Radio, as a medium of communication plays a vital role in assisting social development in countries like Ethiopia.More recently, private FM radios are mushrooming in most Ethiopian cities. However, the role of these private FM radios in development has not been researched and mapped. Moreover,they are receiving little attention in discussions in communication for development. Therefore, the author studied the contributions of these private FM radio stations to social development; and analyzed their actual impacts on people s access to and dissemination of information in the country.