Congressional Pair Introduce Low Power FM Legislation
Congressmen Mike Doyle (PA-14) and Lee Terry (NE-2) on Thursday introduced legislation to allow thousands of low power radio stations across the country to begin broadcasting.

"Diverse, informative, thought-provoking, locally-oriented programming has been dramatically restricted across the country by the current federal laws governing the separation between broadcast frequencies," Doyle said in a conference call. "Enactment of this legislation would improve the quality of life in communities across the country by providing new and different programming – and especially programming addressing local interests and events – to these communities. In addition, the establishment of hundreds of low-power radio stations across the country would also help keep residents better informed during natural disasters and other local emergencies."

"Low-power FM has the potential of making our communities stronger," Terry said. "Low-power FM radio offers the opportunity to broadcast when some might not otherwise be able to afford to do so. This is extremely important for noncommercial groups like schools, churches and neighborhoods."

FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein commented, "Localism and diversity have always been at the heart of radio. Many low power FM stations across America reflect the best of these traditions and have flourished despite existing interference standards. As I've traveled throughout this country, I've seen local churches, schools and other community-based organizations use low power stations to broadcast locally-relevant local news, information and music. That's the essence of radio, and we should do all we can to promote it."

Doyle and Terry’s legislation would repeal the Radio Broadcast Preservation Act's requirement that radio stations in a given market be four intervals apart. They believe that reducing the required space between radio stations will allow thousands of new community-based LPFM stations across the country to begin broadcasting. Identical legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).

Commenting on the bill's introduction, NAB spokesman Kristopher Jones said, "While NAB does not oppose LPFM in areas where low power stations would not cause interference, we will actively oppose today's proposed legislation. The 232 million weekly listeners of local radio should not be inundated with the inevitable interference that would result from shoehorning more stations onto an already overcrowded radio dial."