Outrage, Hope and Action

If you've been waiting for a chance to make a difference for expanding community radio -- TODAY is your chance. The Local Community Radio Act of 2007 -- Senate Bill 1675 -- would expand new community radio opportunities to
big cities and smaller communities across the nation. We are learning
that the big broadcasters are trying to organize to stop this bill from
passing. Senators need to hear from their constituents if they will
stand up for real community media! We need your help to bring thousands
of new radio stations to local organizations across the nation!

Can you call and write Senators Corker and Alexander, and tell them to
support the Local Community Radio Act of 2007, which would expand low power FM radio stations to communities nationwide.

Senator Bob Corker
DC: 202-224-3344
Memphis: 901-683-1910

Senator Lamar Alexander

DC: (202) 224-4944
Memphis: (901) 544-4224
Ask them to support the Local Community
Radio Act of 2007, Senate Bill 1675 -- which would bring new community
radio to schools, community groups, religious organizations and
nonprofits nationwide.

Here at the Prometheus Radio Project, we are committed to bringing more
community radio stations to the airwaves. Not only have we just worked
with hundreds of groups to build their own full power radio stations, we
build and support Low Power FM radio -- one-hundred watt, local stations
serving their local communities. While LPFM service has a limited
coverage area -- 7-10 miles -- they are more than adequate for
broadcasting the local news, information, music, and debate that our
communities need on our airwaves.

Support for LPFM is widespread, and touted by churches, community
groups, Congressmembers, and the over 800 cities and towns where LPFM
stations are on the air as a great way to provide rare local service.
But Congress limited low power FM radio, keeping it away from America's
biggest cities and thousands of other communities -- until the FCC could
prove that there was plenty of room for low power FM on the FM dial.

Now, the good news: the FCC released a study, conducted by the
independent MITRE corporation, proving that there is plenty of room for
LPFM -- and the Senate is about to vote on a bill that would expand low
power FM to your city or town. Can you educate your legislators and let
them know that new community radio in your town is one great step to
building and strengthening communities across the nation?

You can find your Congressmember's information at
http://www.congress.org, or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at
202.224.3121. An email or phone call explaining your support for low
power radio could mean hundreds, possibly even thousands, of new radio
stations in communities across the country.

Write a letter to your legislators at:

http://www.freepress.net/lpfm
http://www.congress.org

Please feel free to email us at info@prometheusradio.org if you've
contacted your representative. Some background information and
suggestions for your email or call below!

With thanks,

Prometheus Radio Project
www.prometheusradio.org

Visit our website for the answers to all of your questions about low
power radio!

Background:

Low power FM is a great idea for communities across the nation. Both
the Senate and the House of Representatives need to hear from you -- as
both are considering the Local Community Radio Act of 2007. In your
phone call or letter, you can explain how an LPFM radio station would
enrich your community, and say:

"As a constituent of --YOUR REPRESENTATIVE--, living at --YOUR ADDRESS--
, I want him/her to know that I support Low Power FM radio, and I want
him/her to support expanding this important service. Please vote for
the Local Community Radio Act of 2007 -- House Bill 2802, and Senate
Bill 1675."

In 2000, the Federal Communications Commission established the Low Power
FM (LPFM) radio service -- noncommercial, local, low-powered radio that
schools, community groups, churches, and any nonprofit could use to
broadcast local information to their local community. There are about
800 LPFM stations on air all across the country - but groups in many
communities, and most big cities, who applied for these great new
stations all lost out. Why?

Because the big broadcasters -- represented by the National Association
of Broadcasters -- convinced Congress to limit low power FM to the most
rural areas, claiming that little LPFM stations would interfere with big
radio stations in big cities -- making the radio dial unlistenable.

In the law that Congress passed (the Radio Broadcast Preservation Act of
2000), they also asked the FCC to study whether or not LPFM stations
would really cause interference. The FCC hired a big, independent
engineering firm -- the MITRE corporation -- to study this potential
interference -- and $2.2 million later, they proved that LPFM was a
great idea in big cities as well as small communities.

Read more at http://prometheusradio.org/take_action/lpfm_in_congress/