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There were twice as many radio stations operating in the mid-1990's as in the mid-1980's, but the total number of owners remained the same, Though it had once tried to encourage diversity in broadcast ownership, the FCC has recently pushed a consolidation scheme in which fewer and fewer owners control more and more of the airwaves.

Looking to the future, a big question remains to be answered: With a few large broadcast companies now permitted to dominate radio ownership nationwide, will this in any way restrict the number and kinds of voices permitted to speak over the public airwaves?

With its future in the twenty-first century yet to be determined, radio still managed to survive the economic threat posed by television. With its specialized services, radio remains a mass medium where we can find our culture, our history, our politics, and our music represented.

While radio continues to be a mass medium with specialized audiences, the question remains: Will the number of voices permitted to speak over the airwaves be limited? Does the World Wide Web pose a threat to radio in its offering of audio services and its ability to reach a select and targeted group of people?

If you want to listen to the radio or other audio sites on the Web, you may want to visit RealAudio now for their free download.

Networks

• ABC Radio Networks
• CBS Radio Networks: Westwood One Entertainment
• National Public Radio (NPR)
• Public Broadcasting Radio Services
• BBC Online
• Canada's National Public Radio Broadcaster
• Radio Hong Kong

Local Stations

Local radio stations capture the flavor of the various communities across our country with various formats (music, talk, ethnic, religious etc.) presented by DJ's or hosts. Those stations that have Web sites remain promotional (many list contests, concerts, and programming notes), but also take on the characteristics of their area and/or format. Many search engines will give you a listing of radio stations and locations with Web addresses. Yahoo, for example, lists all radio stations: amateur, commercial and non-commercial, east and west coast, etc.

• B94 Mornings 93.7FM
• KAKQ Fairbanks, Alaska
• KBDR Laredo, TX
• KFOG Net San Francisco
• KILO Colorado
• KING Seattle WA
• WBKJ Kosciusko, MS
• WCBS Newsradio 88
• WCKT Ft. Meyers FL
• WNEW New York NY
• WQAL Cleveland OH
• WQAM Sportsnet
• Z100 Portland

Events and Chat areas

Several browsers and online services offer special events or opportunities to enter into a "live" conversation with a radio DJ or personality, as well as the authors, musical groups, and people in the news who use radio to spread their message.

Most services and browsers also offer bulletin boards where you can post comments or pose questions on a specific topic or show, and chat areas where you can enter into live conversations with other people from around the world. You may want to enter a chat area to discuss something you've heard on the radio, or what makes a radio station good.