MEDIA ADVISORY
November 17, 2009

WHO: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation

WHAT: Markup and Committee Vote on S 592, The Local Community Radio Act (LCRA)

WHEN: Thursday, November 19, 2009, at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Senate Russell Building, Room 293, Washington, D.C.

WHY: The Local Community Radio Act would allow for hundreds of new, non-commercial radio stations around the country. These independent community stations are run by non-profit organizations such as schools, churches, emergency responders, and neighborhood groups.

The Local Community Radio Act, co-sponsored by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ), has passed the Senate Committee twice before.  However, this time the Senate bill is accompanied by a House version of the bill, HR 1147, which recently passed the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet and the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the first time. This greatly increases the Act’s chances for passage in this legislative session.