[Noisebridge-discuss] low ppwer fm. FCC

giovanni_re john_re at fastmail.us
Fri Feb 8 09:49:08 UTC 2013


 http://slingshot.tao.ca/issue.html?0112007 





 LPFM Alive Despite Legislation

By DJ Rubble

On November 30, 2012. the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
announced implementation of the bipartisan Local Community Radio Act of
2010. The legislation instructs the FCC to license more small, local Low
Power FM (LPFM) stations. These stations broadcast on up to 100-watt
transmitters, usually with a 3-4 mile signal range. The legislation
replaces a 2000 ruling first recognizing LPFM. The 2000 legislation was
hailed a groundbreaking victory for unlicensed radio, which had seized
the airwaves and refused to be removed. However, the radio industry
through inside deals from powerful lobbying arm the National Association
of Broadcasters (NAB) with the FCC and Congress quickly maneuvered to
strategically undermine the process to eliminate even the smallest level
of competition for the profiteers.

Over a twelve year period the net result is about 800 small, non-profit
corporate LPFM stations nationally. Virtually none have been licensed in
major urban areas, including none in the Bay area. The majority are
rural stations owned by a well-funded national religious network, most
others by schools and emergency responders. The result is a corporate
jukebox of songs from the top ten record labels, AP wire service briefs,
and government-funded propaganda from NPR.

The current LPFM legislation is again hailed as ground breaking by the
media and radio activist organizations that worked hard for passage. It
should provide a few more good quality, local stations. But will it help
or actually hurt LPFM in the context of the overall goals of the
original movement, which started out as "pirate radio"?



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