Senators renew battle for LPFM
Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) are teaming up to introduce the "Local Community Radio Act of 2005," a bill to expedite the construction of low power FM stations. The bill would not provide 3rd adjacent channel protection to existing full-power stations, and the NAB is already girding for battle.
MaCain said, "While Low Power FM radio stations were authorized five years ago, implementation has been severely hampered by commercial broadcasters' flagrantly exaggerated claims of interference. The most recent obstruction, a two year study conducted at the behest of broadcasters, cost taxpayers over 2M dollars and proved what the FCC and community groups have known for years: low power FM stations will not cause significant interference to other broadcasters' signals. It is time for broadcasters to stop hiding behind false claims of interference when they are really afraid of the competition from truly local broadcasters."
Cantwell added, "For five years, large broadcasters have tried to block access for low power FM stations using tired arguments that don't hold up to reality. This is an important fight to ensure that these affordable, community-oriented radio stations are allowed access to our nation's airwaves."
NAB noted that there are examples of short-spaced full power FMs already out there, and that it's not an ideal situation. It even provided members of Congress of a soundbite harvested in Maryland of short-space interference. It noted that it was joined in opposing relaxation of 3rd-adjacenty protections by noncommercial NPR and Reading Services for the Blind.
NAB's EVP/Government Relations John Orlando said, "Today, under the current policy, the FCC has already licensed hundreds of LPFM stations around the country. Yet hundreds more have been granted construction permits or have applications pending at the FCC. The Commission should move expeditiously to rollout pending LPFM applications that are 3rd adjacent channel compliant. Everyone agrees those applications can provide valuable niche service without risking interference to millions of full power FM listeners. However, Congress should resist any efforts to remove 3rd adjacent channel protections."
Are you reading this from a forwarded email?
