SUPPORT SENATE LOW-POWER FM
BILL
Senator Rod Grams (R-MN) has introduced S. 3020, which is
identical to the LPFM legislation passed overwhelmingly earlier this year by the
House. The Grams legislation does not ban LPFM, but it does provide needed
protections against interference which will benefit all FM listeners.
The legislation includes the following provisions:
- The bill allows the FCC to move forward with licensing
LPFM stations, but it must modify its current order authorizing LPFM by taking
into account third-adjacent channel protections.
- It requires that a test of nine markets be conducted by
an independent third party to see how LPFM (without third-adjacent channel
protections) would affect current listening audiences. The FCC must report
back to Congress by February 2001 on the findings of the nine test
markets.
- The bill makes permanent the current third-adjacent
channel protections until such time that Congress may choose to amend those
protections.
- It requires the FCC to conduct an economic impact study
of LPFM on "incumbent FM broadcasters in general, and minority and
small-market broadcasters in particular."
- Second, it requires an FCC study of the impact on the
transition to digital in-band, on-channel radio. It also must review the
impact on stations that provide reading services for the blind and FM
translators. All of these studies, including the economic impact study, must
be submitted to Congress.
- In a further expression of concern for small markets,
the legislation establishes by law that all LPFM licenses will be
non-commercial and will remain non-commercial.
- The legislation also explicitly prohibits issuing an
LPFM license to anyone who engaged in unlicensed (pirate) broadcasting.
In short, this bill allows the FCC to move forward with
LPFM, but only under the current interference standards that ensure
interference-free radio service. It then mandates further independent testing of
the impact of changing those standards before allowing the FCC (with
congressional approval) to modify them. This bill balances the interests in
exploring the potential of low-power FM while simultaneously making sure that
its introduction will not create new interference for FM listeners.
Senators are urged to support the Grams
legislation.