I attended a design session this weekend at the Electronic Arts
Institute of Alfred College. The general topic was improvement of a consortium of 168 radio stations in Guatemala which broadcast in indigenous Mayan languages over low power FM.

Their interest is in maintaining cultural identity but also participating in the National political life.

I was at the design session as a volunteer to help design IP connectivity in order to connect the stations to allow sharing of programs; news feeds etc.

My assumption is that the only way to integrate some of the more isolated
stations will be via packet radio.

I know nothing about radio. I’d like to identify someone who would be willing to provide some expertise in packet (design issues re distances; interference from mountains; performance; lowest cost approach etc.)

This is a grass roots movement in Guatemala supported by a group called “Cultural Survival” from the U.S.

There is little chance of getting paid. Your involvement could range from a post or email detailing some of these issues to potentially traveling to the edges of Guatemala to help implement a prototype site.

I see this potentially as a model in all poly-linguistic developing nations. I wonder that someday it might not be possible to bundle an FM transmitter with a packet solution and laptop into plastic case that can be dropped into villages as a turnkey solution…

Any help and advice would be much appreciated. Thank you all for allowing me to post and for any support that you can provide.

Best Regards.