Schema-First Lab

Lab Fort Dodge, Iowa Est. 2026

Schema-First Broadcasting Lab

Technical architecture for modern independent broadcasting

For most of radio's history, listeners found a station on the dial. An internet-only station has no dial. It gets found when machines (search engines, voice assistants, car dashboards, AI models) can read exactly what the station is, where it serves, and who stands behind it.

Schema-first broadcasting means writing that description in structured data first, then building the pages, feeds and listings from it. This lab documents how Fort Dodge Radio and MyFortDodge.com do it: two properties, one operator, no debt, and no developer on staff other than the operator himself.

What schema-first means →

The Workday Engine hour: six songs between each of two 2-minute breaks '80s song'80s song'80s songStation ID and 2-minute break'70s song'70s song'70s song'80s song'80s song'80s songStation ID and 2-minute break'70s song'70s song'70s song 56 MIN MUSIC PER HOUR :00:15:30:45
  • '80s
  • '70s
  • ID + 2-min break
The Workday Engine clock. Song lengths are schematic.
1981
First full-time radio job
6
NAB Crystal and Marconi awards, 1998–2000
2007
MyFortDodge.com launched
2019
Fort Dodge Radio signed on, internet-only
$0
Debt

In the lab