Local Community Radio Act Barrels Ahead in U.S. Congress

This video is a statement from one of the Bill's sponsors made on October 8, 2009.
October 15, 2009: The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has unanimously approved the Local Radio Freedom Act, which would potentially open the door for hundreds of new low-power FMs by doing away with third-adjacent channel protection for full-power FMs. The bill would also require the FCC to ensure that licenses are available to LPFMs as well as translators, based on the "needs of the community," and would end the ban on former pirate operators obtaining LPFM licenses.
The bill was approved last week by the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet in a 15-1 vote. The next step is a vote in the full House. A similar bill is pending in the Senate and is now awaiting action by the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee.

Last week, we were thrilled when the Local Community Radio Act of 2009 (H.R. 1147) passed out of the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet by voice vote.

Tomorrow, community radio advocates may have more to celebrate. The full House Energy and Commerce Committee will vote on the Local Community Radio Act on Thursday, October 15 at 10 a.m.

After years of fighting to expand people’s access to the airwaves, community radio advocates are finally seeing the fruits of our labor. This is the farthest the bill has come since it was first introduced in 2005, bringing hundreds of communities around the country one huge step closer to running their own radio stations.

The Energy and Commerce Committee is chaired by longtime LPFM supporter Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA). After the Committee markup, we expect the Local Community Radio Act to move swiftly toward a full House vote.

Community radio needs your support more than ever. Please call your representative today to say it’s time to pass the Local Community Act! http://www.freepress.net/lpfm/cosponsors

Halimah Marcus Prometheus Radio Project Development and Communications Assistant
Phone: 215-727-9620 x 510 Email: halimah@prometheusradio.org www.prometheusradio.org