Low Power Radio Gets New Push in Congress
Indigo Girls, Community Broadcasters, Religious Groups Endorse Bills to Create Hundreds of New Low Power FM Radio Stations WASHINGTON - JUNE 22
- Bipartisan legislation was introduced today in both the House and
Senate that would bring hundreds of local, Low Power FM (LPFM) radio
stations to cities and suburbs across the country.
On a national
press call this morning, the Indigo Girls joined religious groups,
community radio broadcasters and public interest advocates in support
of the "Local Community Radio Act of 2007" sponsored by Reps. Mike
Doyle (D-Penn.) and Lee Terry (R-Neb.) in the House, and Sens. Maria
Cantwell (D-Wash.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the Senate.
"Radio
should reflect the vibrant diversity of music, points of view and news
in our communities, not just the narrow content a few large radio
conglomerates deem profitable," said Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls.
"The Local Community Radio Act can make this idea a reality and
deserves the support of Congress and community groups across the
country."
A recording of today's national press call is available at http://www.freepress.net/docs/lpfm_press_call.mp3
On the call, the House co-sponsors of the Local Community Radio Act explained the importance of the legislation.
"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," Congressman
Mike Doyle said. "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."
"I really believe
Low Power Radio has the potential to make communities stronger,"
Congressman Lee Terry said. "Congress should be expanding the forums
for our local communities to communicate. There are several groups in
the Omaha area that want to apply for an LPFM station, and that's why I
am working to push this legislation forward. I encourage my colleagues
to jump on board and get more local stations on the air."
In
response to the introduction of the Local Community Radio Act, FCC
Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said: "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 news, information and music. That's the essence of
radio, and we should do all we can to promote it."
LPFM stations
are community-based, noncommercial radio stations that broadcast to
neighborhoods and small towns. LPFM licenses make owning a radio
station possible for churches, schools, labor unions and other
community groups that best understand the needs of their local
communities.
"The founders of WRYR built our station to help
educate our community, promote its uniqueness, and assist in fighting
sprawl along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay," said WRYR-LP founder
Mike Shay. "The station has focused people in our area to care even
more about local businesses and environmental issues. Because of Low
Power FM radio, we are more politically active, caring, and engaged,
which has enabled us to make a difference in our community."
LPFM
stations have also been essential in times of crisis. During Hurricane
Katrina, LPFM stations in the Gulf Coast region stayed on the air and
provided their neighbors with lifesaving information.
"Our low
power station helped many people find shelter and restart their lives
after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," said John Freeman, director of the
Southern Development Foundation and founder of Louisiana's KOCZ-LP,
Opelousas Community Zydeco Radio. "Folks knew to listen to us during
the storm, and to work with us and our community to rebuild, because
our station was the strongest source of Zydeco music in the town where
it was founded. Opelousas is relying on KOCZ for church services on
Sunday, youth hip-hop programming, Gospel, health information, and
more. Low Power FM is helping our community to grow."
In 2000,
Congress authorized the FCC to issue LPFM licenses. But legislators
attached an unnecessary rule that limited LPFM stations to rural areas.
Since then, thousands who submitted applications with the FCC to
operate their own stations have been blocked.
"Effective and
meaningful communication vehicles are a must for cities like Omaha,"
said Tim Clark, president of the 100 Black Men of Omaha Chapter, an
organization that has been unable to obtain an LPFM license. "The need
for Low Power FM radio stations for inner cities is so important when
it comes to creating a sense of community and purpose, and uplifting a
people to move to action. With so many commercially driven stations
mostly driven by the bottom line, the community does not have a voice
no way to mobilize the community to action. New community Low Power FM
stations will give an opportunity for people to have a greater
appreciation for their history, cultural enrichment and community
pride."
Since 2000, the FCC has awarded more than 800 LPFM
licenses to church groups, schools and civil rights organizations. The
bills introduced today would authorize the FCC to license hundreds if
not thousands of new LPFM stations in cities, towns and suburbs
across the country.
"We've been building radio stations that
strengthen local music and culture, give families access to their local
governments, help diverse communities get on the air, and save lives
in rural communities," said Hannah Sassaman, organizer with Prometheus
Radio Project, a group that helps set up community radio stations. "We
applaud Congressman Doyle and Congressman Terry for their great vision
in bringing this vital service to America's cities."
"Radio
consolidation has shrunk playlists and knocked whole genres of music
such as jazz and bluegrass off the commercial dial," said Future of
Music Coalition's Policy Director Michael Bracy. "The Local Community
Radio Act holds the promise to return radio to what made it great:
cutting edge music, diverse genres and voices, and local,
community-based programming. This is something Congress should have
done a long time ago."
In 2003, the FCC released a $2 million,
taxpayer-funded study known as the "MITRE Study" which
unequivocally found that increasing the number of LPFM stations would
not cause significant interference. The FCC urged Congress to repeal
the restrictions it had placed on licensing LPFM stations. But no
action has been taken.
"The number of churches that could have
been granted LPFM licenses could have been beyond 500 had the FCC been
allowed to accept applications from more communities," said Dr. Ken
Bowles, general manager of Midwest Christian Media and founder of
KHIS-LP in Cape Girardeau, Mo. "The MITRE study was done at the
direction of Congress. Congress now has an opportunity to remove the
ill-advised ban and allow Christian low power broadcasting to flourish
bringing new formats and localization to urban areas."
LPFM
stations have been instrumental in allowing religious groups to
broadcast their church services, reaching new audiences and people who
are unable to leave their homes.
"We believe it is the
responsibility of the church to foster public dialogue about matters
that affect the quality of life of people in local communities. It is
our experience that Low Power FM radio is more responsive to this
dialogue and serves the community more effectively than corporations
far removed from local concerns," said Rev. Larry Hollon, chief
executive of United Methodist Communications.
"The power to
speak is the power to persuade, and thus the power to change the
world," said Cheryl Leanza, managing director of the United Church of
Christ Office of Communication, Inc. "Low Power Radio is about giving
many people voice who have been voiceless and powerless. The United
Church of Christ is excited that this legislation will enable more
community groups and churches to bring their voices to the airwaves."
The
1996 Telecommunications Act dramatically increased media consolidation
and decreased media diversity. LPFM stations provide opportunities
for people of color and women to run local radio stations and for local
groups to address issues affecting their community.
"Media
consolidation has made it extremely difficult for women and people of
color to become radio station owners," said Joe Torres, government
relations manager of Free Press. "People of color own just 7.7 percent
of all full-power radio stations and women own less than 6 percent.
This important legislation would provide more people of color and women
with opportunities they are denied in the commercial sector."
"Consumers
Union strongly supports this legislation to provide more creative
opportunities for communities to be heard in what has become a very
consolidated radio marketplace," said Gene Kimmelman, vice president of
federal and international affairs at Consumers Union.
"We are
extremely pleased to see Congress moving forward legislation to bring
more LPFM radio stations to communities throughout the country," said
Parul Desai, assistant director of Media Access Project. "LPFM stations
serve the needs of the local community, which are often neglected by
commercial broadcasters. Our hope is that Congress acts quickly on this
legislation so that constituents can begin to reap the benefits of a
local voice in their community."
"Common Cause urges members of
Congress to support the Low Power FM bill," said Lauren Coletta, senior
director of media programs at Common Cause. "Low Power FM stations are
organized by local people to serve their communities in unique ways
that commercial broadcasters are unwilling to do."
"In
California, we've seen the value of radio stations that are local and
community-driven," said Jeff Perlstein, executive director of Media
Alliance. "It's high time Congress put these public resources these
radio frequencies to work for the public."
"LPFM is a
low-cost, high-democracy form of community media," said Anthony Riddle,
executive director of Alliance for Community Media. "There ought to be
a way for every community with the will and an idea to have its own
voice. Congressmen Doyle and Terry shouldn't just be applauded they
should be joined by every other member in supporting this eloquent and
simple ideal."
"While other forms of media are consolidated and
homogenous, Low Power FM remains an innovative outlet for local and
diverse voices," said Amina Fazullah, staff attorney for U.S. PIRG.
"This legislation is a great step forward towards a responsive media
that serves citizens and not the corporate interest."
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