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News :: Arts : Civil & Human Rights : Elections & Legislation : Media : Political-Economy |
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Senate Commerce Committee Pushes Forward Low Power Radio, Rejects Protectionist Pleading of Big Broadcasters |
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by Prometheus Radio Project
(No verified email address) |
22 Jul 2004
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Senate Commerce Committee Passes Historic Bill to Expand Low Power FM Community Radio!
Grassroots Organizing Leads to Major Victory, One Step Closer to LPFM Service in America's Cities |
The United States Senate Commerce Committee voted to approve a major
bill on Thursday, opening the way for Congress to substantially expand
the number of community media outlets in the United States. The bill is
designed to allow thousands more Low Power FM Community radio stations
to reach Americans in cities, and all across the country. An amendment
by Senator Burns of Montana to further delay low power radio was
defeated, but an amendment imposing special additional interference
requirements for New Jersey was passed.
Senate Bill #2505, the bill designed to 'implement the recommendations
of the Federal Communications Commission regarding Low Power FM', (LPFM)
was introduced by Senators John McCain, Republican of Arizona, and
Patrick Leahy, Democrat of Vermont. This unusual bipartisan
partnership, and this successful movement of the bill into the full
Congress, came about as a result of the enthusiastic and energized
grassroots advocacy of Americans frustrated with the poor quality of
media across the country.
"Low Power radio should not be controversial," said Pete Tridish,
Technical Director of Prometheus Radio Project. "While the question of
whether a 100 watt station can interfere with a 50,000 watt station is a
simple "No" at first -- and last -- glance, the NAB has been trying to
make the issue look more complicated than it is with a snow job of
irrelevant technical nitpicking. All that stands between American
communities and Low Power FM radio is the deeply entrenched lobbying
group, the National Association of Broadcasters. They are fighting an
interference threat that doesn't exist on behalf of a constituency of
broadcast stations that has more important things to worry about."
According to advocates and volunteers who stood in the extremely crowded
Committee meeting room today, the bipartisan beginnings of s2505 did not
extend completely into today's vote. Senator Conrad Burns, Republican
of Montana, introduced a bill that would force the FCC to study the
economic impact of more LPFM stations, and the 'potential interference'
they would cause, in today's markets. "It is ironic to see calls for
economic impact studies from free market Republicans. Protecting
existing broadcasters from new competition is a great example of how
lobbyist-driven economics works -- socialism for the rich and well
connected, and artificially scarce 'markets' for everyone else," said
Tridish.
After Burns' amendment was defeated, Senator Frank Lautenberg introduced
an amendment that would supposedly protect radio consumers in densely
populated New Jersey from the 'potential interference' offered by LPFM
stations. "The Lautenberg amendment did pass, by a voice vote, and then
the bill itself passed, also by voice vote," reported Prometheus'
Program Director Hannah Sassaman. "Unfortunately, Senator Lautenberg
didn't realize that he was precluding many more opportunities for LPFM
with this amendment, especially for his own state's residents. We'll
work with the Senator to revise his position, and allow new, local, New
Jersey stations to blossom between the 50,000 watt flamethrowers in the
New York-Philly corridor. Lautenberg's amendment certainly proves to us
that the corporate lobbyists aren't going to let this go without a
fight, but the real communities of America will be working overtime to
make sure their legislators, in the Senate and the House, represent
them, and bring LPFM to their doorsteps."
Approximately 400 Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations currently serve
communities across the United States. Corporate lobbying interests such
as the National Association of Broadcasters have curtailed the expansion
of the LPFM service, keeping these non-commercial, completely local
stations from being built in all but one of the top 50 markets in the
US. If s2505 becomes law, thousands of stations will reach American
communities, including at least one to four in most major cities.
To find out more about the Prometheus Radio Project and it's organizers'
and allies' efforts to bring diverse, community media to America and the
global community, visit http://www.prometheusradio.org, or call
215.727.9620. |
This work is in the public domain |
