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News :: Arts : Civil & Human Rights : Media : Political-Economy |
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Powell's Legacy Hangs on Low Power Radio |
Current rating: 0 |
by Prometheus Radio Project via ML
(No verified email address) |
07 Feb 2005
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Low Power Radio advocates have expressed concern that
current FCC rules preclude many applications, and hinder existing
stations' ability to operate. "Frustrating administrative issues still
plague these stations," said Tridish, "For example, there are
difficulties when a group needs to change its board of directors, or
when a commercial station encroaches on an LPFM's service area and
legally forces it to shut down without recourse to a new frequency. For
every station on the air, there are five groups who would like to be but
can't under the current rules. Most people never hear these great
stations unless they live in a small town, like Portsmouth, NH or
Immokalee, FL." |
For Immediate Release: 2/7/2005
Contact: Pete Tridish, petri (at) prometheusradio.org, 215-605-9297
Hannah Sassaman, hannah (at) prometheusradio.org, 267-970-4007
FCC CHAIRMAN POWELL'S LEGACY ON LOW POWER FM RADIO HANGS IN BALANCE
As He Closes His Term with Events Marking Community Radio's Fifth Birthday
(For live audio and video coverage of these events, visit
http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio on Tuesday morning. For a full
agenda/panelist list visit
http://www.prometheusradio.org/lpfm_day_official_panels.doc.)
It's been five years since the Federal Communication Commission
established Low Power FM (LPFM) community radio service in response to a
grassroots movement which pushed the FCC to allow small community groups
to operate radios stations. Now this coalition, along with hundreds of
new community radio stations, have been invited to the FCC for an
official forum on Low Power Radio on February 8th, 2005.
Outgoing FCC Chairman Michael Powell and the other Commissioners will be
present to speak about the FCC's commitment to this new radio service
and its mission to promote localism in community media. Low Power FM
radio operators will testify about the challenges they face, and how the
Commission can help them preserve this service as a permanent fixture in
the American media landscape.
"In August 2003, Chairman Powell made Low Power Radio a centerpiece of
his commitment to the principle that radio stations must serve their
local communities," said Prometheus Technical Director Pete Tridish.
"He promised at his press conference on localism in media to take steps
to allow more stations into the market, and to help LPFM grow."
The FCC, under Chairman Powell, effected two significant accomplishments
for Low Power Radio. One achievement is the 1100 Low Power applications
that have been granted, an accelerated increase since Powell announced
that efforts would be stepped up in August of 2003. Second, despite
vigorous opposition from existing broadcasters who claimed that LPFM
stations would create harmful interference, the FCC reported to Congress
that LPFM engineering questions have been resolved. An independent
report by the MITRE Corporation, commissioned by Congress in 2000, found
that these interference concerns were groundless. The FCC advised
Congress that Low Power Radio stations could move forward in major urban
areas without causing harmful interference. Based on the findings of the
MITRE study and the FCC's recommendation, Senators McCain, Leahy and
Cantwell introduced legislation to restore the previous interference
protections approved by the FCC, permitting hundreds of new stations.
The legislation passed the Senate Commerce Committee before stalling
around the 2004 election.
At the same time, Low Power Radio advocates have expressed concern that
current FCC rules preclude many applications, and hinder existing
stations' ability to operate. "Frustrating administrative issues still
plague these stations," said Tridish, "For example, there are
difficulties when a group needs to change its board of directors, or
when a commercial station encroaches on an LPFM's service area and
legally forces it to shut down without recourse to a new frequency. For
every station on the air, there are five groups who would like to be but
can't under the current rules. Most people never hear these great
stations unless they live in a small town, like Portsmouth, NH or
Immokalee, FL."
"We hope Powell takes this last opportunity to set his legacy on Low
Power FM solidly on the positive side, by passing administrative rule
changes that will help LPFM thrive," said Prometheus Program Director
Hannah Sassaman.
Media Access Project, United Church of Christ Office of Communications,
Future of Music, Free Press, and Prometheus will host a fifth birthday
party for LPFM on February 7th, featuring former FCC Commissioner Gloria
Tristani, who voted for LPFM in 2000. Also present will be Lucas
Benitez, radio operator and winner of the 2003 Robert F. Kennedy Human
Rights Award. To learn more about all events, visit
http://www.prometheusradio.org.
Monday, February 7th: 7-10 pm for the 5th Birthday of Low Power FM!
Cafe Mawanaj, 624 T Street NW -- 1 block from Howard/Shaw Metro stop.
Tuesday, February 8th: 9:30AM-2:30 PM for Low Power FM radio day at the FCC!
FCC, 445 12th Street SW -- 2 blocks from Smithsonian Metro stop.
(A one-page printout version of this release is available at
http://www.prometheusradio.org/fcc_lpfm_day_release_feb_3.doc -- feel
free to forward this release widely. If you are receiving multiple
copies of this press release, or have any questions or concerns, email
hannah (at) prometheusradio.org.) |
See also:
http://www.prometheusradio.org/
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This work licensed under a
Creative Commons license |
