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Important Documentson the Possible Expansion of the Service! FCC Recommends to Congress -- Make More Room for Low Power FM Stations! as You Talk to Congress! to your Congressperson! Learn More about Low Power FM! Meet More Amazing Low Power FM Stations! One Great Way to Fight Media Consolidation! Article: Facing Criticism, F.C.C. Is Thinking Local! City Resolution to expand LPFM! Why take action? Find out some LPFM background. |
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Freedom of speech is at the heart of a democratic society, yet most Americans don't have a voice in our nation's mass media. Low Power FM radio could change that - and provide a rare opportunity for local voices to be heard through the sensationalist clamor of today's "anything-for-a-quick-buck" media.
Sadly, in December 2000 Congress showed that it is deaf to the voices of America's communities. At the behest of powerful broadcast interests, a last minute appropriations rider gutted the LPFM service. While a fifth of the applications were unhindered by the legislation, the vast majority awaited the results of a superfluous study ordered by Congress.
The study is now out, and the FCC has recommended that Congress expand the LPFM service. Please visit our Legislative Action Center now to fight for an expanded LPFM service.
We'd like you to meet some of the groups that will be able to serve their community with a new LPFM station, and some of the groups that were left out. We'll all be fighting tooth and nail to bring LPFM to these groups, with McCain and Leahy's new bill!
is excited to start up their Low Power FM station this year. Based in Opelousas, Louisiana, this organization sponsors agriculture programs, leases land to farmers, raises money for scholarships for needy kids and helps people learn to read, in addition to sponsoring a popular zydeco festival. Michael Levier explains: "You've got local radio stations that are owned by larger companies. There should be some programming concerning the music that is from here, and the people from here. But there's not."
The
South Arundel Citizens for Responsible Development (SACReD)have been working to control sprawling development In the Chesapeake Bay area. SACReD was granted one of only 4 licenses issued in the state of Maryland, and plans to continue its focus on threats to the local environment. However, SACReD member Michael Shay promises that on their station "All sides will be represented... There is nothing better than an informed community making informed decisions."
Unfortunately, many more groups were unable to obtain a LPFM license. The heavyhanded restrictions imposed on the service severely cut the number of available frequencies in most major US cities, as well as in many smaller communities across the country:
The FCC's engineers found five frequencies available for LPFM in the Minnneapolis area. After Minnesota Senator Grams legislation passed, there wasn't a single radio frequency available in Minneapolis. Lee Vang of the Center for Hmong Arts and Talent had hoped to establish an LPFM station to serve the large Hmong community in Minneapolis: "The airwaves belong to all and [an LPFM station would] give voice to those who have no voice. We are the only Hmong organization in Minnesota, possibly in the world, that focuses exclusively on the arts. Radio is extremely important to our community because 95% of Hmong are illiterate."
Currently, only a few short hours of local programming address the Latino communities of Fresno, California. El Comite de los Pobres had hoped to provide bilingual coverage of local issues affecting Latino workers and farmers. They were just one of many Fresno organizations applying for a license on the only open frequency in town - until Congress closed off the entire FM band for Fresno.
The Newtown Florist Club wanted an LPFM station to educate the public about environmental justice in their hometown of Gainesville, Georgia. They also hoped to build stronger community in Gainesville by opening their station to young people from all over town, so they could work together on a common project.
Who would have thought that in a small town like Gainesville, two hours away from Atlanta, there wouldn't be any room on the FM dial? Incredibly, there isn't - after Congress decided to play broadcast engineer, there are no remaining frequencies available in Gainesville.
The best way for special interests to kill a good, popular idea is to insist that it be "studied" it until it's advocates give up. Incumbent broadcasters have opposed cable television, satellite radio and TV, low power television, and every technological innovation that they thought would compete with their monopoly. The reason they lost those fights was because there were equally powerful economic interests fighting to open up those markets. America's non-profit organizations, churches, schools and citizens groups don't have the same kind of weight to throw around inside the beltway deserve the same?
We know there's room in the American dialogue for the Newtown Florist Club, the Center for Hmong Arts and Talent, and thousands of others who aren't represented in today's mass media. Support their right to be heard. Support Low Power FM.
Contact your Congressperson! |
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