WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle yesterday introduced a bill that could prompt hundreds of new low-power FM radio stations to sprout up around the country, including the Pittsburgh region.

The bill would relax a restraint that prevents new stations from securing spots close to existing full-power commercial stations on the radio dial.

"Diverse, informative, thought-provoking, locally oriented programming has been dramatically restricted across the country by the current federal laws," said Mr. Doyle, D-Forest Hills. "We have announced legislation that we believe has the potential to revolutionize what Americans hear on their radio."

Mr. Doyle's bill is attracting considerable grass-roots support from religious organizations, musicians, and others who hope to expand opportunities for radio broadcasting at the community level. Low-power stations typically have ranges of only a few miles.

"This is really about the airwaves belonging to the American people," said Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls, a popular folk rock group.

The National Association of Broadcasters is against the proposed changes.

"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," said Kristopher Jones, a spokesman for the NAB.

Mr. Doyle discounts such criticism, citing a 2003 study that says the federal limitations could be loosened without causing interference.

In 2000, the Federal Communications Commission created the low-power radio service, making more licenses available to "non-commercial entities." The same year, Congress passed a law that prevented low-power stations from occupying a spot on the radio dial within three intervals of major commercial stations. A small Pittsburgh station, for instance, can't occupy 102.3 on the FM dial because it would be too close to 102.5 WDVE.

The FCC commissioned an independent study of the restriction from MITRE Corp., which found that a three-interval limitation is sufficient to avoid signal interference.

Mr. Doyle's bill would adopt the three-interval standard.

"It would be great for us," said David Novak, general manager at WMKP, also known as The Roar, a station at Penn State's McKeesport campus.

The station, which is run by about 20 to 30 student volunteers each semester, has unsuccessfully applied for a low-power FM license. It currently broadcasts over the Internet, with an open music format.

"It's hard to get out and promote ourselves," said Mr. Novak, 21, a communications major who is entering his senior year.

In Opelousas, La., the low-power station KOCZ is popular because of its focus on local Zydeco music. It also continued broadcasting in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

"We knew where to send people for immediate help," said John Freeman, a disc jockey at the station.

The new legislation has bipartisan support. Mr. Doyle is co-sponsoring it with Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., but he says he needs to inform more of his colleagues about its benefits.

Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., have introduced the bill in the Senate.