Following The House, Senate Passes Local Community Radio Act

Sen. Maria Cantwell

On FRIDAY (NET NEWS 12/17), The House Of Representatives surprised many, passing compromise legislation with an amendment to the Local Community Radio Act (HR 6533). The bill is likely to expand the number of LPFM stations in the U.S., while adding new spacing requirements for LPFM that protect existing stations.

On a working SATURDAY as this Congress winds down for the holidays, The Senate took up the legislation championed by WASHINGTON STATE Senator MARIA CANTWELL, and passed the bill, sending it to Pres. OBAMA to be signed into law.

This is a huge win for communities across the northwest and across the country who have been pining for more and better local radio, more support for local music and more diversity on the airwaves.

The Local Community Radio Act earned bipartisan support recently after being pressed by grassroots media organizations for years. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTER has sought to protect full power FM stations, and received that compromise in this new bill. Commenting on the amended bill's passage, NAB Pres./CEO GORDON SMITH said on FRIDAY, "The revised legislation will expand the number of LPFM stations in the U.S. while providing full-power radio stations with the protection and clarity we have long sought. NAB salutes today's House action and offers its support for Senate passage as well."

"This is a huge win for communities across the northwest and across the country who have been pining for more and better local radio, more support for local music and more diversity on the airwaves," said SEATTLE-based RECLAIM THE MEDIA's JONATHAN LAWSON. "Senator CANTWELL deserves our thanks for seeing this through to the end."

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