Low Power Radio Matters to All of Us

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What is Low Power Radio?

Low Power Radio, also known as Microradio, is a new radio service recently adopted by the Federal Communications Commission. Unlike the current centrally-programmed stations that sound the same no matter where they are located, this service would be intensely local. A radio license would be available to entrepreneurs, community groups, high schools, labor unions, and churches, and anyone who would like to reach out to a small geographically-concentrated group of individuals.

How can we use Low Power Radio?

Organizations and individuals could use microradio stations in many ways. For example, a union could reach out to a plant or a small town to provide information to its members or potential members. Immigrant groups could broadcast in foreign languages and provide English-language instruction. Residents of a public housing project could share information regarding neighborhood services. Churches could broadcast religious services to homebound individuals in the local vicinity. Senior centers could reach their members who cannot travel to the center. City governments could transmit council meetings and mass transit updates. Groups that work with young people could operate a station, allowing teen-agers to run radio shows and simultaneously obtain technical and artistic training that will prepare them for a career in broadcasting. The possibilities are limited only by the creativity of the individuals using and listening to low power radio.

Why do we need Low Power Radio?

Over the last decade, a handful of large corporations, each owning hundreds of stations, have transformed radio from our most local medium, substituting national management for local decision-making, eliminating newscasts, and imposing bland cookie-cutter program formats. The media consolidation sweeping the country in all areas of communication increases the importance of independent radio outlets.

Media consolidation weakens our democracy. Without locally owned and programmed outlets, citizens cannot learn about important issues in their communities, they do not know what questions are being discussed in their city council meetings, or being debated by the members of their local school boards. Without that basic information, citizens are unable to participate in civic life, and their views go unheeded by our elected leaders.

Media consolidation harms equal opportunity for all. Concentrated ownership reinforces the economic barriers keeping women and minorities from entering the broadcast industry, both as professionals and as owners. Corporate consolidation also marginalizes certain Americans in other ways. Commercial radio is dependent on advertisers, who have been known to assume, as the FCC has recently demonstrated, that Hispanic and African-American viewers and listeners are undesirable audiences. Because they cannot obtain advertising revenue for serving certain demographic groups, commercial stations frequently overlook these audiences. Corporate consolidation magnifies this problem because absentee owners are less likely to know the community they serve and thus are less likely to see beyond simplifying stereotypes when making programming decisions. Consequently, a listener will be lucky to find, in an entire week in any given city, more than a few hours of blues and jazz music, poetry rooted in a religious tradition, or foreign-language news.

Media consolidation weakens local communities. As media becomes divorced from its local surroundings, the American people become more disenfranchised from our government and from our communities. Although the current community radio broadcasters are making tremendous and important efforts all across America, they cannot bring all the voices who wish to speak on the air, and, in many communities, no such stations have been established.

Who could be against Low Power Radio?

Unfortunately, almost everyone who has an FCC radio license now. Besides arguing that the current system does serve the needs of the American public, opponents claim that low power will interfere with current licensees and steal their listeners.

These claims are misplaced. First, the FCC has adopted an extremely conservative, safe proposal. According to a technical study submitted to the FCC by Media Access Project, less than 1.6% of listeners who receive a new service will expereince interference. Those listeners may be able to resolve any problems by retuning their radios. Second, low power radio will serve the listeners the current broadcasters have ignored. In areas where broadcasters provide a truly local service, it is likely that the demand for low power radio stations will be small. Moreover, the current coterie of community broadcasters can find new sources of support and patronage by furnishing expertise and assistance to new low power radio broadcasters.

What can we do to support Low Power Radio?

Contact members of Congress expressing support of low power radio and ask your grass roots membership to do the same. Visit the FCC web site, at www.http://www.fcc.gov/mmb/prd/lpfm/ to receive updates and submit your views to the FCC.

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This page last modified 8/24/00.