Low Power FM Briefing Supports Community Radio

RADIO ONLINE | , , | :am CT

Advocates for Low Power FM (LPFM) gathered in Washington, DC, on Thursday to promote the importance of local community radio in more American towns and cities. The policy briefing took place at the Rayburn House Office building and was sponsored by Prometheus Radio Project, Future of Music Coalition, and the Media Access Project, among others.

Representative Michael Doyle, a co-sponsor of the Local Community Radio Act of 2009 (H.R. 1147) said before a standing-room only assembly, ""LPFM has the potential to revolutionize radio. It's just a matter of getting a bill forward, and with your support, we'll get it done."

"My hometown community station was the first station to play my music, which gave me confidence as an artist," said singer/songwriter Nicole Atkins of Asbury Park, New Jersey. "There's no longer any stations like that in my town, and LPFM would be a way to give other artists the same chance I had."

Low Power FM stations are community-based, non-commercial radio broadcasters that operate at 100 watts or less and reach a radius of 3 to 7 miles.