Community radio is diverse, local, public-access, community-owned and fueled by the passion of our volunteers and listeners. That hasn't changed.

But we are also using new media and emerging technologies to extend our access and quality programming even further. Financial support from the government and industry would allow us to do more of this good work.

That's the message the NCRA delivered this past week to the CRTC and the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

Pic: Troy Richter is a volunteer programmer at CKDU-FM in Halifax. He is one of the many programmers across the country using social media applications to reach out to his listeners.