warnings will listen to the two required monitoring stations.

NEW WAY TO DONATE:�� We appreciate your support for KVLP. PayPal members may easily donate to KVLP.� Simply�go to www.paypal.com�, log in, and send your contribution to our email address, which of course is������ KVLP (at) radio (dot) fm�

First Annual Fundraiser   (January 29, 2004)

KVLP´s first fundraising effort was a tremendous success, raising over $1,100 toward the EAS system, to provide "Amber Alert" child abduction information and emergency messages.

The evening at Visalia's Ice House Theater included a special performance of "The People vs. Mona", a musical mystery screwball comedy set in a rural courthouse in Tippo, Georgia.  Volunteers worked in the box office and provided refreshments (from fine wine and sangria to Yoo-Hoo chocolate drink) at intermission.  Special guests included several students from Crowley Elementary School, who snagged seats in the front row and laughed themselves silly by night's end.

Everyone who attended is looking forward to next year, in hopes that this will become an annual event.

Visalia area to get a new radio outlet
By Lewis Griswold
The Fresno Bee   (Published Sunday, November 30, 2003)

Voice of Visalia radio will begin broadcasting next year. The station will fill a gap on the dial by offering local noncommercial community radio.  KVLP 101.5 FM should be on the air in June, said grass-roots radio advocate Bill Balsley.

Balsley obtained a construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission for a 100-watt "low-power" station.  Low power is all the rage in community radio. It got a big push from the FCC during the Clinton administration in response to complaints about sterile commercial radio.

It'll cost about $14,000 to install a transmitter and related gear, Balsley said, giving the station a 7- to 10-mile range. That's Visalia, Farmersville and Ivanhoe, and maybe Goshen and Exeter.

Radio-savvy volunteers will operate the station out of a spare room, he said.

Initially, programming will be "music to play in the office during the weekdays," Balsley said. Weekends will likely mean Dixieland, blues, classical, doo-wop and roots Americana music.

Nonprofit groups will have an opportunity to tell their stories over the air.  "We want to go well beyond public service announcements," Balsley said. "We want greeters to say 'hi to Visalia' and describe their organization."

There's no money now for remote broadcasting of public meetings like the Visalia City Council, but that day may come.

Local Power FM Stations Approved
Valley Voice Newspaper (Published Wednesday, October 29, 2003)

The FCC has taken action to authorize two new low-power FM radio stations in Tulare County. The nonprofit station hopefuls submitted their paperwork almost 3 ½ years ago, and these approvals are the first and best good news heard since.

On 101.5 MHz, Visalia will soon hear KVLP, "Visalia’s Local Power" at 100 watts of stereo FM. The station’s General Manager, Bill Balsley, says the station will be entirely non-commercial, relying instead on community support. Formal programming agreements have been established with West Visalia Kiwanis Club, Foodlink of Tulare County, and the Universal Life Church. Members of several other groups, such as Visalia Heritage Foundation, Tulare County Amateur Radio Club, and Sierra Traditional Jazz Club have offered their support as well.

In Tulare, Don Manro heads the Lorax Society, which will add their FM station at 98.1 MHz. A one hundred watt station will probably reach about eight miles, but not much further. Each group with a permit is allowed 18 months to build its station, but they both expect to be on the air well before the deadline.

"These little 100-watt stations are getting extra attention in Washington now, because of all the scrutiny the FCC has received about corporate media consolidation and the lack of local content on the air," says Balsley. "It seems right that we should show them that we’re too big to stop." The LPFM microradio station licensing concept was created in response to the spread of illegal pirate broadcasters, such as portrayed in the Christian Slater movie, "Pump Up The Volume".