How Will Iowa Senators Harkin and Grassley Vote on LPFM?
Prometheus Radio Project
On December 16, 2009 the Local Community Radio Act [which would expand Low Power FM radio stations and open the airwaves up to potentially tens of thousands of new community radio stations across the country], was launched out of the House of Representatives with unanimous bipartisan support. Now, the Senate version (S592), which has already passed out of Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, must pass the full Senate to be placed on the President's desk this Spring.
[See BFIA archives: Iowa Congressmen Support Local Community Radio Act (HR1147) and Local Community Radio Bill Now in House of Representatives]
U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-14) made the following statement in a committee hearing:
“In 2000, the Federal Communications Commission started to create new community radio stations, run by local schools, churches, community groups and governments. They did this because their mission from Congress is not to help entrenched lobbies, but to make sure that as many Americans as possible have access to the public’s airwaves to fulfill a basic human need – the right to communicate.”
is radio that speaks directly to the questions and concerns of the day,
unfiltered through large corporate entities or boardroom decisions. Instead, community organizations and volunteers put blood,
sweat and tears into the daily effort of bringing the culture, news,
and local events to their towns and neighborhoods.”
Concluding
the hearing, Rep. Doyle stated, “Mister Chairman, we need to make sure
that more Americans get a chance to exercise their voice. We must pass
my bill this year, and we must bring low power to the people.”
A
video of Congressman Doyle’s statement can be seen on YouTube
2010 began in the throes of combatative partisanship and a Supreme Court ruling that further deregulates corporate campaign donations, giving corporate interests and corporate media more power in government.
But, we will not give in. We've seen grassroots supporters take action and make their voices heard, helping push the Local Community Radio Act out of the House of Representatives. We're going to keep fighting and see this thing through to the end.
S592 must be voted out of the Senate and signed by the President this year, or thousands of community groups across the country will lose out on the opportunity to have low power FM radio stations. For more info, go to: prometheusradio.org
We have Corporate Media.
We need community radio.
Call your senators to make sure they vote for the passage of the Local Community Radio Act because the radio waves belong to the people and community radio will serve the “public interest, convenience & necessity.”
Grassley: DC – (202) 224-3744 /Cedar Rapids 319-363-6832/Council Bluffs 712-322-7103/
Davenport 319-322-4331/Des Moines 515-288-1145/Sioux City 712-233-1860/Waterloo 319-232-6657
Harkin: DC – 202-224-3254 / Sioux City 712-252-1550 / Dubuque 563-582-2130 / Des Moines 284-4574 / Davenport 563-322-1338/ Cedar Rapids (319) 365-4504/
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