February 8, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:Craig Aaron, (202) 265-1490
Senate low-power radio bill would open the airwaves to the public
Free Press urges Congress to pass the Local Community Radio Act of 2005 and to support LPFM stations
On the fifth anniversary of the approval of Low Power FM radio licensing by the Federal Communications Commission, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced the Local Community Radio Act of 2005. The bill would allow hundreds of new low-power community stations across the country to begin broadcasting. Robert W. McChesney, founder and president of the nonpartisan media reform group Free Press made the following statement:
"The introduction of Low Power FM in 2000 was a clear victory for the American public: no commercialism, more choices and more stations serving local needs. But lobbying by commercial broadcasters and backdoor legislative maneuvering prevented LPFM from reaching its full potential. Now that the dubious industry claims of interference have been disproved, Congress should move quickly to pass the Local Community Radio Act and remove the barriers preventing more urban and rural communities from building low-power stations.
“Low Power FM is the antidote to the rampant commercialism and relentless consolidation on our radio airwaves. The public clearly wants to hear more local programming that represents the diversity of their communities. In hundreds of towns, Low Power FM has offered a voice to the voiceless. Churches, schools and community groups in many other places are eager to get on the air. Congress should no longer stand in the way.”
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Robert W. McChesney is the founder and president of Free Press (www.freepress.net), a national, non-partisan organization that seeks to increase informed public participation in media policy and to promote a more competitive, democratic media system.