Low Power Radio Bill: one step closer to the finish line

[Cory Fischer-Hoffman]

For Immediate Release
November 19, 2009

Contact:
Cory Fischer-Hoffman
cor...@prometheusradio.org
610-761-5414

Local Community Radio Act: One Step Closer to the Finish Line


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.

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