For Immediate Release: LPFM Bill to be Introduced
Scott Pinkelman
*PRESS RELEASE*
Contact:
Cory Fischer-Hoffman, Prometheus Radio Project (610)-761-5414
Jen Howard, Free Press, (202) 265-1490 x22
*Low Power Community Radio: Legislation draws Bipartisan support*
Members of Congress and community organizations call for more Low Power
Radio nationwide
WASHINGTON -- Members of Congress, public interest advocates and
community organizations will hold a national conference call tomorrow to
discuss the reintroduction of the bipartisan “Local Community Radio Act”
that would create opportunities for hundreds of low-power, community
radio stations in cities, towns and suburbs across the United States.
The sponsors of this legislation, Reps. *Mike Doyle* (D-Pa.) and *Lee
Terry* (R-Neb.) will join the call to explain the details of this bill.
*WHAT: *National Conference Call on Community Radio Legislation
*WHEN: *Wednesday, February 25 12 p.m. ET
*WHO:*
Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.)
Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.)
Cory Fischer-Hoffman, Prometheus Radio Project
Shawn Campbell, Chicago Independent Radio Project
Michael Bracy, Future of Music Coalition
Ben Scott, Free Press
*** Call this number: (888) 792-8352 Call-in Code- 87422899 *****
Low Power FM stations are community-based, noncommercial radio stations
that broadcast to neighborhoods and small towns. LPFM licenses make
radio station ownership possible for schools, churches, labor unions,
local governments, emergency providers and other nonprofit groups to
directly communicate with their local community. In 2000, the Federal
Communications Commission began to issue LPFM licenses. However, soon
after, Congress passed an unnecessary piece of legislation that
drastically limited the radio spectrum available to LPFM stations. Since
then, thousands of applications submitted to the FCC have been dismissed
because of these limitations.
"Diverse, informative, thought-provoking, locally oriented programming
has been dramatically restricted across the country by the current
federal laws governing the separation between broadcast frequencies,"
said Congressman Doyle. "Enactment of this legislation would improve the
quality of life in communities across the country by providing new and
different programming -- especially programming addressing local
interests and events -- to these communities."
Last time the “Local Community Radio Act” was introduced, it garnered
much grassroots support -- with nearly 100 cosponsors in the House. The
Senate version of the bill, sponsored last session by Sens. *Maria
Cantwell* (D-Wash.) and *John McCain* (R-Ariz.) and co-sponsored by
then-Senator *Barack Obama*, unanimously passed out of the Commerce
Committee. The Senate is expected to reintroduce the bill this spring.
The Prometheus Radio Project, a group that helps build LPFM stations
across the country, is the leading advocate for community radio.
Campaign Director *Cory Fischer-Hoffman* notes, “As media outlets are
increasingly consolidated local voices are being forced off the
airwaves; it is time for Congress to remove the unfair restrictions that
stand in the way of community organizations, religious groups, students
and senior citizens from getting their own LPFM stations. In this time
of economic crisis, it is crucial that communities have access to
important information and educational programming featuring local news,
emergency information and community matters. Expanding LPFM is a
concrete action that will provide this important service to towns and
cities across the country.”
###
Cory Fischer-Hoffman
Campaign Director
Prometheus Radio Project
215-727-9620 x 501
cell: 610-761-5414
www.prometheusradio.org
Take Action to Expand Local Community radio
<http://prometheusradio.org/take_action/>
Low Power to the People!
--
Scott Pinkelman
Prometheus Radio Project
215.727.9620 x515
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Hector Youtsey
-----Original Message-----
From: expand-LP...@googlegroups.com [mailto:expand-LP...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Scott Pinkelman
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 3:56 PM
To: expand-LP...@googlegroups.com; expand-LPF...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Expand LPFM!] For Immediate Release: LPFM Bill to be Introduced
Hector Youtsey
-----Original Message-----
From: expand-LP...@googlegroups.com [mailto:expand-LP...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Scott Pinkelman
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 3:56 PM
To: expand-LP...@googlegroups.com; expand-LPF...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Expand LPFM!] For Immediate Release: LPFM Bill to be Introduced