Copyright 2000 Star Tribune
Star Tribune
(Minneapolis, MN)
June 9, 2000, Friday, Metro Edition
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 15A
LENGTH: 420 words
HEADLINE:
Wellstone, Indigo Girls team up to push for low-power stations;
But Sen. Rod
Grams argues that allowing low-power stations access to the airwaves could hurt
existing stations.
BYLINE: Kristin Gustafson; Staff
Writer
DATELINE: Washington, D.C.
BODY:
Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., teamed up with
the Indigo Girls, other Democratic senators and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on
Thursday to support opening radio airwaves to low-power stations that serve a
variety of ethnic and community interest groups.
Minnesota's other senator, Republican Rod Grams,
has argued that allowing low-power stations access to the airwaves could
jeopardize the vitality of existing broadcast stations.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
paved the way for access to low-power stations in January. But big commercial
and public radio stations objected to the ruling, prompting a bill _ backed by
Grams _ that would undo it.
The
senators' news conference Thursday began and ended with the
Indigo Girls, a music group that got its start playing on alternative radio
stations across the country, including low-power FM stations.
"It's about the voice of the community and not
just about music," singer and guitarist Amy Ray said about the need for more
small radio stations.
"A vital, flourishing
democracy requires many points of view to be capable of expression," Wellstone
said in a statement. "But as our media system undergoes ever more and more
concentration in the hands of a few big corporate media conglomerates,
increasingly fewer voices are heard by the public." He said the FCC ruling would
"help revitalize our political democracy."
Grams, a former television news anchor, said the
bill could end up harming stations already in existence, including those that
are "owned by women, minorities and rural Minnesotans."
The big concern is technical, Grams said. He and
his allies fear that low-power stations could create broadcast interference that
would deny some listeners access to their favorite broadcasts.
David McKay, general manager for Minneapolis
community radio station KFAI, which once was a low-power station but now
broadcasts throughout the Twin Cities, said the station's board of directors is
ambivalent about the FCC action. McKay also expressed concerns
about interference from low-power stations _ and added another.
"It could also cut into revenue, be that
underwriting or membership support," he said.
Minnesota Public Radio opposes the FCC decision,
largely because of the interference issue.
McCain, who chairs the Senate Commerce
Committee, which oversees the FCC, has not yet scheduled a hearing on the bill,
co-authored by Grams and Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H.
GRAPHIC: PHOTO
LOAD-DATE: June 9, 2000 
