In different parts of the world, community broadcasting is known by different names.
Community participation is both a characteristic of community radio and an economic necessity.
The small operating budget of most community radio stations dictates a reliance on volunteer labour. There have been clearly identified feminist programs on access radio since it began in 1981. Indeed, women were vocal lobbyists for greater public representation and participation in the media together with ethnic interest groups, union and Maori activists. Feminist groups were among the first community groups to take advantage of the opportunity to broadcast when access radio was launched. Today there are access radio stations, owned by nonprofit community groups, in most major population centres of New Zealand.