WASHINGTON, D.C.– On Thursday, April 23, advocates for Low Power FM (LPFM) gathered at our nation’s capital to promote the importance of local community radio in more American towns and cities.
The policy briefing took place at the Rayburn House Office building and was sponsored by Prometheus Radio Project, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Future of Music Coalition, Media Access Project, United Church of Christ, the Media and Democracy Coalition and Free Press.
Low Power FM stations are community-based, non-commercial radio broadcasters that operate at 100 watts or less and reach a radius of 3 to 7 miles. LPFM provides a platform for underserved musical genres, minority, religious and linguistic groups and offers a forum for debate about important local issues. LPFM also has a crucial role to play in disseminating public information for the welfare and safety of local communities.
Representative Michael Doyle — co-sponsor of the Local Community Radio Act of 2009 (H.R. 1147) — provided introductory remarks. “LPFM has the potential to revolutionize radio,” Doyle said before a standing-room only assemblage of Congressional staffers, media representatives and advocates. “It’s just a matter of getting a bill forward, and with your support, we’ll get it done.”
Columbia Records artist Nicole Atkins, Liz Humes of WRIR-LP in Richmond, VA, Erubiel Vallardes of KPCN-LP, in Woodburn, OR and Cheryl Leanza of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights spoke about how LPFM benefits issues-oriented and cultural broadcasting in a conversation moderated by Parul P. Desai, Vice President of Media Access Project.
“My hometown community station was the first station to play my music, which gave me confidence as an artist,” said singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins of Asbury Park, New Jersey. “There’s no longer any stations like that in my town, and LPFM would be a way to give other artists the same chance I had.”
The briefing coincided with visits to Congressional offices, the White House and the FCC by community radio supporters from across the country.
Future of Music Coalition is a national non-profit education, research and advocacy organization that seeks a bright future for creators and listeners. FMC works towards this goal through continuous interaction with its primary constituency — musicians — and in collaboration with other creator/public interest groups. More