Update: Senate Commerce Committee Passes LPFM Bill

LPFM Bills Now On Senate And House Floors

The SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE has just voted unanimously to pass the LOCAL COMMUNITY RADIO ACT (S. 592), that would add hundreds of new low-power FM (LPFM) radio stations nationwide. The bill, introduced by Sen. MARIA CANTWELL (D-WA) and Sen. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ) with six co-sponsors, now goes to the full Senate.

AHouse version of the LOCAL COMMUNITY RADIO ACT has already made it out of the HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE. "Today’s vote brings us one step closer to a new golden era of radio -- where music, news and information that matter to local communities are back on the dial," FREE PRESS Program Coordinator CANDACE CLEMENT said. "Passing this bill will open up the airwaves to hundreds of new noncommercial radio stations and offer a much needed alternative to the cookie-cutter format that dominates the radio dial. Today’s vote shows that policymakers are hearing and responding to the widespread public support for expanding local radio across the country. They should not delay in voting the LOCAL COMMUNITY RADIO ACT into law."

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