2023 UPDATE

Due to lack of funding and an increase in internet rural North American access due to Starlink, I have made the decision to terminate our North American satellite channel. As Sub-Saharan Africa still has poor internet access, that channel will continue, as will this fundraiser. Please contribute today to continue our international satellite outreach. Thank you!

What is LRN.FM?

I'm Ian Freeman, the program director of LRN.FM - The Liberty Radio Network. I also host the nationally syndicated radio talk show, Free Talk Live, heard seven days a week. LRN.FM features dozens of liberty-oriented shows, both in live and podcast form, uncensored, streamed 24/7 online and broadcast internationally via satellite. LRN.FM was founded in 2009 for two reasons. First, to introduce existing liberty-minded people to new shows. Second, to provide programming to free radio stations. Both of those things have been and continue to be accomplished. My new goal is to expand our satellite reach to new ears globally with our ideas of liberty and peace. LRN.FM has been available on Free-to-Air satellite in Sub-Saharan African since 2012.

How much does this cost?

In many parts of the world, Africa especially, cable TV installations are non-existent or uncommon due to their high up-front and ongoing cost. Satellite is the most common form of audio/video entertainment in these areas. It's common for homes to already have the Ku-band dish and "Free-to-Air" receiver. For many of the 2.5 billion people in the world who have no internet (less than half of the population of Africa has internet access as of 2021), Free-to-Air satellite is a lifeline to the world, uncensored by the state. Free-to-Air means that no subscription is needed to receive the channels. They are TV or radio channels broadcast "in-the-clear", direct-to-home. Some satellites, have hundreds of Free-to-Air channels, including LRN.FM.

Meet Ako:

Ako lives in Cameroon, Africa, where LRN.FM's satellite signal has been available since 2012. Ako says everyone has Ku-band dishes in Cameroon. He has personally introduced at least two hundred of his friends to our programs and says they listen and meet regularly to discuss the topics they hear on LRN.FM. You can listen to one of our interviews with Ako here. Ako tells us the press is heavily restricted in Cameroon. LRN.FM is the only channel on Free-to-Air advocating the ideas of liberty 24/7, and these ideas are inspiring people like Ako to take action. Recently (2017), he's been involved in the ongoing struggle of the secessionist English-speaking part of Cameroon to free itself from the French-speaking remainder.

Reaching the Unconnected:

The internet is likely something you take for granted. However, billions of people on Earth have no internet. Free-to-Air satellite reaches those people, affordably. New ears will find the message of liberty, as people are frequently "scanning the band" and sampling new channels. That's how Ako found us. Then, he spread the word to his friends. It's really exciting that the ideas of freedom are reaching some of the poorest, most oppressed places on earth. We at LRN.FM are even more excited by the idea that we could be reaching more people around the globe via satellite, with your assistance. As you can see from our African satellite (SES-5) footprint map, our signal covers many of the countries in the world with the poorest-to-non-existent internet access:

How much does this cost?

Right now, LRN.FM has an incredible deal with our satellite provider, "SES". I'm not allowed to say exactly how affordable it is, but our Sub-Saharan channel costs less than $400 a month in total. With ongoing monthly funding from you, not only can LRN.FM continue our African satellite channel, but we could expand to other parts of the world. I know I'm not the only one who thinks this vision of spreading the message of liberty and peace globally is important, but until now this project's supporters have been unable to truly get behind this on a longterm, targeted basis. Thank you for considering it. I hope you'll sign up today and share this Patreon with others who care about liberty.

What you get:

The satisfaction of knowing your dollars are helping reach people worldwide with the ideas of liberty, plus your name (unless you prefer anonymity) will be placed on our Satellite page on LRN.FM.

Are contributions tax-deductible?

I'm no attorney, but it's my understanding that at least with the United States, donations to churches are tax-deductible even if the church is not 501-c3 status with the IRS. Here's what the IRS says on their own website: "You can deduct your contributions only if you make them to a qualified organization. Most organizations, other than churches and governments, must apply to the IRS to become a qualified organization." LRN.FM is a project of the Shire Free Church, so you should be fine deducting your donation. Don't take my word for it, though. If you pay taxes, which I don't personally recommend, you may want to do your own research.

What are alternative methods to contribute?

Please reach directly out via email to lrn at lrn.fm.

Can't afford to give?

Please share this fundraiser on your favorite social media and also share LRN.FM!

Thanks for your consideration!

Ian Freeman

Program Director, LRN.FM