Local News
One step closer
Supporters trying to get Local Community Radio Act to the finish line
from staff reports
Gary Galloway, communications leader for the Newton County Emergency Response Task Force, spent the week in Washington, D.C. telling lawmakers his story about the life-saving role of low power radio during a crisis.
After hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged Louisiana and coastal Mississippi, Galloway worked with the Hancock County Emergency Management Team in Bay St. Louis to reach out to the public. Broadcasting nightly on low power station WQRZ, Galloway was able to provide essential information about road closures and where people could go to get food, water, and medical care.
Thursday morning, the Local Community Radio Act (S592) that would effectively bring low power radio broadcasts to rural areas passed unanimously out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation with a voice vote. Both the Senate and House versions of the bill are on their way to full floor votes.
By repealing restrictions placed on the FCC in 2000, the Local Community Radio Act would allow hundreds of new licenses for low power FM stations.
"My team has been deployed to tornado outbreaks, hurricanes, plane crashes, pipeline explosions, and other disasters that exceed the capability of local government. My experiences have taught me that low power FM is a crucial tool for Emergency Management to communicate with citizens when lives and property are in jeopardy," said Galloway.
Galloway met with the offices of U.S. Senators Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), a former cosponsor of the legislation, Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and David Vitter (R-La.), who voted in support of the legislation.
Because low power radio stations broadcast at less than 100 watts, they can run from generators during power outages — sometimes even operating on a car battery. Non-commercial, locally based, and volunteer-run low power radio stations respond to community needs in ways that larger stations cannot.
Cory Fischer-Hoffman, Campaign Director for the Prometheus Radio Project said that disasters are not the only time when the public lacks access to local news.
"Low power radio is not only essential in times of an environmental crisis, but is also essential in addressing the crisis in our media system," said Fischer-Hoffman. "There are few alternatives for genuinely local programming, and people want news and information relevant to their own neighborhoods and towns."
Fischer-Hoffman said these low power radio stations only reach out to five to 10 miles. They are to be used by non-profit, non-commercial entities, such as churches, who want to reach a certain local population.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas), the ranking Republican on the Senate Committee, also noted the potential of low power radio in changing the face of media ownership.
"Low power FM is a good way for women and minorities to gain experience in broadcasting that may not otherwise be possible given the expense of operating a full power station," said Hutchinson.
The Local Community Radio Act is co-sponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.). While this Senate legislation has passed out of committee in the previous two sessions, this year marks the first time that the House version passed through the House Subcommittee and Committee.
Fischer-Hoffman said larger radio corporations have for years tried to fight against this type of change resulting in the restrictions that are now in place. The act, if passed, would remove many of those restrictions making it easier for low power FM stations to get on the radio dial.
Senator Cantwell said that improving emergency response and broadening the diversity of media ownership are key reasons why she supports this legislation.
"I am optimistic that we can effectively cross the finish line on this issue this Congress," said Cantwell.
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