MEDIA ADVISORY
November 17, 2009

WHO: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation

WHAT: Markup and Committee Vote on S 592, The Local Community Radio Act (LCRA)

WHEN: Thursday, November 19, 2009, at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Senate Russell Building, Room 293, Washington, D.C.

WHY: The Local Community Radio Act would allow for hundreds of new, non-commercial radio stations around the country. These independent community stations are run by non-profit organizations such as schools, churches, emergency responders, and neighborhood groups.

The Local Community Radio Act, co-sponsored by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ), has passed the Senate Committee twice before.  However, this time the Senate bill is accompanied by a House version of the bill, HR 1147, which recently passed the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet and the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the first time. This greatly increases the Act’s chances for passage in this legislative session.

The Technical and Training Organizer will work in conjunction with our Station Support Coordinator and Community Radio Organizer to provide engineering and station construction support to new and existing participatory radio stations. Candidates must be self-motivated and capable of working in collaborative settings with volunteers, interns and other staff.

The demystification of radio technologies and FCC processes is central to Prometheus’s work.  Therefore, we are looking for a person who is a both a skilled technician and an enthusiastic trainer.  This organizer is expected to create an environment where people who are new to radio can enjoy learning through collaboration and skill-sharing. This is an exciting position for someone who values sharing knowledge, thinking big, and building stuff. 

READ THE FULL JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Building on the unanimous passage out of the Energy & Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives, the Senate version of the legislation will be moving forward this week. On Thursday, November 19 the Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation will vote on the Local Community Radio Act, taking an important step forward towards passage.

Click here to read the full interview transcript. 

Today, the Committee on Energy and Commerce voted unanimously in favor of the Local Community Radio Act. We anticipate the bill will move swiftly to a vote before the full House. Read More.

Please call your representative today to say it’s time to pass the Local Community Act, HR 1147!

Go to www.freepress.net/lpfm/cosponsors and put in your zip code.  You will be told where your rep stands, what their phone number is, and given some talking points.  It is so easy!

Can you give Prometheus $10-100 to help us win a victory for community radio?

Donations like yours make a big difference in our ability to expand community radio to hundreds more communities.  Thank you thank you!

Notice of Committee Markup

WHO: Committee on Energy and Commerce
WHAT: Markup of H.R. 1147, the Local Community Radio Act
WHEN: Thursday, October 15, 2009, at 10 a.m.
WHERE: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

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!

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This morning, the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet passed the Local Community Radio Act (H.R. 1147) in a near unanimous 15 to 1 vote.

"All I can say is, it's about time," commented Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), a co-sponsor of the bill.

The bipartisan bill gained the support of former LPFM doubters, including Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), a former lead co-sponsor of anti-LPFM legislation, Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), the only former broadcaster in Congress, and Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), who called for a study of LPFM interference in 2000.

H.R. 1147 is now poised to move to the full Commerce Committee, chaired by longtime LPFM supporter Rep. Waxman (D-CA).

Read More.

Support Prometheus!

TODAY Congress will debate the Local Community Radio Act (H.R. 1147) on Thursday, Oct 8 at 10 am, in the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet.

The Local Community Radio Act would allow the FCC to license hundreds of new low power non-commercial radio stations nationwide.

Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) reaffirmed his support for the Local Community Radio Act to an enthusiastic crowd at the Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit on Tuesday, calling it “our Christmas present this year.” Rep. Doyle has been leading the push for Low Power FM in Congress, along with lead co-sponsor Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE).

This is closest the bill has ever been to passage. We need your help! Contact your representative and tell them to SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITY RADIO!  TAKE ACTION NOW!

Washington, DC – A bipartisan bill to expand community radio has been scheduled for a vote by Chairman Rick Boucher (D-VA) on Thursday at 10 AM, in the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet.

The Local Community Radio Act would allow the FCC to license hundreds of new low power non-commercial radio stations nationwide. Most communities, especially large cities, have had severely limited opportunities to apply for these new radio licenses.

Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) reaffirmed his support for the Local Community Radio Act to an enthusiastic crowd at the Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit on Tuesday, calling it “our Christmas present this year.” Rep. Doyle has been leading the push for Low Power FM in Congress, along with lead co-sponsor Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE). Independent musicians have been longtime supporters of Low Power FM as a venue to share their music.

“We’d like to thank Congressmen Doyle, Boucher, Waxman and all Congressional supporters of low power radio. The hard work of these leaders and their staff to bring this legislation to a vote will yield great results for America’s local media landscape,” said Pete Tridish, founding member of Prometheus Radio Project.

The Local Community Radio Act reverses legislation from 2000 that limited the FCC's authority to license low power radio. Broadcasters claimed that low power radio would cause interference, but a Congressionally mandated study later showed that low power stations (which operate at 100 watts or less) do not interfere with full power stations.

"Thousands of communities could finally have a chance to have their own radio station,” said Cory Fischer-Hoffman, Campaign Director for the Prometheus Radio Project. "We hear from schools, churches, community groups, emergency responders, and local governments who want a local forum for news and information. They're eager for this opportunity."

Contact your Representative and tell them to support local community radio!