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Energy and Commerce Committee Unanimously Supports Local
Radio Act
Bill Moving Swiftly Toward Full House Vote
10.15.2009 – With a unanimous voice vote, the House Energy and Commerce
Committee passed the Local Community Radio Act this morning. By repealing
restrictions that drastically limit channels available to low power FM (LPFM) stations,
the Act will allow hundreds of community groups nationwide to access the public
airwaves.
The popular, bipartisan legislation is on the fast track to becoming law. Shortly after
all five FCC Commissioners reaffirmed the FCC’s longstanding support, the bill
passed out of the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the
Internet by a voice vote. After today’s passage out of committee, the Local
Community Radio Act heads for a floor vote in the House.
In his opening remarks today, Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) urged his
colleagues to support the bill.
“As a longtime advocate of expanding low power FM radio services and the dynamic
contribution they make to localism, a bedrock of our communications laws, I am
pleased that the Committee is acting on this important bipartisan measure. Low
power FM stations provide diverse, locally-originated programming that serves the
needs of the community,” said Rep. Waxman.
Lead co-sponsor Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) noted that earlier concerns about potential
interference with full power stations have been addressed.
“We are proud to have the support of many incumbent broadcasters for our
legislation,” said Rep. Doyle. “We made changes during the subcommittee's
consideration of the bill to resolve concerns from other incumbent broadcasters, and
we are especially pleased that National Public Radio expressed their appreciation of
these changes.”
The bill has recently gained the support of its former skeptics in Congress, including
Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), the only former broadcaster on the committee. Rep. Cliff
Stearns (R-FL), a lead co-sponsor of the bill that originally restr