I just called both senators and found that neither had a position on the Local Community Radio Act, bill S592.
Please call them both, now, and voice your support for the bill.
Kerry, John F. - (D) - (202) 224-2742
Brown, Scott P. - (R) - (202) 224-4543
Tell them your local public access TV station has a construction permit to build a LPFM station, but cannot start until the 3rd Adjacency law is repealed, with the passage of this act.
The Local Community Radio Act is now poised to pass! On March 10, 2010 S592 was finally placed on the calendar and reported out of Committee, making the bill ready for a vote of approval from the Senate. With this bureaucratic piece of process behind us, we are just a few steps away from passing the Local Community Radio Act. After passing out of the Full House of Representatives in December, all that remains is for the bill to be voted out of the Senate and then signed into law by the President.
Along with the sponsors of the legislation, Sens. Cantwell (WA) and McCain (AZ), the cosponsors of the legislation are a strong group of high-ranking Senators who have the power to push this bill towards passage this session. Among them are, Durbin (IL), Feingold (WI), Leahy (VT), Merkley (OR), Sanders (VT), and Schumer (NY)
In Senator Durbin's home-state, the Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP) is working hard for the passage of the Local Community Radio Act so that their newly-launched internet station can make its way onto the FM band.
CHIRP is dedicated to providing Chicago residents with a community radio station focused on the representation of local people, events, and issues alongside a wide array of local and independent music. They seek to promote localism, diversity, and independence in public broadcasting via programming and web content curated, created, and produced by Chicagoans.
While there are many urban groups interested in getting an opportunity to broadcast for the first time, there are also many rural communities that stand to benefit from the passage of the Local Community Radio Act. At the recent FCC media ownership hearings, Mike Willis of Lake Murray, South Carolina was among several supporters who used the public hearing to ask South Carolina’s legislators to expand the low power service with the Local Community Radio Act.
“We want to urge the US Senators from South Carolina to support this legislation. We have not yet had Senator Jim DeMint’s support, and we are calling on him to help us pass this important bill this spring,” said Willis, who hopes to start a low power station for his community.
With the reporting phase of the legislation complete, we expect quick movement to pass this bill through Unanimous Consent. We will need every Senator to commit to supporting LPFM this spring. If you have not yet called your Senator's office, urge them to support S592 so that low power radio can be expanded across the United States.
Call our Senators and ask them to support S592- the Local Community Radio Act.
Kerry, John F. - (D) - (202) 224-2742
Brown, Scott P. - (R) - (202) 224-4543
1) Call and ask to speak to the staff person who covers telecom issues.
2) Tell the telecom staffer, either over the phone or on their voice mail:
"I am a constituent from Montague and I am calling to urge [Senator's name] to support S592, which expands the Low Power FM radio service, creating opportunities for local community media outlets in our district. The Local Community Radio Act is advancing rapidly and will shortly be hotlined through the Senate. Can I count on the Senator's support?”
Local Community Radio Act: One Step Closer to the Finish Line
November 19, 2009
This morning, the Local Community Radio Act (S592) passed unanimously out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation with a voice vote. Both the Senate and House versions of the bill are on their way to full floor votes.
By repealing restrictions placed on the FCC in 2000, the Local Community Radio Act would allow hundreds of new licenses for low power FM stations.
Gary Galloway, Communications Leader for a county emergency response task force in Newton County, Mississippi spent the week in DC telling lawmakers his story about the life-saving role of low power radio during a crisis. After hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged Louisiana and coastal Mississippi, Galloway worked with the Hancock County Emergency Management Team in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi to reach out to the public. Broadcasting nightly on low power station WQRZ, Galloway was able to provide essential information about road closures and where people could go to get food, water, and medical care.
“My team has been deployed to tornado outbreaks, hurricanes, plane crashes, pipeline explosions, and other disasters that exceed the capability of local government. My experiences have taught me that low power FM is a crucial tool for Emergency Management to communicate with citizens when lives and property are in jeopardy,” said Galloway.
Galloway met with the offices of Senator Cochran (R-MS), a former cosponsor of the legislation, Senator Wicker (R-MS), and Senator Vitter (R-LA), who voted in support of the legislation this morning.
Because low power radio stations broadcast at less than 100 watts, they can run from generators during power outages—sometimes even operating on a car battery. Non-commercial, locally based, and volunteer-run low power radio stations respond to community needs in ways that larger stations cannot.
Cory Fischer-Hoffman, Campaign Director for the Prometheus Radio Project said that disasters are not the only time when the public lacks access to local news.
“Low power radio is not only essential in times of an environmental crisis, but is also essential in addressing the crisis in our media system,” said Fischer-Hoffman. “There are few alternatives for genuinely local programming, and people want news and information relevant to their own neighborhoods and towns.”
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX), the ranking Republican on the Senate Committee, also noted the potential of low power radio in changing the face of media ownership.
“[Low power FM] is good way for women and minorities to gain experience in broadcasting that may not otherwise be possible given the expense of operating a full power station,” said Senator Hutchinson.
The Local Community Radio Act is co-sponsored in the Senate by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and John McCain (R-AZ). While this Senate legislation has passed out of committee in the previous two sessions, this year marks the first time that the House version passed through the House Subcommittee and Committee.
Senator Cantwell said that improving emergency response and broadening the diversity of media ownership are key reasons why she supports this legislation.
“I am optimistic that we can effectively cross the finish line on this issue this Congress,” said Senator Cantwell.
House Advances Measure to Create Hundreds of New Low Power FM Radio Stations
The Local Community Radio Act of 2009 is on its way to a full House vote after sailing through the Energy and Commerce Committee with little opposition. The measure would repeal legislation which requires the FCC to protect full-power broadcasters from interference from Low Power FM stations being placed on third-adjacent channels. We speak to Democratic Rep. Mike Doyle, a co-sponsor of the bill; and Cory Fischer-Hoffman, campaign director of the Prometheus Radio Project.
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The Local Community Radio Act Surges Ahead in Washington
October 20, 2009
This month, the Local Community Radio Act passed out of both the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce by voice votes. This is the farthest the bill has gone since it was first introduced in 2005, and we’re expecting it to go farther still. Passing out of the Subcommittee and Committee are two major hurtles for the bill that we can now mark as COMPLETE!
“All I can say is, it’s about time,” Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) said of the passage out of Subcommittee.
A mere one week later, on October 15, the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed the Local Community Radio Act.
“We are sounding the alarm,” said Cory Fischer-Hoffman, Campaign Director at the Prometheus Radio Project. “Passage out of full committee signals that Congress is finally ready to act on local community radio. Now is the time for everyone who wants a voice in their community to urge their Congressional Representatives to support HR 1147.”
Big broadcasters have historically opposed the Local Community Radio Act, claiming that LPFM could cause interference to full power stations, a concern later disproved by a Congressionally mandated study. But with unanimous FCC support, strong bipartisan co-sponsorship, and grassroots momentum, they are finally allowing the bill to move forward.
The bill has also recently gained the support of its former skeptics in Congress, including Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), the only former broadcaster on the committee, and Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), a lead co-sponsor of the bill that originally restricted low power radio in 2000.
Engineering concerns have been resolved and the bill’s major opponents have stepped down. What’s left to do before the House floor vote later this month? This Actober, we need to show Congress that the people want low power! Our representatives need to hear that this issue matters. With so many controversial issues debated in Congress this fall, low power radio is a bipartisan no-brainer–but it needs your support to make it onto the agenda!
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Energy and Commerce Committee Unanimously Supports Local Community Radio Act
October 15, 2009
Bill Moving Swiftly Toward Full House Vote
With a unanimous voice vote, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Local Community Radio Act this morning. By repealing restrictions that drastically limit channels available to low power FM (LPFM) stations, the Act will allow hundreds of community groups nationwide to access the public airwaves.
The popular, bipartisan legislation is on the fast track to becoming law. Shortly after all five FCC Commissioners reaffirmed the FCC’s longstanding support, the bill passed out of the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet by a voice vote. After today’s passage out of committee, the Local Community Radio Act heads for a floor vote in the House.
In his opening remarks today, Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) urged his colleagues to support the bill.
“As a longtime advocate of expanding low power FM radio services and the dynamic contribution they make to localism, a bedrock of our communications laws, I am pleased that the Committee is acting on this important bipartisan measure. Low power FM stations provide diverse, locally-originated programming that serves the needs of the community,” said Rep. Waxman.
Lead co-sponsor Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) noted that earlier concerns about potential interference with full power stations have been addressed.
“We are proud to have the support of many incumbent broadcasters for our legislation,” said Rep. Doyle. “We made changes during the subcommittee’s consideration of the bill to resolve concerns from other incumbent broadcasters, and we are especially pleased that National Public Radio expressed their appreciation of these changes.”
The bill has recently gained the support of its former skeptics in Congress, including Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), the only former broadcaster on the committee. Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), a lead co-sponsor of the bill that originally restricted low power radio in 2000, also now supports the legislation.
Hundreds of groups across the country are organizing for the opportunity to have their own radio stations. One of the most active among these is the Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP).
“Our goal is to provide Chicago with a showcase for the city’s diverse music and arts scenes and to cover local news stories too often overlooked by bigger media outlets,” said Shawn Campbell, President of CHIRP. “Our 140 volunteers are true believers in radio that is live, local, and truly connected to community. We are ready to start broadcasting original content around the clock as soon we are given the chance.”
Advocates say that today’s vote is a call to action for supporters of local media.
“We are sounding the alarm,” said Cory Fischer-Hoffman, Campaign Director at the Prometheus Radio Project. “Passage out of full committee signals that Congress is finally ready to act on local community radio. Now is the time for everyone who wants a voice in their community to urge their Congressional Representatives to support HR 1147.”
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Low Power Radio Triumphs over Big Broadcasters in Washington
October 8, 2009
Local Community Radio Act Sweeps House Subcommittee in 15 to 1 vote
The Local Community Radio Act was passed out of the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet this morning in a sweeping 15 to 1 vote. The Act would allow for the creation of hundreds of new, low power FM (LPFM) radio stations that would broadcast community news and local perspectives to neighborhoods across the country.
“All I can say is, it’s about time,” said Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), a co-sponsor of the bill. “It was absurd and ridiculous that broadcasters went to such great lengths to block the public from having some small measure of access to the airwaves, and disgraceful that we had to spend more two million dollars to prove what the FCC already had shown—that LPFM would not interfere with full power stations.”
Big broadcasters have historically opposed the Local Community Radio Act, claiming that LPFM could cause interference to full power stations, a concern later disproven by a Congressionally mandated study. But with unanimous FCC support, strong bipartisan co-sponsorship, and grassroots momentum, even industry news is now predicting a win. “We do not expect that there is any stopping it at this point,” the Radio Business Report commented this morning.
“The bill still has a long way to go in the legislative process, but I am optimistic that by the end of the year the Local Community Radio Act will be signed into law,” said Congressman Doyle (D-PA), lead co-sponsor of the bill with Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE).
The bill gained the support of former doubters of LPFM, including Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), a former lead co-sponsor of anti-LPFM legislation and ranking Republican on the subcommittee, Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), the only former broadcaster in Congress, and Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), who called for the study of LPFM interference in 2000.
“Today’s vote signals a policy shift towards more local and diverse media,” said Cory Fischer-Hoffman, Campaign Director for the Prometheus Radio Project. “We need to use this momentum to push for full passage of the Local Community Radio Act so groups working tirelessly to have a voice in their communities can start building stations.”
Hundreds of groups—including schools, churches, and emergency responders—were denied licenses in 2000 after Congress blocked the FCC from handing them out in crowded media markets.
Advocates point to the successes of existing low power FM stations to prove their value to communities. “When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf, low power radio was the only source of emergency information in a number of counties. Residents in East Texas tuned their battery-operated radios to KZQX-LP while they waited a week for power to be restored,” said Andalusia Knoll, Community Station Director at the Prometheus Radio Project. “In Louisiana, KOCZ-LP has proven essential to the cultural survival of Zydeco music, which is rarely heard on the airwaves. And low power station WRYR hosts public debate about the environmental impacts of development on the Chesapeake Bay.”
“Congress should act swiftly to pass LPFM and support the families, workers, and places of worship that serve as the anchors in our communities,” said Joel Kelsey, Policy Analyst at Consumers Union.
Nancy Zirkin of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights added, “In an era of mass media consolidation, we in the civil rights community believe that it is critical to promote diverse ownership and diverse viewpoints over the public airwaves, and we look forward to the passage of this bill into law.”
The Local Community Radio Act is now poised to move to the full Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by longtime LPFM supporter Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA).
Sad to say, our Construction Permit expires on Monday, August 18. It’s not looking like we’ll get a valid broadcasting license, and thus no low power radio station for Montague. Our only hope at this point is being grandfathered-in whenever the local community radio bill passes, since we did request an FCC change back in 2006. Let’s see, and hope.
Greetings from Prometheus Radio! It’s coming down to the wire for Low Power FM at the Federal Communications Commission -- and we need your help! The deadline for your comments on a crucial low power radio proceeding at the FCC is today -- Monday, April 7 -- at midnight. Take a minute now to tell the FCC that you support Low Power FM!
File FCC Comments Now to Make Sure There’s Room for Low Power Radio!
The FCC is currently accepting your comments on the future of Low Power FM -- but time is running out! Comments are due midnight on Monday, April 7. Now is the time to make your voice heard as the FCC decides on rules which will have a big impact on whether there’s room in your town for new local community radio stations or more of the same schlock we’re all sick of -- it will take only a minute of your time and will mean a lot if you want a radio station in your community!
We are hot on the trail of expanding low power community radio around the country, both in Congress and at the FCC. Thanks to the efforts of low power radio supporters like you, the Local Community Radio Act -- which will lift the restrictions on Low Power FM -- has almost 80 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives and last fall unanimously passed the Senate Commerce Committee.
This is your chance to tell the FCC to ensure that there are spots on the dial for low power radio -- as they decide how to establish a fair balance between the right of your community group to have one single channel for a local community radio station versus the right of existing stations to repeat themselves on 2nd, 3rd, 97th and 821st channels across the country.
We think it should run like the school lunch line -- every one gets at least a reasonable opportunity for a first portion, before anyone gets seconds.
The more the FCC hears the stories of folks like yourself, the better all of our chances are of convincing them to change their policies and make more LPFM channels available. Feel free to forward this email to other people whose comments you think will also make a difference!
File Comments at the FCC to Make Sure There’s Room for Low Power radio!
PS -- Want more background on the questions being asked in the FCC rulemaking to bring more low power FM radio stations to your communities? Check out this document by REC Networks:
Here is the exchange between Olver’s aid Sara Merriam and myself, with some follow-up by Kate Blofson and Hannah Sussman from Prometheus...
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To: Merriam, Sara (Congressman Olver’s aid)
From: Michael Muller
Date: Monday, January 28, 2008 10:18 AM
Subject: Montague Low Power FM
Sara,
My name is Michael Muller and I am the president of Montague Community Cable, Inc., a non-profit registered in Massachusetts that runs Montague’s PEG Access TV station. I am writing to bring attention to an issue we are having with a Low Power FM license we were issued in 2005.
We applied for a LPFM license back in 2000 and were granted an 18-month construction permit in August of 2005. We have not yet begin construction of a station, and had the 18-month CP period extended another 18-months ’till August of 2008. The problem with the licensed site is that a full-power commercial FM station moved their transmitter from Pittsfield to the Mt. Toby range and now completely obliterates our location.
We have found a new location, a better location in fact, and a spot on the dial that only has a college radio station at the edge of interference -- what’s called a "Third Adjacent" -- but the FCC won’t grant the location and channel change because of a law set by congress in the early 1990’s (I think). Rep. Olver has already sent the FCC a letter on our behalf asking for a waiver and he received back a kurt reply essentially saying it was congress’ fault that we’re being denied, despite the fact that the FCC thinks the law shouldn’t exist.
Well, there’s an opportunity to remedy the situation. There’s a bill before congress right now, House Bill 2802, also called the Local Community Radio Act, introduced by Congressmembers Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Lee Terry (R-NE). The Senate passed an identical bill unanimously in October, and the House bill is strongly supported by a diversity of members across the House, and is poised for Committee action in the next weeks/months.
Please ask Congressman Olver to sign onto the bill, and extend all efforts to get it passed in time for us to begin construction of our station in the new location.
Believe it or not we will be able to get a station up pretty quick. The new location has an existing tower and a cinderblock shack with electric service. All we need to do is buy an antennea, some cabling, and a transmitter. We have the playback system already. That said, we’re not going to buy anything else until we have a valid, legal Construction Permit, which can only be obtained by the passage of the bill.
Please urge Congressman Olver to help us with this.
Thanks,
Michael Muller, president
Montague Community Cable, Inc.
(413) 320-5336
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To: Michael Muller
From: Merriam, Sara
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:16 AM
Michael,
Thank you very much for contacting me. I apologize that it took me a couple of days to get back to you - I have been researching the issues you mentioned in your email. In fact, yesterday I met with Kate Blofson from Prometheus. She briefed me on your situation.
I am inclined to sign John Olver on to HR 2802. The bill seems to make good sense, and would help your station. I will run signing on by our Legislative Director (who is unfortunately out sick today).
After he gives me the go ahead, I’ll sign Rep. Olver on.
Also, please let me know if there is anything else we can do from the DC office to assist you in your dealings with the FCC.
I’ll send you an update email after I receive the go ahead from the LD (hopefully tomorrow).
Thanks again for touching base.
Sara
Sara Merriam
Communications Director/Telecom LA
Congressman John W. Olver
202.225.5335
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To: Merriam, Sara
From: Michael Muller
Date: Wed, January 30, 2008 10:20 AM
Sara,
Thanks for getting back to me. Please let me know as soon as something happens. Please also ask Cong. Olver to do whatever he can to fast track the passage of the bill. Once that happens we can contact the FCC to approve the change request we made back in 2006 and we’ll be off and running.
Thanks again,
Michael
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To: Michael Muller
From: Merriam, Sara
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:25 AM
Michael,
I will definitely keep you in the loop. I will also thoroughly brief the Congressman. As an appropriations subcommittee chair, his voice carries a lot of weight. Perhaps after we sign on to the bill we can send a letter to the subcommittee requesting that this go to the floor as soon as possible. Then, when the bill is on the floor, we could submit a statement in support of the bill for the congressional record.
-- Sara
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To: Michael Muller
From: Katharan @ Prometheus Radio
Cc: Andy Gunn, Sara Cederberg, Hannah Jane Sassaman
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:29:50 -0500
Wooooo! This is great news. Glad that Sara contacted you so quickly -- she was very attentive in our (extensive! your situation is complicated!) meeting yesterday. More soon -- I’m swamped -- but I have another proposal for you, you may be hearing from me by phone today...
I told her that another thing that Olver could do for your specific situation would be to write a letter to the FCC encouraging them to resolve your situation (perhaps with a 2nd adjacency waiver for the time being, I’ve copied andy on this) -- I think Olver has done this before, and we have a couple of other examples of letters reps have written to the fcc on behalf of other stations.
If he could fast-track the bill... whoaaaaa... that would be the best news we’ve heard and we would all be jumping in our little basement bonnets!
Much awesomeness!
Kate
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To: katharan @ prometheusradio
From: Hannah Jane Sassaman
Cc: Michael Muller, andy gunn, Sara Cederberg
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:34:11
I’ll be sending this along to Kenneth Degraff in Doyle’s office. The thing to ask Sara in Olver’s office to do is to send a letter to Markey’s office, or to talk with Colin Crowell over there, about fast-tracking the bill. The fact that a constituent is suffering without expanded LPFM in Massachusetts should influence him.
Thanks Kate, Sara C., and Michael for this amazing work!
Hannah S.
Prometheus Radio Project
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To: Michael Muller
From: Merriam, Sara
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:43:41
Michael,
I just signed John Olver on to the bill as a cosponsor. Thanks again for touching base on this. I’ll be sure to keep you in the loop as this bill moves forward.
Best,
--Sara
-----------------
To: Sara Merriam
Cc: Michael Muller
From: katharan @ prometheusradio
Subject: Expanding LPFM across MA: thanks!
Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2008 09:47:51
Hey Sara,
I just wanted to extend a big thank you for your efforts on behalf of Montague and Mr. Muller -- and Low Power FM. And also for taking the time to meet with my colleague Sara and myself last week about expanding LPFM, and the issues Montague is facing with their license.
We’re still working with Michael as far as best options with the FCC as he awaits (and hopes for!) passage of the bill before his Construction Permit expires later this year. We’ll keep you posted.
Do let me know if you have any more questions, and we’re very enthused indeed that Mr. Olver has signed on as a co-sponsor!
This afternoon I spoke with Kate at Prometheus about MCTV’s Low Power FM license, and the legislation going through the Senate and the House regarding "third adjacent" issues. This is her email back to me for the purposes of sharing with the community. -Mik
-------------
Michael,
Thanks for the talk.
The Local Community Radio Act (HR 2802 and S 1675) has bipartisan support in Congress: the bill passed the Senate Commerce Committee in late October 2007 by unanimous vote, and the identical companion legislation in the House has 65 bipartisan co-sponsors. This legislation would lift the 3rd-adjacency restrictions on LPFM (yup, those same ones that are keeping MCTV from that great frequency & hill-top location). We are working hard to gain more co-sponsors in the House and Senate, which keeps the momentum up -- and to do that we depend on our allies like MCTV across the country, who have been contacting their representatives about this issue.
So, contact Rep. Olver to explain your station’s situation -- which is a heartbreakingly perfect example of why Congress needs to lift the 3rd adjacency restrictions -- and to ask him to show their support by co-sponsoring the Local Community Radio Act.
You can contact him at 202-225-5335 and say something like this:
"Hi, my name is ______________, and I’m a constituent of Congressmember Olver. We need access to more local media to support workers, families, and communities across our area and across the state. Senators John McCain and Maria Cantwell, and Congressman Doyle and Congressman Terry introduced legislation to expand Low Power FM radio to our area and to many of America’s biggest cities. I ask Congressmember Olver to cosponsor this bill, the Local Community radio Act of 2007 -- HR 2802, and Senate Bill 1675. I want my LPFM station! Thank you."
We need you to do this today. Please make this call to your Congressmember now, and forward this note to others who care about community radio!
You can also call Senator Kennedy at 202-224-4543 as well as Senator Kerry at 202-224-2742 and say essentially the same thing.
On Tuesday, November 20th, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it was ready to pass a set of provisions amending the rules that govern the low power FM radio (LPFM) service -- a noncommercial radio service that hundreds of schools, churches, municipalities, and community groups use to connect with their local communities. Below is the press statement of Pete Tridish, founder of the Prometheus Radio Project, on the announcement.
"In recent weeks, the Federal Communications Commission, and FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, have made strong public statements about supporting the low power FM radio service, and the vital work that it does nationwide. As the commission works at its November 27th meeting to make decisions about the future of LPFM, they must lay the groundwork to ensure that LPFM will not only be available in rural areas in the future. They must also protect the low power stations from losing their frequencies to full power stations that encroach upon their signals, and threaten to knock them off the air.
As a diverse set of groups, including Prometheus, have proposed over recent years, the FCC must prioritize local low power FM radio stations over translator chains fed by distant signals. The FCC has frozen the granting of translator licenses for the time being, to investigate the practices of these chains and to balance the priority of distant translator use with the needs of local radio. The FCC cannot move to lift the current freeze on the granting of licenses to these translator chains without prioritizing local radio over these distant-fed translators. Without remedying this problem, the Commission is telling the American public that they are prioritizing these distant voices, once and for all, and informing local groups that would like one single, local, hundred-watt-or-less radio station that there is no room on the dial left for them.
When Congress temporarily limited LPFM in 2000, they mandated that the FCC study whether or not there would be room for these vital stations in America’s cities and smaller communities. During the exact moment when this study and its technical field tests were being completed in 2003, the FCC made the mistake of allowing a handful of speculators to apply for translator licenses on thousands of the very same channels that had been promised for LPFM use. When it comes to translators and low power FM radio stations, the FCC allocates spectrum based simply upon who filed their application first. If the FCC chooses to prioritize these translator applicants, all of the frequencies that the FCC designed for LPFM use back in 2000 will have been given away.
In that 2003 window, a single translator applicant applied for 2500 licenses to broadcast, nationwide. One radio station currently has 792 translator applications repeating its signal.
In 2005, the FCC wisely froze translator applications like those listed above in order to find an intelligent resolution. In recent statements, Chairman Martin announced a limited proposal to reject some of these applicants, but if the FCC wants to support low power FM radio, they have a lot of work to do.
No matter what happens in Congress, LPFM will only be available in America’s cities if the FCC acts to make room for it. The Commission needs to revise the spectrum priority relationship between LPFMs and these distant translator chains. There are a number of ways that this can be done without affecting the legitimate use of repeating stations by local networks.
In terms of low power FM stations being encroached upon by full power stations that want their signals -- while dozens of stations are under threat of this happening in the next weeks or months, the Commission and its staff should be commended for the work they’ve done, case by case, to make room for both these threatened stations and the full power stations moving into their path.
We encourage the Commission to continue to address the simplest displacement cases now and relieve the hold up on some of these less problematic encroachments. The few, tougher cases should remain on hold for settlement until, through further comment, more innovative solutions are found. Also, hasty judgment should not be made on the fate of low power stations suffering dramatically increased interference through encroachments -- more solutions can be found in these cases after further comment. Another excellent option for frequency availability for LPFMs at the disposal of the Commission is to use more detailed engineering methods -- methods which can open up a limited number of new options for communities. This could be exciting if the order of application problem (between the chains that got an opportunity to apply before communities got their chance) were resolved.
The statements that the FCC and Chairman Martin have made on the small ameliorative measures they might take for LPFM are helpful and well intentioned, and we’d like to give credit where credit is due -- but all of these measures pale in contrast to the prospect of America’s cities never getting a fair chance at low power radio, and the importance of keeping low power FM radio stations serving their full communities.
Prometheus would heartily congratulate the hard work of the Chairman Martin and the FCC staff on this new low power notice, so long as the Commission does not:
1) foreclose the LPFM opportunity in the cities by ignoring the translator/LPFM priority problem, and
2) make hasty judgment on the hardest encroachment cases, and cases that do not involve displacement but do involve significant interference. These should be resolved after another round of comment and creative problem solving."
Attending the Future of Music Policy Summit in Washington, attorney David Oxenford of Davis Wright Tremaine writes in his blog that at a panel about legislative matters affecting music, “only one issue was perceived as being likely to be considered and potentially resolved by this Congress, before the presidential election. That was the issue of LPFM, where bills have been introduced in Congress to eliminate the restrictions that prohibited LPFM stations from causing third-adjacent channel interference to other stations.”
Oxenford said staffers from both the House and Senate indicated that, “while there were many other issues of importance to those in the music industry that might be considered this year, LPFM was the one issue that had a chance of actually being adopted this year, given bipartisan support for pending bills.”
"While it may appear that Big Media wins when programs such as LPFM are abandoned, we know that is not actually the case. The same media that ignored the people now wakes up to a world of blogs, YouTube, and reality television. What once was halted could not be stopped forever. This was further proven by this month’s resurrection of House Bill 2802, otherwise known as the Local Community Radio Act, or LPFM. The bill has bipartisan support in both the House and Senate and has survived seven years of Big Media opposition. I ask you now to not only encourage your congressmen to support this bill, but once it is passed, to embrace its opportunities by listening to your local stations and reflecting on the range of opinions that can be found within 3.5 miles of your home."
Greetings from the Prometheus Radio Project! It’s a big week for Senate Bill 1675 and House Bill 2802, the Local Community Radio Act of 2007, and the fight to expand low power FM radio! Many of you have called or met with your legislators, or are getting ready to do so, and to ask them to cosponsor a bill to bring community radio to the whole USA. Because of the noise we are making around the country -- demanding new, local, low power FM radio station licenses in our cities and smaller communities -- important media sources are covering the issue, and spreading the word that the time is now to expand low power FM.
Bill Moyers, who has covered the impact of media consolidation and a lack of accountable local voices on American communities for years, is broadcasting a special on low power FM and media -tonight-, August 24th! Stay tuned for news and analysis from the FCC, from journalist Rick Karr, and from your allies here at the Prometheus Radio Project. Watch a summary of the special on media issues here --
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EriXIv7LAQo -- and forward to your friends, so they can become as passionate as you are about low power FM radio, and work with you to get your legislators to cosponsor the Local Community Radio Act of 2007.
Not only is low power FM radio taking to national TV -- but also -- the paper of record of middle Tennessee -- the Tennessean -- (http://www.tennessea...ION01/708230410/1008) -- has just written a huge editorial about low power FM -- asking Tennessee Congressmembers to work to expand it!
"Now is the time to act," say the editors of the Tennessean. They continue, "Since the airwaves belong to the public, it follows that the airwaves should reflect all aspects of the public. This bill would go a long way toward that goal, and deserves full support."
This article was paired with other great editorials from Free Press, and from strong low power FM leaders, WRFN-LP ( http://www.radiofreenashville.org ), Pasquo, Tennessee!
We have to take advantage of this momentum. Write your Congressmember now to tell them how important low power FM radio is to you -- and tell them to cosponsor House Bill 2802 -- the Local Community Radio Act of 2007 -- which would expand low power FM all across Tennessee and beyond!
Thanks for calling your Congressmembers, and sending this note far and wide! Stay tuned for more updates on this battle in the next weeks -- as we work together to expand low power FM to communities nationwide!
Hannah Sassaman
Prometheus Radio Project
P.S. Email hannahjs@prometheusradio.org with ’Remove’ in the subject line to be removed from this list -- and forward widely to spread the word!
P.P.S. Read the articles that appeared in today’s Tennessean in support of LPFM:
Hello supporters of low power FM radio! Read below to get Congressman Olver signed on to expand low power FM radio to Montague. Please read and forward widely!
On June 21st, Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA) joined Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE), as well as Senators John McCain and Senators Maria Cantwell, to introduce the Local Community Radio Act of 2007. This bill -- H.R. 2802 in the House and S. 1675 in the Senate -- is what we have been fighting for for years -- a chance for community radio hopefuls across the country to get new licenses to build their own low power FM radio stations. (Learn more about how Congress limited low power FM radio in most American cities here -- http://www.prometheu...ion/lpfm_in_congress).
The Senate spoke up in 2005 and 2006 in support of low power FM -- passing bills out of the Senate Commerce Committee to expand the service twice. This is the first time in seven years that the House of Represenatives has considered expanding low power FM radio to your community. The fight is going well, but it needs your help and support.
Since June 21st, 23 members of Congress have signed on to cosponsor H.R. 2802, the Local Community Radio Act. And other offices are committing to share their support!
Your grassroots support is critical. For example, because local community radio supporters at WRFU-LP contacted their Representative, Congressman Tim Johnson, a Republican from Urbana Illinois, and asked him to expand Illinois’ access to great community radio stations like WRFU-LP, Rep. Johnson will be signing on to the legislation to expand low power FM radio.
Because Jay Inslee (D-WA), the Democratic Congressman who represents the Seattle area, heard from so many great local folks that they want low power FM in the Northwest, he has moved to cosponsor this vital legislation.
And on Tuesday, Congressman Mike Doyle asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) if they continued to support expanding low power FM radio to America’s cities -- all five Commissioners agreed.
Please help us to continue this momentum and get more Congressmembers to support low power FM radio. If we are able to get more Congressmembers to cosponsor this bill over the next week before Congress goes on vacation -- we’ll be in great shape for a vote to expand community radio in the fall. No one will do this work for you -- we need YOU to make this call, or write a letter, for community radio, today.
You can contact Congressman Olver at 413-532-7010, and when the staff for the office picks up, you can say something like:
"Hi, my name is ______________, and I’m a constituent of Congressmember Olver and Senators Kennedy and Kerry. We need access to more local media to support workers, families, and communities across our area and across the state. Senators John McCain and Maria Cantwell, and Congressman Doyle and Congressman Terry, just introduced legislation to expand Low Power FM radio to our area and to many of America’s biggest cities. I ask Congressmember Olver and Senators Kennedy and Kerry to cosponsor this bill, the Local Community radio Act of 2007 -- HR 2802, and Senate Bill 1675. Thank you!"
We need you to do this today. Please make this call to your Congressmember now, and forward this note to others who care about community radio!
Check and see if Olver has cosponsored the low power FM radio bill here -- http://thomas.loc.go.../z?d110:HR02802:@@@P
-- some Congressmembers have committed to signing on, like the ones mentioned above, but aren’t listed yet!
Regarding MCCI’s attempt to get their LPFM station up and running.
Basic info:
MCCI received a "Building Permit" on August 3, 2005 for an 8 watt LPFM station transmitting at a location just off Chestnut Hill Road at 105.3 FM.
We can no longer use that location or frequency because (a) the land owner no longer desires a tower in his backyard, and (b) WVEI, 105.5, moved their tower from Pittsfield to Mt. Toby in Sunderland. They now interfere with our proposed frequency as a ’co-channel’.
In July of 2006 we applied with the FCC for a location move (a) and a frequency change (b) due to these circumstances.
(a) The new location is on Country Hill, a knob off Dry Hill, in Montague. The Montague Water District owns a tower at the top of the hill and has approved us as a tenant on the tower for $150 a month. They even approved us adding an extension to the tower if we want.
(b) The new frequency is 92.3, channel #222
The FCC denied our request because WGAJ of Deerfield Academy is a "third adjacent" to us (we’re 19km too close).
Our only hope of getting the station up and running is for Congress to pass a bill that relaxes the restrictions regarding Third Adjacent stations for LPFM licenses.
We need to contact Rep. Olver and ask what’s his position on the issue. If he’s on our side (which he probably is) can he rally some peers and get a bill written and passed?
Our construction permit was due to expire on Feb 4, 2007 but we applied for and received an 18-month extension to August 2008.
In the mean time we need to get a transmitter and an antenna and to start fund raising for the monthly fees we will be incurring, including the rent for the tower, the electric, and the DSL or cable line up to the tower, if such a thing is even possible. We may have to run a wire or go dish. Since the tower is on top of a short mountain, on a three-season road, with only a cinder block shack at out disposal, we will likely run the station as a stream off the internet and have a computer or some other such streaming-playback hardware at the tower.
Ultimately the programming will be local resident-driven, with live broadcasts of the select board, school committee, and Town Meetings.
If you have any questions, please click the "Contact Us" link above.
Mik
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Here are the coordinates of Country Hill, and a link to the location on TopoZone.com
Click on "Large" on the left side. Note the dotted line is the "trail" that once was Dry Hill Road.
Here’s the same location on local.Google.com. If you zoom in you see "Dry Hill Road" momentarily. The road to the east, from Wendell Road, is East Chestnut Hill Road.
Article that states that Congress, not the FCC, has mandated the third adjacent separation. Perhaps with a Democratic Congress it will finally be passed.
The nascent Montague Low Power FM Committee met last night at the MCTV studios to discuss the possibility of finishing up the task of having Low Power FM in Montague. There was a consensus that it was a worthy goal and we all agreed to do our parts to make it happen, and soon.
Some members of the committee will be meeting next week to make a PSA for the TV station to air and to "bicycle" around to neighboring PEG Access stations.
We will have another official meeting at 7:00 PM on Tuesday Dec 5th. All interested parties are encouraged to attend.
More information will be forthcoming as it surfaces.
The LPFM effort is a project of MCCI.
(c) 2009 MCCI, Montague Community Cable, Inc. Contact us at (413) 863-9200 -- Hosting provided by Montague WebWorks, MontagueWebWorks.com
- Sat, May 1, 2010, 1:51 P
