The time is now (and until August 11) to protest full-power encroachment
on LPFM. The FCC has opened a proceeding on the 307b preference for
Commercial Radio, which allows for full power stations to change their
community of license, often harming the low powered stations in their
path. In fact, 458 low power radio stations have faced encroachment since January 17, 2007, consequently reducing their service area.
We have the opportunity now to close the loophole that allows for
these move-ins, but we need to hear from more stations on this policy!
From July 17th to July 19th, The Prometheus Radio Project will be in Detroit, Michigan for the 11th annual Allied Media Conference (AMC). The AMC cultivates strategies for a more just and creative world and examines the role media can play in our lives – from zines to video-blogging to breakdancing, to communicating solidarity and creating justice. We will hosting a live broadcast that you can tune into here including the opening plenaries, segments produced by participants in People's Production House AMC-FM workshop and more of the voices, beats and sounds of the Allied Media Conference.
We Are Ready Now
Hour Long Radio Special from the Rooms and Halls of the Allied Media Conference in Detroit, MI
Please download this and broadcast it on your station!
The Prometheus Radio Project is collaborating with dozens of economic, social, and media justice groups to take action to all summer long to pass the Local Community Radio Act (HR 1147/S592). Here is an overview of how you can take action:
1) Join people from across the country on MONDAY JULY 20, 2009 to tell Congress to open up the airwaves by passing the Local Community Radio Act.
The Local Community Radio Act HR 1147 would expand Low Power FM radio stations and open the airwaves up to potentially tens of thousands of new community radio stations across the country.
Follow this link to read the complete testimonies of witnesses who spoke at the Congressional Hearing on Low Power FM Radio. Read how Cheryl Leanza, Prometheus Board Member, argued eloquently for the need to Expand Low Power radio and pass the Local Community Radio Act. You can download the audio file- to play on your Low Power Station!
FCC Proposing to Close Loopholes and Halt Abuses of Local Radio Distribution
In an exciting Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the FCC has finally recognized the systematic abuse of its policies by large corporations and has proposed changes that will protect small rural community stations. Will they really solve the problems that have finally been recognized, or will these proposed changes create similar loopholes that larger corporations will still be able to exploit in the name of localism?
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byJuly 13.
1. A Better Media by Andalusia Knoll
2. The GMC Experience by Ryan Dennison
3. Films and Forums by Jade Meshesha
4. Democracia Ya! by Sakura Sanders
5. View from the Top by Halimah Marcus
Washington, DC – June 11, 2009 – In a hearing held by the House Energy
and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and
the Internet, FCC Audio Division Chief Peter Doyle testified on behalf
of the Local Community Radio Act (H.R. 1147). Introduced by U.S.
Representatives Mike Doyle (PA-14) and Lee Terry (NE-2), the bill would
allow the FCC to license thousands of Low Power FM community radio
stations across the country.
Four new cosponsors signed onto the bill Thursday, bringing the total
to 58 thus far. In his opening statement, Rep. Doyle explained why the
bipartisan legislation is so needed:
“In
2000, the Federal Communications Commission started to create new
community radio stations, run by local schools, churches, community
groups and governments. They did this because their mission from
Congress is not to help entrenched lobbies, but to make sure that as
many Americans as possible have access to the public’s airwaves to
fulfill a basic human need – the right to communicate.
"But responding to broadcasters’ concerns, Congress called time out and
asked for an independent study to examine the issue. The premise of
Congress’ decision to order the study was that if the study confirmed
the FCC’s findings, Congress would remove its prohibition on the FCC,
and allow it to fully implement community radio. The study came back,
agreed with the FCC that these stations can be created without harming
listeners. And through two unanimous, bipartisan votes, the FCC has
twice now recommended that Congress do so. I am asking Congress to keep
its part of the bargain.”
We are thrilled to report that the Communications, Technology and Internet Subcommittee of the US House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee will be holding a hearing on HR 1147, the Local Community Radio Act, on Thursday, June 11 at 10 am.
In this Congressional hearing, a panel will testify before the House Subcommittee, including LPFM supporter and Prometheus Board Member, Cheryl Leanza. This is a thrilling and critical step towards passage of the Local Community Radio Act, a battle that Prometheus has been fighting for a number of years. With the passage of the Local Community Radio Act, there will be space on the dial for hundreds, potentially thousands more non-commercial Low Power FM radio stations. At Prometheus, we are eager to get back to the work of building more LPFM stations and getting more local and progressive voices on the airwaves!
The Prometheus Radio Project is a small non-profit among many well-funded media giants; we count on our allies and friends to support our work; to build a network of LPFM radio stations to empower community voices, create participatory media, and support movements for social change. Please consider making a donation today, on the occasion of this exciting milestone!
Court vindicates FCC's effort to save small stations from loss of channels
On June 5, 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals of the
D.C. Circuit ruled in favor of the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) and against the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB),
affirming the December 2007 Federal Communications Commission decision
to protect low power FM (LPFM) stations against “encroachment” by full
power radio stations. Had the FCC not intervened, these low power
stations would have been forced off the air by full power stations
wanting to change their broadcasting location.The Prometheus Radio
Project, represented by Media Access Project attorney Parul Desai, was
an intervenor in the case on behalf of the FCC and the threatened LPFM
stations.
Should Radio Support Artists By Paying A Performance Fee?
Should Radio Support Artists By Paying A Performance Fee?
By Jade Meshesha
So who exactly gets paid when you hear Patsy Cline singing "Crazy" on the radio? It's not who you think- with the current laws on the books, the songwriter (Willie Nelson in this case) and his publisher are compensated while the estate of Patsy Cline receives no pay for the performance. The Performance Rights Act is a bill which has recently been introduced into Congress that would correct this weird state of affairs by requiring radio stations to pay a fee to compensate performers for the use of their music over the air. It is strongly opposed by the National Association of Broadcasters, who generally assert that no radio station would want to pay any fee that they do not already pay. Here at Prometheus, we see this as an issue of fairness and we are trying to decide whether to support, oppose, or stay neutral on this legislation. Read on to see why there is such a strong need for performance fees in the US right now, and then let us know what you think. Do you support this bill? How could it be changed to be fair for performers, but also fair to small low power stations?
Click here to see the Video of Low Power FM Leadership Days- three days of action, advocacy, training, and strategizing to bring pass the Local Community Radio Act and bring Low Power FM Radio to towns and cities across the country.
The Prometheus Radio Project is collaborating with dozens of economic, social, and media justice groups to take action to all summer long to pass the Local Community Radio Act (HR 1147/S592). Here is an overview of how you can take action:
We are thrilled to report that the Communications, Technology and Internet Subcommittee of the US House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee will be holding a hearing on HR 1147, the Local Community Radio Act, on Thursday, June 11 at 10 am. 
