Latest news about low power radio, media justice, and the Prometheus Radio Project


Press Releases Prometheus in the News Best of Press

Press Releases

Prometheus in the News

Best of Press

Federal Court Rejects Media Consolidation in Prometheus vs. FCC
Jul 7 2011 - 4:23pm
Ruling represents second historic victory for Prometheus Radio Project this year
Prometheus Press Release
7/7/2011
 

PHILADELPHIA – On Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued its long-awaited verdict in Prometheus Radio Project v. the Federal Communications Commission, rejecting the FCC’s attempt to further deregulate media ownership. The Court threw out FCC rules that would have allowed one company to own a newspaper and broadcast stations in the same market. The Court also upheld the FCC’s other limits on local broadcast ownership, and agreed with Prometheus and other public interest groups that the FCC failed to consider the impact of its rules on women and people of color.

"We won on almost every point. This decision is a vindication of the public's right to have a diverse media environment,” said Andrew Jay Schwartzman of Media Access Project, who argued the case on behalf of Prometheus.

This is the second major victory this year for the Prometheus Radio Project, whose ten-year effort to pass legislation expanding community radio succeeded when President Obama signed the bipartisan Local Community Radio Act into law on January 4. The law will result in thousands of new community radio stations, and the FCC will be accepting applications for stations as early as next summer.

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Pirate Radio Comes (Back) to Libya
Mar 3 2011 - 11:57am

Pirate radio's roots run deep in the political history of modern Libya. On the first of September, 1969, more than forty years ago, an army officer not yet thirty years old went on the airwaves of Radio Benghazi to announce that he and a small band of fellow military officers had staged a bloodless coup ending the 17 year reign of the octogenarian King Idris; the young officer's reading of what was called "Communique No. 1" is captured in a recording lodged in the Internet Archive:

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Community Media: A Full Spectrum Future
Feb 23 2011 - 11:08am

 Prometheus Staffer Brandy Doyle participated in a panel discussion at New America Foundation (NAF) on Community Media: A Full Spectrum Future.  Details about the event and a link to the video transcript can be found here.

 

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Best of Press on Passage of the Local Community Radio Act
Feb 8 2011 - 9:27pm

There has been a great flurry of press on passage of the Local Community Radio Act.  Here is a compiled list:

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A Community Transmissions (profile of WGXC Hands On Radio)
Jan 30 2011 - 3:59pm

After three years of grassroots, volunteer labor, WGXC: Hands-On Radio is set to begin broadcasting on the strongest non- commercial signal in Columbia and Greene counties

By Josh Potter

story from: http://metroland.net/features.html

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New York Times on the Local Community Radio Act and community station KOCZ-LP
Jan 25 2011 - 12:02am

Low-Power FM Radio to Gain Space on the Dial

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Local Community Radio Act Passes: Your Help Needed to Make a Thousand New Radio Stations Bloom
Jan 24 2011 - 10:00pm

The New Year ushered in a new era for community radio.  President Obama signed the Local Community Radio Act into law, allowing for the biggest expansion of community radio stations in U.S. history and allowing low-power, neighborhood based stations to broadcast in urban areas for the first time. Hundreds of groups waiting for radio stations were ecstatic at the news.

A day later, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission pledged "swift action to open up the dial for these new stations." In the coming months, the FCC will be working to develop the rules for an application window for new radio licenses, which could happen as early as November 2011.

Just in the past few weeks, Prometheus has been contacted by hundreds of groups wanting to start a station, adding to the many hundreds who have been waiting and advocating for more radio licenses for ten years.  Prometheus is planning a nationwide campaign to help groups apply for licenses and is seeking donations, volunteers, and partners from media and social justice organizations to assist with outreach. Learn how to get involved. 

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Advocates rejoice as Obama signs Local Community Radio Act
Jan 7 2011 - 2:28pm

From The Washington Post

By Hayley Tsukayama

On Wednesday, President Obama signed the Local Community Radio Act, making room on the radio spectrum for smaller, community-based radio stations.

The act passed the Senate on Dec. 20 and represents the end of a decade-long struggle between local radio advocates and the National Association of Broadcasters.

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2011: FCC Chairman Pledges “Swift Action to Open the Dial” Start Your Own Radio Station NOW!
Jan 7 2011 - 2:20pm

From URB.com

For the first time in U.S. history — despite the fact that radio is already first amendment right — The Fed is opening up the radio dial to low-power FM stations in urban areas. Applications will be accepted soon, and here’s the info, from my in-box to your screen.

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Obama Signs into Law the Local Community Radio Act: FCC Chairman Pledges “Swift Action to Open the Dial”
Jan 7 2011 - 12:16pm

WASHINGTON, DC – This week President Obama signed the Local Community Radio Act, the most recent victory in a ten-year grassroots effort to open up the airwaves to new community radio stations. At the Federal Communications Commission, Chairman Genachowski promised swift action to open the dial to these new stations.

“The Local Community Radio Act signed by President Obama is a big win for radio listeners. Low-power FM stations are small, but they make a giant contribution to local community programming,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.

The news is hailed by community radio hopefuls who are ready to start new stations, as well as a coalition of national advocates led by the Prometheus Radio Project. The new law paves the way for what could be the biggest expansion of community radio in US history.

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