As a lover of radio and an intermittent broadcast professional I feel despair at the state of commercial radio today. I heartily agree with this policy statement, just released by the Future of Music Coalition regarding low power FM (LPFM):

FMC Statement on Low Power FM Legislation

For the past four years, the establishment of hundreds of new community based Low Power FM radio stations has been a sliver of hope among the devestation brought by massive consolidation of commercial radio. Since the FCC implemented a new class of non-commercial Low Power stations in 2000, hundreds of organizations have united to bring their unique perspectives to the local airwaves. Congress, sadly, circumvented the Senate Commerce Committee to pass legislation limiting implementation of these stations to small towns and rural parts of the country pending further taxpayer-funded study of the technical impact of these tiny 100-watt stations.

Four years later, two things are clear. The need for expanded local community radio is greater than ever. And, as predicted, the conservative FCC implemetation plan will not cause the "oceans of interference" predicted by the NAB.

Musicians, activists, policymakers and general observers all understand the essential harm that the radical restructuring of the radio industry has had on the traditional regulatory priorities of localism, competition and diversity. In the music context, we've seen shrinking playlists, barriers for local and independent artists, structural payola and the utter disappearance of entire genres of music from commercial radio.

LPFM provides a tangible opportunity to do something proactive about it - to empower citizens to utilize this valuable public resource out of a sense of community rather than a naked pursuit of profit. We applaud the efforts of Chairman McCain and Senator Leahy to reauthorize the FCC to implement LPFM in major population centers, and look forward to the day where LPFM can truly thrive across the nation.

The FMC is responding to this news:

The movement to introduce low-power radio stations onto the FM dial in urban areas got a boost Friday from two powerful senators who introduced a bill allowing federal regulators to license small stations.

Sens. John McCain (R-Arizona), chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee, introduced the measure, which they hope will lead to the introduction of hundreds of community radio stations that can reach listeners up to 3.5 miles away.

"I look forward to hearing more local artists, local news, local public-affairs programming and community-based programming on low-power FM radio stations throughout the country," McCain said.

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