[FM] WUMB Internet Radio Update

[Denise D. Simon]

WUMB posted this message today at http://www.wumb.org/:

WUMB’s Live Streaming Audio Connection

Status Report – March 1, 2000

Last fall, after many, many requests from listeners, WUMB Radio found a
local internet service company, BostonDial.com who was willing to
experiment in providing us with a live streaming audio connection. We
had the opportunity to have 50 simultaneous users. Within two months, we
had the maximum number of users on a regular basis. This became a
frustrating situation for the dozens of extra people trying to connect.
The bandwidth to increase the number of simultaneous users is very
expensive and both the internet company and WUMB were looking for a solution.

The internet company originally proposed a solution of capturing
information which we found unacceptable. We thought they eventually came
up with an adequate system. We expected them to create a check-in system
to determine if the web audio listener was actually listening to the
station, by having a pop-up box which would show up after a few hours.
However, we have received numerous complaints that the anonymous log-in
system does not work as intended, and the pop-up box comes up after only
ten minutes.

In addition, listeners have complained about an unresponsiveness when
they send something to the BostonDial.com webmaster. We have found this
all to be totally unacceptable for WUMB’s standards and for the best
interest of our listeners. As a result, WUMB Radio has severed its ties
with BostonDial.Com effective today.

We have sought out and selected another internet audio service provider
and hope to be "up and running" by the end of April. Please check back
at our main web site for further details.

Please know that we are very sorry for the frustrations and
inconveniences experienced by listeners. Please contact us with any
questions or comments.