[Net-Gold] US: Push Begins for Low Power Radio Stations to be Available During Emergencies

[David P. Dillard]

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Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:02:33 -0700 (MST)
From: George Lessard <me...@web.net>
Reply-To: Net-...@yahoogroups.com
To: net-...@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Net-Gold] US: Push Begins for Low Power Radio Stations to be
Available During Emergencies



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US: Push Begins for Low Power Radio Stations
to be Available During Emergencies

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and
Hurricane Rita, a push began for low
power radio stations to be available
during emergencies.

There could be more stations on the
radio in the future, but not just to
entertain. In the wake of Hurricane
Katrina and Hurricane Rita, a push
began for low power radio stations
to be available during emergencies.

Newton County Emergency Management
Agency director Gary Galloway supports
the Local Community Radio Act that,
if it passes the U.S. House and
Senate, would allow hundreds of new
licenses to be granted for low power
FM radio stations.

Galloway just returned from
Washington, D.C., where he testified
before a Congressional committee about
the need for these licenses.

These stations can run off generators
or even a car battery during a power
outage. Immediately after Hurricane
Katrina, Galloway says a station like
that was a saving grace.

"They couldn't communicate. They didn't
have power. Their homes were wiped
off the foundation. These people needed
help," said Galloway.

For three months after the storm,
Galloway was one of the scores of
emergency responders who helped with
the recovery effort on the coast.

"What I liked about low power FM was us
that were trying to help them in
emergency services, we had an access to
them over the radio and that was
the immediate," said Galloway.

If passed, Galloway says he would also
like to see more low power FM
stations be established along storm
evacuation routes. He says he's
hopeful that the measure will pass in
both chambers of Congress by the end
of this year.

<http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/70647662.html>

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