Copyright 2000 Federal News Service, Inc.
Federal News Service
February 17, 2000, Thursday
SECTION: PREPARED TESTIMONY
LENGTH: 467 words
HEADLINE:
PREPARED TESTIMONY OF DAVID E. BONIOR DEMOCRATIC WHIP
BEFORE THE
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TRADE AND
CONSUMER PROTECTION SUBCOMMITTEE
BODY:
I
applaud the Federal Communications Commission for creating a new class of
licenses for low power FM radio stations. These non- commercial
licenses will provide tremendous opportunities for educational institutions,
local governments, churches, community groups and emerging artists without
interfering with existing commercial stations.
I think it's important
for the Subcommittee to know just how wide- spread and broad the support is for
low power community radio. It is people like Kevin McGaughey in Brookland,
Arkansas who would like to give children in Brookland's local public schools the
opportunity to learn the ins and outs of broadcasting. It is people like Lynn
Breidenbach in Lakeland, Florida whose community has no voice on either
Tampa/St. Petersburg or Orlando radio. It is people like Amanda Huron in
Washington, D.C. whose community group is trying to empower African-American and
Latino-American youth by teaching them how to be radio disc jockeys rather than
just hanging out in the streets. These are the advocates for community radio and
they are mobilized throughout our country. The FCC's decision to grant low power
community radio licenses also has the support of organizations ranging from the
AFL-CIO, to the U.S. Catholic Conference, to the NAACP, to the National Council
on La Raza to the U.S.P.I.R.G. In my home state, the Michigan Music is World
Class Campaign has secured resolutions of support from at least 45 communities.
Further, musicians like Bonnie Raitt and the Indigo Girls, as well as the
Louisiana Music Commission have thrown their support behind low power community
radio. For those whose voices are not heard on today's cookie cutter format
radio, low power community stations are deeply wanted and much needed. The
activism surrounding this issue is inspiring, and the Subcommittee would be well
advised to take this grounds well of support into account.
One of the
fundamental tenets of our democracy is to ensure that diverse interests have
opportunities to express themselves at different levels, and that they are not
locked out in a monopolistic fashion by large media conglomerates. It is as
fundamental as free speech.
The FCC, and its Chairman William Kennard,
should be commended for doing their job protecting the public interest while at
the same time giving serious consideration to the interference concerns of
existing broadcasters. Providing nonprofit, educational or community-based radio
stations to broadcast information about local events, provide open forums for
issues of the day and improve access to our airwaves without interfering with
current FM radio stations ... is the legitimate role of the FCC as stewards of
our airwaves. I support their efforts to make the vision of community radio a
reality.
END
LOAD-DATE: February 18,
2000 
