NAB Says "No" To Low Power FM Amendment

www.fmqb.com

June 22, 2006

According to the NAB, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) will present an amendment to a telecommunications reform bill that involves Low Power FM stations (LPFM). The legislation would eliminate “third adjacent channel interference protections” which help keep radio signals clear and sharp. The amendment could be introduced to the Senate Commerce Committee as soon as this afternoon.

The NAB has posted a recording of audio from Washington, D.C. stations when these protections are lifted (which can be heard here: http://www.nab.org/xert/corpcomm/pressrel/mixdown.mp3). The recording has been sent to the Senate Commerce Committee and the NAB is urging members to fight against the bill.

Sen. McCain has lobbied for LPFM in the past, though issues with signal interference have always been a sticking point.