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The new, low-wattage radio station will air 24-hours per day on 96.5 FM. Its broadcast coverage area will include portions of Toledo, Oregon, and Rossford, according to FCC documents obtained by La Prensa.
The station will be named Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Radio FM, said Ms. Parra. One of its sponsors is the Toledo Catholic Diocese and she is looking for additional sponsors.
Ms. Parra’s organization still needs to raise about $30,000 to purchase radio station equipment and lease a facility to operate from. The goal is to have the station operating by fall of 2015.
“The next step is to find a location where the station’s antennae can be placed,” said Ms. Parra, who plans to find a tower site in Toledo’s Old South end. “This week we will begin seeking sponsors and planning new fundraisers to raise the $30,000.”
According to Ms. Parra, several thousand dollars were raised this past year through a variety of fundraisers, including music concerts by several Christian artists. The Christian-oriented station will feature local and state news programming, talk shows, and music, Ms. Parra said.
“The hope is the Latino community will embrace this effort and become involved,” Ms. Parra said—she has already approached several community leaders about hosting their own talk shows.
“This is going to be a community radio station; we want people involved,” she said. “I first came to Toledo in 2000, …I asked, ‘How come there’s no radio station here?’”
“We need our community to have a voice: a radio station, newspaper, and television station.”
According to the FCC permit, the new radio station must be operating within 18 months, or by June 30, 2016; otherwise, the FCC permit expires.
Nuestra Gente filed their initial permit request with the FCC in April 2013.
‘That step cost $800, including filing fees and the help of an attorney,’ Ms. Parra said.
Roberto Torres, former executive director of the Northwest Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce but moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan to direct the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, said a radio station geared toward Toledo's Latino community is long overdue.
“Toledo has a rich history of Latino contribution to this community,” said Mr. Torres. “Often times, our lack of media attention, appeal, or access has left these accomplishments unrecognized.
“The ability to manage its own radio broadcast allows the Latino voice and stories to be heard. And it can be done in a format that informs the bilingual listener. ¡Es un día maravilloso!”
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