Copyright 1999 The Seattle Times Company
The
Seattle Times
January 28, 1999, Thursday Final Edition
SECTION: BUSINESS; Pg. D6; BUSINESS BRIEFS
LENGTH: 160 words
HEADLINE:
FCC VOTES TO BOOST LOCAL RADIO
BYLINE: SEATTLE TIMES
NEWS SERVICES
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
BODY:
WASHINGTON - In a 4-1 vote, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) today took the first step toward creating a very
local radio service that would help community and regional interest groups get
on the air.
The FCC will offer proposals to create thousands of new
low-power FM radio stations. These "micro" radio broadcasters
would operate with low power levels from 1 watt to 1,000 watts and would be
licensed by the FCC.
Depending on the height of the antenna and the
terrain, a 1-watt station typically serves an area with a diameter of about two
miles - and a 1,000-watt station an area with a diameter of up to 18 miles.
The proposals also address the issue of consolidation in the radio
industry, which has made it increasingly difficult for the voices of minorities
and community groups to be heard.
A 1996 law triggered rapid
consolidation in the industry by relaxing limits on the number of radio stations
held by any one owner.
LOAD-DATE: January 29, 1999
