Kate Neiswender, Esq.

Individual

1 campaign Member since March 2022

Kate's activity

Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Apr 30, 2022

As we wind down the final hours of our fundraising on the FundRazr platform (Saturday is the deadline), we want to say thank you again for making this project a success. As mentioned the other day, the transmissions will continue, at least, until June when we project that our funds will be exhausted.

There is a way to continue giving after today. Radio Miami International has kindly agreed to accept contributions to help fund its transmissions of RFE/RL 'Radio Svoboda' in Russian and the VOA English language 'Flashpoint Ukraine' program.

Checks should be made payable to WRMI and write 'SFF' on the memo line. Send them to:

WRMI

10400 NW 240th Street

Okeechobee, FL 34972 USA

From the entire 'Shortwaves for Freedom' team again, thank you, and Слава Україні! (Glory to Ukraine!).

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Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Apr 27, 2022

Our fundraising on this platform is wrapping up with a mandated deadline at the end of the month, just a few days from now.

Thanks to you it has been a success way beyond our expectations ($20,000+ as of today). You have helped fund hundreds of hours of transmissions of RFE/RL and VOA radio programs in Russian and English at a critical time. The transmission stations have regularly received reports from listeners in Russia and Ukraine letting them know the broadcasts are getting through and are appreciated.

There is more to come for about a couple of months, at least, as based on current projections we have enough funds to continue to pay for transmissions until mid-June. Hopefully we will find alternative means to carry on beyond then. This has all been accomplished by the generosity of people such as yourself -- a true grassroots campaign with no paid staff and all donations coming from individuals.

If you would like to make a further donation on this platform, now is the time to do it. Even a modest contribution pays for a 30-minute bloc of airtime. After April 30, if you wish to contribute or contact us, please send an e-mail to:

shortwavefreedom@gmail.com

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Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Apr 3, 2022

We begin another week with up to four-and-a-half hours daily of crowdfunded broadcasts -- thanks to all of you -- of VOA and RFE/RL programming in Russian and English beaming to Russia, Ukraine and surrounding countries. Listener verification reports continue to arrive and we are tweaking the times and frequencies to ensure the air-time we are purchasing is the most effective within our budget to reach the target audiences.

We continue to garner some publicity. The EWTN global Catholic TV network featured 'Shortwaves for Freedom' in one of its news programs this past week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WUTdDq66Vw

Also, the Radio Panorama program in Russian on the World Radio Network discussed our project: https://soundcloud.com/user-153184364/radiopanorama

There are some adjustments to the schedule for our crowd-funded broadcasts, effective today (Sunday, Apr. 3):

UTC Time	Broadcast	Frequency (kHz)
0200-0300	Radio Svoboda (Russian)	7730
0400-0500	Radio Svoboda (Russian)	7730
1900-2000	Radio Svoboda (Russian)	9370
1930-2000	VOA Flashpoint Ukraine (English) (Monday through Friday)	15770
2100-2200	Radio Svoboda (Russian)	1395 MW

Please spread the word and encourage your friends and families to contribute. A reminder that 100 percent of the net funds we receive from you go to pay the private shortwave broadcasters to air our programs -- there are no salaries or administrative fees.

We will continue to pay for airtime until our funds are depleted. At this time, with the current schedule, we estimate we have enough in reserve for a couple more months. We are hoping that the U.S. Agency for Global Media (which oversees VOA and RFE/RL) will realize that shortwave, medium wave and even long wave radio can be effective to reach those who are directly affected by this war (and that includes the Russian people who are only hearing a false portrayal of the war from their domestic media). Until then, our mission continues thanks to you.

Like 1 Comment

Vladimir Emelyanov Apr 4, 2022

Good day,

Thank you for this campaign. I am a regular listener of Radio Liberty in their Internet stream, bypassing the blocking, and previously also on the radio. And I have two news for you, good and bad.

Good: At least one of the HF broadcasts, on 9370 at 1900-2000 utc, is very audible in the European part of Russia, which I cannot say about the rest of the broadcasts.

Bad: This good broadcast does not include the main news block, aired at 1700-1730 utc - "Freedom Time". In 1900-2000 utc there is a program "Facing the Event", which is dedicated to any one of all the events.

Thanks for attention,
Vladimir

Like 1

Alexander Miatlikov Apr 21, 2022

April 21. 21-22 UTC 1395 kHz - off air. Nothing there. Place of reception - Ukraine.

Like 1

Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Mar 24, 2022

It has been a month since Putin's army invaded Ukraine. The world has rallied around the Ukrainian people, and we -- the Shortwaves for Freedom team and each of you -- have made a small difference by providing honest news and commentary to Russia and Eastern Europe through shortwave and medium wave transmissions.

We continue to get reports that our transmissions are being heard in Russia and throughout Eastern Europe. Other broadcasters are now dusting off their shortwave and long wave transmitters and joining the fight to provide information past Putin's information blockade. These include the BBC, Vatican Radio and Radio France International.

Right now, our crowdfunded broadcasts of RFE/RL (Radio Svoboda) and VOA are heard via shortwave and medium wave. From Sunday there'll be some slight frequency changes and the new schedule is attached.

We are seeing more media publicity about our effort every day. Here's the latest in Radio World: https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/crowdfunding-boosts-shortwave-to-eastern-europe

At our current funding level, we should be able to continue broadcasting well into the summer. By that time, we hope state-sponsored broadcasters in Germany and other European countries will have joined in. Voice of America and Radio Free Europe have yet to restart any shortwave broadcasts in Russian or Ukrainian, but we're told VOA is poised to initiate a 24-hour video stream in Ukrainian, adding to its Russian language around-the-clock joint service with RFE/RL.

Each one of you has helped tremendously. We thank you for your faith in this project, and we vow to continue until the war ends or the money runs out. Slava Ukraini !

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Shortwaves for Freedom Reached a milestone

Milestone Mar 18, 2022

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Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Mar 17, 2022

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Your green is continuing to fund daily broadcasts in Russian and English from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America that are being heard by the Russian people and others in Eastern Europe.

There is much happening behind the scenes and your generosity for this unprecedented grassroots crowdfunding effort is getting more attention in the public eye, on Capitol Hill and elsewhere and we're likely to see some significant related announcements in the weeks ahead that will amplify what we're doing together.

There are a two new compelling news stories today that include mention of 'Shortwaves for Freedom.' The first is from the Washington Post, which certainly sent some new generous donors to our fundraising website: https://wapo.st/37uHNac

Also, the Patch local news site in Miami interviewed WRMI general manager Jeff White, without whom we could not have initiated transmissions as quickly as we did: https://patch.com/florida/miami/shortwave-radio-station-sends-news-russia-ukraine-miami

Slava Ukraini and Erin go Bragh!

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Alex B. Mar 21, 2022

Hi Kate. Actually, we are going to finalize exactly such a project. I guess we will be on air end of this week/beginning of next week. Can we connect each other? Did you have an email address?

Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Mar 16, 2022

Thank you to our latest donors from the Miami area who saw Hank Tester's news report Tuesday on the CBS TV affiliate there. Here's the link to the video: https://miami.cbslocal.com/2022/03/15/shortwave-radio-signal-central-florida-russia-news/

The reception reports continue to come in today from Russia and surrounding countries. In summary: It's all working as we planned.

Our volunteer engineering team is analyzing all the data to determine how we can better reach intended areas and there may be some adjustments to frequencies and times of transmissions in the weeks ahead.

Stay tuned!

Like 2 Comment

AWOLGolfer 55 Mar 16, 2022

Thanks Kate, for all the great updates especially about reception. I know, in one way or another, that this endeavor is really helping the Russian citizens understand the reality of what's going on in Ukraine.

Like 1

Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Mar 15, 2022

Another historic success to report: Reception confirmed from various cities in Russia of our first medium wave (the familiar AM radio band) transmission. It was heard better in some parts of the country than others, according to reception reports from listeners. We hope to be able to post reception of the audio from inside Russia tomorrow.

If you have any Russian-speaking friends, family or colleagues inside Russia or surrounding countries, please let them know of the broadcast schedule you have helped to fund:

Daily [7x/week unless noted] being funded by Shortwaves for Freedom:

(UTC is +4 hours EDT):

02:00-04:00 UTC Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL Russian) 7780 kHz

18:00-19:00 UTC Radio Svoboda 1395 kHz

19:00-20:00 UTC Radio Svoboda 9370 kHz

19:30-20:00** UTC ‘Flashpoint Ukraine’ (VOA English) 15770 kHz

(** Monday-Friday)

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Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Mar 13, 2022

You did it! We have reached our funding goal thanks to many modest and a few very generous contributions. We will keep it going as we add transmission facilities, times and languages until we're no longer needed or we exhaust funding.

More publicity today. I wrote an article about how I became involved with 'Shortwaves for Freedom' for the Jurist, an online legal news publication: https://www.jurist.org/commentary/2022/03/kate-neiswender-crowdfunding-shortwaves-ukraine-journalism/

Also, VOA itself mentions our project in an article about digital circumvention tools being used after Russia invaded Ukraine: https://www.voanews.com/a/vpn-use-spikes-as-russians-seek-out-facts-on-ukraine-war/6482178.html

Finally, the announcement of our extended crowdfunded transmissions beginning Monday. Attached is your exclusive look at our news release going out in the next few hours.

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Shortwaves for Freedom Reached a milestone

Milestone Mar 12, 2022

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Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Mar 12, 2022

Thanks to Brad Friedman of Bradcast fame for having me and our fellow campaigner, Kim Andrew Elliott, on his Pacifica network radio program today to talk about Shortwaves for Freedom. The show originating on KPFK in Los Angeles is syndicated coast-to-coast in the United States. Give a listen and let us know what you think (if you're short on time tune in from ~22:41): https://bradblog.com/audio/BradCast_BradFriedman-RussianMediaShutDown-CracksAppear_Kate%20Neiswender-KimAndrewElliott-ShortwavesForFreedom_031122.mp3

Also, there's quite the support and justification for our project voiced by John Jurasek on the VORW International Podcast and we know that he has sent some of you here (thank you so much!): https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-vorw-international-podcast-43052232/episode/russian-invasion-of-ukraine-shortwave-radio-94001937/

As I said today on Brad's show, we are going to have an announcement (before Monday most likely) on a significant expansion of our transmissions that will likely begin early next week.

Stay tuned!

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Shortwaves for Freedom Reached a milestone

Milestone Mar 11, 2022

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Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Mar 10, 2022

Reception wasn't ideal across the Atlantic just now so the signal from Florida into Russia/Ukraine/Belarus may not have been as strong as earlier in the week. That's the nature of shortwave propagation and we are working very quickly to expand the number of transmitters, frequencies and times of broadcasts.

Most of what we transmit will be in Russian and hopefully, Ukrainian. But here's an excerpt from today's 'Flashpoint Ukraine' English-language program in which host Steve Miller interviews VOA's chief national correspondent Steve Herman about the comparisons being made between Putin and Hitler: https://soundcloud.com/user-153184364/flashpointukraine10mar2022excerpt?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=social_sharing

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Марк Рэймер Mar 10, 2022

I can help with ukrainian language, but i have russian accent and living so far...

I can record audio and send this🤔

Like 1

Марк Рэймер Mar 10, 2022

I don't have money but i so wanna help :)
I tried retweet this site but i get shadowban lol..
i hope i can help with ukrainian language :)

Like 1

Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Mar 10, 2022

Our daily broadcasts via WRMI on shortwave continue and we'll have an exciting announcement soon on additional transmitters and frequencies we'll be utilizing outside the United States.

Axios has an article out about use of shortwave to bypass Russia's media restrictions. It credits VOA with resuming shortwave broadcasting. Actually that credit goes to you, not VOA. The article, however, does include VOA correspondent Steve Herman's tweet that correctly mentions this grassroots crowdfunding effort, Shortwaves for Freedom.

https://www.axios.com/twitter-bbc-voa-bypassing-russia-restrictions-baaacbfb-2148-4d3f-9526-aeb621ef4db5.html

The Economist also is out with an article mentioning the value of shortwave radio to keep Ukrainians in touch with the world: https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/technologies-old-and-new-keep-ukrainians-in-touch-with-the-world/21808083?giftId=43470ae3-670d-4e55-b453-edc48813a95a

Stay tuned. More news soon.

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Shortwaves for Freedom Reached a milestone

Milestone Mar 10, 2022

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Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Mar 9, 2022

I wanted to update you with confirmation that last night's Radio Svoboda broadcast in Russian was audible in Russia. You can hear it for yourself:

https://soundcloud.com/user-153184364/radiosvobodarussiareception9mar0200utc?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Testing will continue this week to find the best time, frequency and transmitter locations to improve on reception. The Russian broadcasting is still in the experimental stage while the English language transmissions of Flashpoint Ukraine from VOA will continue for a third day.

We expect some additional mainstream media publicity in the days ahead following the article published yesterday by The Hill. In the meantime, please spread the word.

Like 3 Comment

Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Mar 9, 2022

Thanks to WRMI, our one-hour test transmission in Russian (from Radio Svoboda -- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) is on the air right now on 7780 kHz. (A clip below of the first minute or so with the station ID in English followed by the Russian programming as heard on the U.S. East Coast).

We are already getting solid reception reports from as far away as Poland so presumably it also being received in Russia, as well as the surrounding countries where Russian is widely understood.

We hope to start the daily transmissions in Russian soon, in addition to the VOA English program dedicated to Ukraine news which we began airing Monday.

Thank you again everyone for your contributions. Without you this would not be happening tonight!

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Shortwaves for Freedom Reached a milestone

Milestone Mar 9, 2022

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Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Mar 8, 2022

Sorry to post again so soon, but we have a couple of important updates.

Our first test transmission of RFE/RL Russian-language programming will occur tonight at 21:00 EST (02:00 UTC) from WRMI (Radio Miami International) beaming to Eastern Europe on 7.780 MHz. If you know anyone in that part of the world, spread the word. Even if they don't have a shortwave radio, perhaps they have a neighbor or friend who does.

Again, we are working to get crowdfunded transmissions very soon using medium wave (AM), as well from a transmitter close enough to Russia, Ukraine and Poland to reach VOA's targeted audiences.

And, best news of the day...we have a first mainstream media publicity about what we all have accomplished. Congratulations to every one of you. This is your story:

https://thehill.com/policy/technology/597411-grassroots-effort-uses-shortwave-radio-to-broadcast-voa-in-ukraine-russia

Like 1 Comment

David J Mar 10, 2022

Excellent work! Keep going!

Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Mar 8, 2022

VOA's "Flashpoint Ukraine," anchored by Steve Miller is being aired again on 15.770 MHz right now as I write this! This is a transmission paid for with your contributions. I've attached a clip of what it sounds like from a radio in Virginia. We're also getting in audio again from a listener in Western Europe.

We're awaiting reception reports from eastern Europe. And we're discussing a frequency change/addition for better reception in Ukraine and Russia.

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Like 2 Comment

Keeliey Ohara Mar 8, 2022

As a retired consulting broadcast engineer, I cannot praise you enough for doing this. I was glad I could contribute.

Like 3

Shortwaves for Freedom Reached a milestone

Milestone Mar 8, 2022

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Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Mar 8, 2022

Thanks to the generous support from all of you the daily 30-minute broadcast on WRMI with 100,000 watts beaming to Europe will continue until further notice. We are discussing use of different frequencies and transmitters elsewhere to better reach the targeted audience.

We will also be discussing adding VOA and RFE/RL programming in Russian and Ukrainian.

Here's a blog post about Monday's initial transmission: https://swradiogram.net/post/678151995806367744/the-first-three-minutes-of-voas-flashpoint

The project was also mentioned in CNN's Reliable Sources newsletter on Monday and we expect further publicity in the days ahead.

Please do use your social networks to spread the word. This is totally a grassroots effort and there is no entity, corporation or special interest group behind this.

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Shortwaves for Freedom Reached a milestone

Milestone Mar 7, 2022

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Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Mar 7, 2022

Urgent update: The first 'Shortwaves for Freedom' relay broadcast will occur today 21:00 UTC (4pm on the US east coast) from FCC-licensed WRMI in Florida!

The frequency will be 15.770 MHz (in the 19-meter shortwave band) with 100,000 watts.

After the hourly Voice of America English language newscast, the program 'Flashpoint Ukraine,' hosted by VOA's Steve Miller, will be transmitted with the antenna beaming to Eastern Europe.

Pictured is the actual antenna system that'll be used.

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Kate Neiswender, Esq. Posted an update on Shortwaves for Freedom

Story update Mar 7, 2022

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. Please amplify about the campaign on your social media accounts. We are in final negotiations for the first broadcast! More information today or tomorrow. Stay tuned.

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Kate's campaigns

Shortwaves for Freedom

Ukraine has been invaded and the Russian people are cut off from accurate information about the war. We are a group of concerned people beaming Russian, Ukrainian and English news from VOA and RFE/RL via radio to Russia, Belarus, Ukraine & the region.

$21,486 raised of $10k goal
3 Years running

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