Low Power FM Radio Advances in Senate

The Senate Commerce Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to pass the Local Community Radio Act (S. 592), legislation that would open the public airwaves to hundreds of new Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations in communities across the country.

The bill, which will now move to the full Senate, was introduced by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and has six co-sponsors. The House version of the Local Community Radio Act was recently passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and has 86 co-sponsors. Both bills have strong bipartisan support.

Candace Clement, program coordinator of Free Press, made the following statement:

"Today's vote brings us one step closer to a new golden era of radio -- where music, news and information that matter to local communities are back on the dial. Passing this bill will open up the airwaves to hundreds of new noncommercial radio stations and offer a much needed alternative to the cookie-cutter format that dominates the radio dial. Today's vote shows that policymakers are hearing and responding to the widespread public support for expanding local radio across the country. They should not delay in voting the Local Community Radio Act into law."