[Imc] [Fwd: Give Your Radio To Your Senator Until Low Power FM is Saved!]]

[Mike Lehman]

Mike Lehman wrote:
> 
> It might be a good time to recontact our Senators to make sure they are
> aware of public sentiment, not just corporate $$.
> Mike
> 
> petri wrote:
> >
> > Community Media Is On It's Deathbed, Radio Euthanasia Called For
> > Give Your Radio To Your Senator Until Low Power FM is Saved!
> >
> > Prometheus Radio Project is calling for all LPFM supporters to SEND
> > YOUR RADIOS to your Senators, along with a note telling them to tune
> > in to constituent sentiment and turn off the static from the broadcast
> > lobbyists. Earlier this week, the Senate attached Bill S.3020 to a
> > large, unrelated appropriations bill to sneak it through without
> > comment or hearings.  We cannot allow this to happen!  Pick up your
> > phone today and call your Senator and demand that
> > they unattach Bill S.3020 from any spending bills.  Although LPFM
> > service does not free the airwaves from corporate control, it is a
> > start toward providing locally produced media to meet the needs,
> > interests and concerns of local communities and neighborhoods.  And
> > there is likely a frequency available in your town.  The dreams and
> > hard work of thousands across the US will be for naught, however, if
> > we allow the US Congress to bow to corporate pressure and kill LPFM!
> >
> > After years of public comment and engineering studies, the combined
> > pressure from media reformers and direct action activists prevailed to
> > win a partial victory for community access to the radio airwaves.  In
> > January 2000 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to
> > create new Low Power FM (LPFM) radio service.  Since then thousands of
> > excited folks in every state have invested precious time and resources
> > engaging their communities to apply for
> > local LPFM stations.  Nearly 1300 applications have already been
> > received by the FCC.  However, after a long well-funded DC beltway
> > insider campaign of lies and disinformation, the US Congress is about
> > to kill LPFM.  Legislation to gut the LPFM initiative has passed in
> > the House of Representatives and is poised to be passed in the Senate
> > THIS WEEK!
> >
> > Your Congressmembers have been sold a bill of goods by a team of
> > twenty well-funded lobbyists from the National Association of
> > Broadcasters (NAB) with support from National Public Radio (NPR).
> > These finks have convinced your senators that Senate Bill S.3020 is
> > compromise legislation.  This is no compromise.  It will dismember the
> > LPFM service and neither you nor anyone else will have access to your
> > airwaves.  Bill S.3020, offered by Senator
> > Grams (R-MN), would effectively destroy the LPFM initiative.  It
> > allows the FCC to create the new service, but allows only a handful of
> > stations (instead of the 800+ expected) to be licensed.  S.3020
> > masquerades as a compromise requiring field testing.  While sounding
> > vaguely reasonable, calls for field testing are just a political
> > stalling tactic.  The broadcasters real hope is that they will be able
> > to do million dollar studies that grassroots organizations can not
> > afford to counter.  These engineering issues are not only clear, but
> > were re-clarified by the FCC itself last week in a 78 page Memorandum
> > of Reconsideration mandating conservative regulations and oversight of
> > LPFM.
> >
> > Send the Senators your radios.  (Old, unused, or broken ones are fine-
> > radios that are smashed up may be even better!)  The Senate staff is
> > really busy right now, brokering back room deals, and they are
> > listening to regular citizens even less than usual.  But imagine what
> > happens when they open up that box and find your broken radio in it-
> > you'll be the talk of the office for the week!  Spend a few minutes
> > writing and a few bucks in postage to make your voice heard loud.  The
> > airwaves belong to the people, not corporate interests. The Senate
> > will only be in session for a few more days.  Make your Senator think
> > twice before duping you.  The survival of Low-Power FM (LPFM) depends
> > on your action right now.
> >
> > Actions To Take Now:
> >
> > * Send Your Radio To Your Senator.  Below is suggested language for a
> > letter to accompany your radio.  Have an old clock radio, walkperson
> > or other small tuner laying around?  Priority mail will ship it and
> > only costs $3.20!  Tell your Senator to tune in to the
> > community-minded people in their state, not the misinformation of
> > corporate lobbyists.
> >
> > Send to:       The Honorable __________
> >                 United States Senate
> >             Washington, DC 20510
> >
> > * Call Your Senator and tell them to unattach Bill S.3020 from any
> > appropriations bill.  Below are talking points and background for your
> > call.  The Senate switchboard number is 202-224-3121.  All you need to
> > know is your zip code.  State your position sweetly and ask for their
> > action.  Let them know you'll be calling back to inquire again.  If
> > you are involved in
> > community media in their state, offer yourself or your group as a
> > resource for local information.  If you have Working Assets Long
> > Distance calls are free!
> >
> > * Follow-up!  Whether you write or call, follow up your contact with a
> > visit.  Senators all have local offices around their states.  Drop by
> > or call to set up a meeting with their staff and take a group of
> > people. If you have or are planning to submit an LPFM application,
> > tell them about why they should support these new neighborhood
> > initiatives.
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________________
> >                                        For More Info, Read On
> > ________________________________________________________________________
> >
> > * Shame On National Public Radio! More Fun Un-Pledge Action To Take.
> >
> > You may also take further action demanding that National Public Radio
> > (NPR) change its position and support LPFM.  NPR has persuaded key
> > democratic legislators, who never would have voted for these horrible
> > bills otherwise, to co-sponsor this legislation.
> >
> > Prometheus Radio Project, the Media Alliance, the National Lawyers
> > Guild CDC, and Americans for Radio Diversity have initiated an
> > Un-Pledge campaign against NPR in response to their scurrilous
> > position on low power radio.  We encourage you to call your local NPR
> > station, ask for the director, and ask their position on low power
> > radio.  If they give you some lame answer like "we support the goals
> > of the low power radio, but there are important
> > technical questions blah blah blah," tell them you are withholding
> > your pledge and will
> > encourage your friends to do the same till they stop beating up on
> > community radio.
> >
> > If you want to take it a step further, hold an Un-Pledge drive in
> > front of their main office like the one we just held outside their
> > board meeting in San Francisco.  We gave out nifty buttons and
> > tote-bags to people who promised to not send in a check to NPR until
> > they learned to play nice with their little sister stations of the
> > airwaves.  Tell us how many Un-Pledges you get.  You can
> > also call their volunteers at the pledge phones and let them know what
> > their favorite station is doing.  Or volunteer yourself and educate
> > their listeners!
> >
> > _____________________________________________________________________
> >                                   Draft Senate Letter
> > _____________________________________________________________________
> >
> > Dear Senator ______
> >
> > I am writing in support of the Federal Communications Commission's
> > Low-Power FM (LPFM) radio initiative.  Specifically, to ask that you
> > take immediate action to unattach the misleading S.3020 bill, Radio
> > Broadcasting Preservation Act Of 2000, from completely unrelated
> > appropriations bills.  If this misleading legislation passes it will
> > effectively silence thousands of local voices, including hundreds of
> > folks across your state working hard to create local LPFM
> > stations and community media.
> >
> > I am sick and tired of the endless advertising and cookie-cutter
> > programming taking up the majority of my portion of the publicly owned
> > airwaves.  Although I have tried to get something out of it, from now
> > on I consider myself a former radio listener.  I am giving up my radio
> > and sending it to you in the hopes that you will take action to ensure
> > that LPFM radio, community produced radio, does not die.  Maybe you
> > can use it to tune in to the dearth of radio produced
> > by local communities, instead of corporate lobbyists.  I do not
> > believe that stations run by media-conglomerates who own over one
> > thousand stations nationwide offer any programming that addresses my
> > or my communities interests, needs or concerns. Maybe you have been
> > gouged yourself when buying airtime for campaign ads, or trying to get
> > an opportunity to raise isues of substance. There is virtually no
> > public affairs programming left on the radio, and
> > as a result, Americas political discourse is getting dumber and
> > dumber.
> >
> > I am appalled at the apparent insider power of special interest
> > lobbyists like those of the National Association of Broadcasters.
> > S.3020 is identical to the ill-advised legislation that was pushed
> > through the House of Representatives this spring.  Congress has been
> > presented misleading information regarding interference that could be
> > caused by Low Power Radio.  I am very excited about these new
> > stations, and I will be extremely sore at any elected officials who
> > attempt to derail this fantastic breakthrough in democratic local
> > media.
> >
> > The first two round of applications for these LPFM licenses have
> > already been submitted, resulting in nearly 1300 religious groups,
> > local governments, health and social service groups, youth and senior
> > groups and others applying.  Are you aware of the variety of
> > neighborhoods and communities in your state seeking the benefits of
> > LPFM radio?  I encourage you to study this diverse movement emerging
> > from your home state.  Each applicant will have spent almost
> > two years from initial planning with local groups to FCC application
> > and notification, to actual implementation.  Despite the partisan
> > lines that this issue has been voted upon in the past, over half the
> > applicants for low power radio stations are small, conservative, local
> > church groups.
> >
> > The public support for Low Power FM is universal (Organizations from
> > the NAACP to the Evangelist  Lutheran Church in America, from Cato
> > Institute to the New York State Thruway Authority.) - only special
> > interest groups like the NAB see themselves as having anything to lose
> > in LPFM.  Please take leadership now in unattaching Senator Grams Bill
> > S.3020, "Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act of 2000," from the
> > completely unrelated appropriations bills.  S.3020 masquerades as
> > "compromise" legislation, when in fact it is special interest
> > legislation that would effectively destroy the FCCís Low Power FM
> > initiative and a wonderful and long-awaited opportunity for community
> > media access.
> >
> > I thank you in advance for your immediate action on this important
> > issue.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Your Name
> > Your Address
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________________
> >                                 Background And Key Points You Can Make
> > ______________________________________________________________________
> >
> > Local communities around the home state of your Senator are excited by
> > this opportunity and are applying for LPFM in droves.
> >
> > The first two round of applications for these LPFM licenses have
> > already been submitted, resulting in nearly 1300 religious groups,
> > local governments, health and social service groups, youth and senior
> > groups and others applying.  The new rules allow small non-commercial
> > non-profit groups, libraries, churches, civic and community
> > organizations to apply for licenses to operate simple, inexpensive
> > local radio stations.  Individuals cannot apply for licenses, but
> > any group can apply, from a local health organization to the Rotary
> > Club.  The equipment costs of these stations can be as low as a few
> > thousand dollars.   Funding is available and accessible from local
> > business, community foundations and other sources.  Hopefully
> > thousands of non-commercial microradio licenses will be given out
> > across the country over the next year.
> >
> > Demand full hearings on this issue.
> >
> > A lot of people care about LPFM, and there is a significant debate.
> > It would be a slap in the face to the thousands of Americans who
> > played by the rules and participated in the FCC rulemaking process to
> > see their dreams of neighborhood radio dashed in a slick Washington
> > political maneuver.  Attaching this bill as a rider to a completely
> > unrelated appropriations (spending) bill is an outrage.  If Senatorís
> > truly wish to take a stand on LPFM they must have full hearings,
> > listen to the public and to the experts on both sides, and then vote
> > on legislation based on its own merits.  Elected officials who worry
> > about the cynicism of voters towards the political process need to
> > hear from you.  Grossly undemocratic actions like slipping this bill
> > through in a rush outrage citizens and discourage voters.
> >
> > There is no need for further testing.
> >
> > The call for field testing is bogus.  The engineering issues are
> > clear, with testing of 75 different consumer receivers now in the
> > public record.  Though a call for field testing may sound
> > reasonable on its face, it is in fact a patently wasteful and
> > fruitless exercise.  Field testing does not test interference to
> > consumers radio receivers. Interference to consumers' receivers is the
> > only real question in this proceeding which merited scientific testing
> > and scrutiny.   Field testing
> > only tests how radio waves travel over the surface of the earth, which
> > has been abundantly understood for the past 50 years.  One can only
> > conclude that the special interest opposition to LPFM hopes to simply
> > outspend tenfold the LPFM advocates by continuing to demand ever more
> > frivolous testing regimes for questions that are already well
> > understood.  The testing program proposed in S.3020 is an example of
> > big, wasteful government at its worst.  The
> > real goal of this legislation is to stall the implementation of LPFM
> > until after the Presidential election, when the NAB and other
> > corporate interests hope to get a more sympathetic hearing of their
> > special interest demands from a new FCC Chairperson.
> >
> > After the FCC final rules were released on September 28, National
> > Public Radio (and the Reading Services for the Blind) announced that
> > they were reconsidering their position.
> >
> > In light of the final rules for LPFM that have just been released,
> > which includes guarantees of protection for radio reading services for
> > the blind and an expedited interference resolution process, NPR and
> > the International Association of Audio Information Services (Reading
> > Services for the Blind) are currently re-evaluating their support for
> > Senator Grams unfortunate
> > bill S.3020. In light of this changing situation, it would be a "rush
> > to judgement" if the Senate passed S.3020 or other legislation gutting
> > LPFM.  Also, many NPR folks have disagreed with the national officesí
> > position on this issue, and support a change of policy as a result of
> > the FCC's adjustments to its rules, which have met every substantive
> > objection that has been raised.
> >
> > A technically identical radio service already exists.
> >
> > The FCC in its January 20th report and order was quite conservative in
> > extending protection out to the second adjacent channels.  Across the
> > US there are currently thousands of low power radio stations known as
> > translators.  These stations are used to extend the coverage of full
> > power radio stations- for some political and economic reasons, they
> > are not allowed to
> > originate their own programming.  There are many of these translator
> > stations operating
> > on the second and third adjacent channels next to full power radio
> > stations.  They operate at 10 to 250 watts, and use the very same
> > transmitters that LPFM stations will use.  The FCC based its decision
> > on the actual performance of these little radio stations that already
> > operate interference free on our nations airwaves.
> >
> > The FCC has adopted expedited rules for dealing with interference.
> >
> > The FCC is so confident that there will be no serious interference
> > issues that in their final rules they have a special, expedited
> > interference resolution process that will immediately address an
> > incumbent broadcasters concerns.  The incumbent broadcasters now have
> > more interference protection from LPFMs than they have from their
> > fellow incumbent broadcasters' stations.  LPFM operators must deal
> > with individual listener interference complaints immediately- if there
> > are more than a handful, they must immediately shut down until all
> > problems are resolved.  That is more than can be said for the
> > incumbent broadcasters, who interfere with each others stations with
> > impunity all the time.
> >
> > For more information, including sample letters, details about how to
> > apply for a low power station, and analyses of the politics and
> > engineering in the low power FM debate, check out our website at
> > www.prometheus.tao.ca.
> > --
> >
> > Pete triDish
> >  _      _
> > Pe'tre Dish (n): A squat, cylindrical,transparent article of
> > laboratory glassware, useful in observing resistant strains of culture
> > in aetherial media.
> >
> > Petri at critpath.org
> > www.prometheus.tao.ca
> > 215-476-2385
> 
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