[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 190 (Tuesday, December 15, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H14903-H14907]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   LOCAL COMMUNITY RADIO ACT OF 2009

  Mr. BOUCHER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1147) to implement the recommendations of the Federal 
Communications Commission report to the Congress regarding low-power FM 
service, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1147

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Local Community Radio Act of 
     2009''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENT.

       Section 632 of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and 
     State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
     Act, 2001 (Public Law 106-553; 114 Stat. 2762A-111), is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``Sec. 632. (a) The Federal Communications Commission shall 
     modify the rules authorizing the operation of low-power FM 
     radio stations, as proposed in MM Docket No. 99-25, to--
       ``(1) prescribe protection for co-channels and first- and 
     second-adjacent channels; and
       ``(2) prohibit any applicant from obtaining a low-power FM 
     license if the applicant has engaged in any manner in the 
     unlicensed operation of any station in violation of section 
     301 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 301).
       ``(b) Any license that was issued by the Federal 
     Communications Commission to a low-power FM station prior to 
     April 2, 2001, and that does not comply with the 
     modifications adopted by the Commission in MM Docket No. 99-
     25 on April 2, 2001, shall remain invalid.''.

     SEC. 3. MINIMUM DISTANCE SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS.

       The Federal Communications Commission shall modify its 
     rules to eliminate third-adjacent minimum distance separation 
     requirements between--
       (1) low-power FM stations; and
       (2) full-service FM stations, FM translator stations, and 
     FM booster stations.

     SEC. 4. PROTECTION OF RADIO READING SERVICES.

       The Federal Communications Commission shall comply with its 
     existing minimum distance separation requirements for full-
     service FM stations, FM translator stations, and FM booster 
     stations that broadcast radio reading services via an analog 
     subcarrier frequency to avoid potential interference by low-
     power FM stations.

     SEC. 5. ENSURING AVAILABILITY OF SPECTRUM FOR LOW-POWER FM 
                   STATIONS.

       The Federal Communications Commission, when licensing new 
     FM translator stations, FM booster stations, and low-power FM 
     stations, shall ensure--
       (1) that licenses are available to FM translator stations, 
     FM booster stations, and low-power FM stations; and
       (2) that such decisions are made based on the needs of the 
     local community.

     SEC. 6. PROTECTION OF TRANSLATOR INPUT SIGNALS.

       The Federal Communications Commission shall modify its 
     rules to address the potential for predicted interference to 
     FM translator input signals on third-adjacent channels set 
     forth in section 2.7 of the technical report entitled 
     ``Experimental Measurements of the Third-Adjacent Channel 
     Impacts of Low-Power FM Stations, Volume One--Final Report 
     (May 2003)''.

     SEC. 7. ENSURING EFFECTIVE REMEDIATION OF INTERFERENCE.

       The Federal Communications Commission shall modify the 
     interference complaint process described in section 73.810 of 
     its rules (47 CFR 73.810) as follows:
       (1) With respect to those low-power FM stations licensed at 
     locations that do not satisfy third-adjacent channel spacing 
     requirements under section 73.807 of the Commission's rules 
     (47 CFR 73.807), the Federal Communications Commission shall 
     provide the same interference protections that FM translator 
     stations and FM booster stations are required to provide as 
     set forth in section 74.1203 of its rules (47 CFR 74.1203) as 
     in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
       (2) For a period of 1 year after a new low-power FM station 
     is constructed on a third-adjacent channel, such low-power FM 
     station shall be required to broadcast periodic announcements 
     that alert listeners that interference that they may be 
     experiencing could be the result of the operation of such 
     low-power FM station on a third-adjacent channel and shall 
     instruct affected listeners to contact such low-power FM 
     station to report any interference. The Federal 
     Communications Commission shall require all newly constructed 
     low-power FM stations on third-adjacent channels to--
       (A) notify the Federal Communications Commission and all 
     affected stations on third-adjacent channels of an 
     interference complaint by electronic communication within 48 
     hours after the receipt of such complaint; and
       (B) cooperate in addressing any such interference.
       (3) Low-power FM stations on third-adjacent channels shall 
     be required to address complaints of interference within the 
     protected contour of an affected station and shall be 
     encouraged to address all other interference complaints, 
     including complaints to the Federal Communications Commission 
     based on interference to a full-service FM station, an FM 
     translator station, or an FM booster station by the 
     transmitter site of a low-power FM station on a third-
     adjacent channel at any distance from the full-service FM 
     station, FM translator station, or FM booster station. The 
     Federal Communications Commission shall provide notice to the 
     licensee of a low-power FM station of the existence of such 
     interference within 7 calendar days of the receipt of a 
     complaint from a listener or another station.
       (4) To the extent possible, the Federal Communications 
     Commission shall grant low-power FM stations on third-
     adjacent channels the technical flexibility to remediate 
     interference through the colocation of the transmission 
     facilities of the low-power FM station and any stations on 
     third-adjacent channels.
       (5) The Federal Communications Commission shall--
       (A) permit the submission of informal evidence of 
     interference, including any engineering analysis that an 
     affected station may commission;
       (B) accept complaints based on interference to a full-
     service FM station, FM translator station, or FM booster 
     station by the transmitter site of a low-power FM station on 
     a third-adjacent channel at any distance from the full-
     service FM station, FM translator station, or FM booster 
     station; and
       (C) accept complaints of interference to mobile reception.

     SEC. 8. FCC STUDY ON IMPACT OF LOW-POWER FM STATIONS ON FULL-
                   SERVICE COMMERCIAL FM STATIONS.

       (a) In General.--The Federal Communications Commission 
     shall conduct an economic study on the impact that low-power 
     FM stations will have on full-service commercial FM stations.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission 
     shall submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
     and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy 
     and Commerce of the House of Representatives on the study 
     conducted under subsection (a).
       (c) Licensing Not Affected by Study.--Nothing in this 
     section shall affect the licensing of new low-power FM 
     stations as otherwise permitted under this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Boucher) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOUCHER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous material into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOUCHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Waxman).
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1147, the 
Local Community Radio Act of 2009, and I want to thank Chairman Boucher 
for his leadership in guiding this bipartisan bill through the 
committee.
  I also want to recognize and thank Mr. Doyle and Mr. Terry, the 
original sponsors of the bill, for their efforts to expand diversity, 
localism, and competition in our media landscape. Mr. Doyle has been a 
tireless advocate of local community radio, and I greatly appreciate 
his leadership, flexibility, and persistence.
  I'm pleased that the House is taking up this important measure, as I 
have long supported expanding low-power FM radio services. The bill 
removes a statutory barrier to the creation of potentially thousands of 
new low-power stations across the country. The creation of these 
stations will further the overriding national policy goals of promoting 
broadcast localism and diversity.
  I'm pleased that the bill includes strong protections against 
unreasonable interference for incumbent radio broadcasters, as well as 
a clear dispute resolution process should such interference occur. I 
want to thank National Public Radio for working with the Energy and 
Commerce Committee in a constructive manner. I also want

[[Page H14904]]

to commend the Prometheus Radio Project, the United Church of Christ, 
and other supporters of low-power FM services for their valuable input.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1147.
  Mr. TERRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As coauthor with Mr. Doyle, I too rise in support of H.R. 1147, and 
it was my pleasure to come to this floor to discuss legislation that is 
the product of great bipartisanship. Congressman Doyle and I teamed up 
in working on this low-power FM legislation, and the product that we 
have today here on the floor is a good one. We do believe this bill has 
the potential to revolutionize what Americans hear on their radios and 
that it will provide an exciting new platform for citizens to 
communicate with one another within their own local communities and 
neighborhoods.
  Low-power FM radio offers people at the local community level the 
opportunity to broadcast when otherwise they may not afford to do so. 
This is extremely important for noncommercial groups like schools, 
churches, neighborhood organizations. The ability of those groups to 
broadcast their message contributes greatly to the overall betterment 
of our community and society as a whole.
  Many local and statewide organizations are interested in obtaining 
low-power FM licenses, including the following two in my district in 
Omaha, Nebraska.
  Wes Hall, who is the CEO of Suntaman Communications, says this 
legislation is a dream come true. ``You cannot build a community 
without a cohesive voice, and this will give a voice to the 
voiceless.'' He went on to say: ``Low-power FM is the beacon that 
lights up the future for us, and bravo to Lee for championing''--well, 
I don't have to read that part. But Wes Hall has been involved in the 
LPFM issue for years and believes this legislation is the light that 
allows communities to come together.
  ``This is very exciting news,'' said 100 Black Men of Omaha, 
Nebraska, President Tim Clark. ``Communities across the country will 
now have a real opportunity to increase the ability to effectively 
communicate issues, concerns, awareness campaigns, and to provide 
sensitive programming. North and South Omaha will benefit positively 
from this challenge to develop unified efforts for the betterment of 
their constituents.''
  I appreciate both Wes' and Tim's work on this issue as well as other 
groups devoted to fulfilling the interests and needs of our community.
  I do believe this legislation is about empowering individuals who are 
making a difference in Nebraska. As a Member who, back in 2000, voted 
in favor of legislation to require a minimum of four intervals between 
radio stations, I'm proud today to be able to stand by my friend from 
Pennsylvania as well as all LPFM advocates in a bipartisan way in 
support of this legislation.

                              {time}  1300

  The authorization of the MITRE study really was important, and now we 
definitively know that there will be no interference caused by reducing 
the required separation between new LPFM broadcasts and existing full-
power broadcasts.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to support this important community-
based legislation, and I am looking forward to it being enacted into 
law.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOUCHER. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill before the House is the Local Community Radio 
Act of 2009. It was introduced by Representatives Doyle and Terry, and 
it will provide additional opportunities to create new low-power FM 
radio stations by allowing their operation on third adjacent channels 
to the full-power radio stations.
  Low-power stations, which are community-based nonprofits which 
operate at 100 watts or less of power and which have a broadcast reach, 
typically, of only a few miles, play a unique role in our media. They 
are far more likely than their full-power counterparts to be owned by 
women or minorities, and they are an important forum for local clergy, 
for educational institutions, and for a wide array of community leaders 
to have a say on important local issues.
  I want to commend the cooperative work of our colleagues Mr. Doyle 
and Mr. Terry and of radio broadcasters who are significant 
stakeholders in this matter, as we have resolved the concerns of local 
public broadcasting stations that have a special need to protect the 
numerous translator stations that they operate from any local channel 
interference. Amendments that we adopted in the subcommittee 
consideration of the bill achieve that protection.
  Among other provisions, the bill directs the Federal Communications 
Commission to allow the operation of low-power FM stations on third 
channel adjacencies to the full-power FM stations and FM translator and 
booster stations. It retains the FCC's existing minimum distance 
separation requirements for FM stations that provide radio reading 
services for the visually impaired.
  At the same time, the bill provides for remediation of interference 
complaints between low-power FM stations and full-power stations as 
well as FM translator and booster stations. The measure directs the FCC 
to conduct an economic study of the effect of low-power FM stations on 
full service commercial stations and to submit those findings to the 
Congress within 1 year.
  I want to thank Mr. Doyle for his tireless work on this measure. He 
has introduced this bill several times, and this is the first Congress 
in which it has been brought to the House floor. I tremendously 
appreciate his work and the work of Mr. Terry, his partner in this 
exercise. With the various stakeholders and with members of our 
subcommittee, collectively, their work has resulted in our being able 
to present this bill to the House today.
  I also want to commend the bipartisan approach that we have taken in 
our subcommittee and full committee in processing this measure. I 
commend Chairman Waxman and Ranking Members Barton and Stearns for the 
highly cooperative manner in which we have altogether advanced this 
measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TERRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. I do thank the gentleman from Nebraska, and I am 
thrilled to stand today in support of the Local Community Radio Act.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an issue that I've been engaged in since my days 
in the Tennessee State Senate. In an age of consolidating radio 
stations and a competitive marketplace for airtime, this legislation 
will allow smaller groups to be heard. Indeed, Chairman Boucher has 
mentioned this, as has Mr. Terry; and it is an important reason for 
having this low-power radio act available for our communities.
  Whether we are talking about the aspiring blues performer in Memphis 
or whether we are talking about an up-and-coming country star in 
Nashville or whether we are talking about one of our colleges or 
universities which is getting on the air and showcasing some of its 
local talent or some of its personalities--or maybe it is some of our 
religious organizations or churches--it is a way for them to spread 
their messages. This legislation does give a crucial voice to these 
communities.
  I was pleased that Mr. Boucher mentioned small businesses that are 
owned by women and the number of women that we have seen move into the 
communications field because they had the ability to get to low-power 
stations and to develop formats in programming that will help them to 
launch a dream and actually innovate for our airwaves.
  We have heard from a wide range of groups. They do stand in support 
of this. It is a pleasure to stand and support the bill. I urge this 
Chamber to move forward on passing this legislation.
  Mr. BOUCHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
sponsor of the bill, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle).
  MR. DOYLE. I want to thank Chairman Boucher and Chairman Waxman for 
strongly supporting my bill, which will give local communities across 
this country access to their airwaves. I am grateful for the support 
that this bill has from both sides of the aisle, including from the 
bill's lead cosponsor, my good friend Lee Terry from Omaha.
  When the Federal Communications Commission created the low-power FM

[[Page H14905]]

radio service, they sought to create opportunities for new voices on 
the airwaves and to allow local schools, churches and other community-
based organizations to provide programming that would be responsive to 
local community needs and interests.
  Congress, however, passed the Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act in 
2000, and many of those organizations were prevented from communicating 
to their members, supporters, and residents on the FM radio dial. That 
bill called for a field study performed by the MITRE Corporation and 
for the FCC to recommend to Congress what we should do.
  In 2004, on a unanimous, bipartisan basis and for a second time in 
November 2007 and for a third time, once again, in September of 2009, 
all five FCC commissioners agreed that Congress should lift the 
restrictions on LPFM stations and should allow the FCC to license new 
stations in more communities. The bill we debate today, the Local 
Community Radio Act of 2009, does just that.
  Where they are allowed to exist under current law, LPFM stations have 
proved to be a vital source of information during local or national 
emergencies. These stations promote the arts and education from 
religious organizations, community groups, organizations promoting 
literacy, and from many other civically oriented organizations.
  Stations like KOCZ in Opelousas, Louisiana, which is operated by the 
Southern Development Foundation, is a group active in the African 
American community. This station broadcasts public affairs shows, 
religious programming, hip-hop, and zydeco music 24 hours a day. Zydeco 
music is central to the cultural heritage of the Acadiana region, but 
it has recently disappeared from the airwaves that have been dominated 
by commercial radio.
  WQRZ, in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, remained on the air during 
Hurricane Katrina and served as the emergency operations center for 
Hancock County during the worst storm there in a century.
  Congress has to act on the commission's recommendations; otherwise, 
similar stations will be prevented from operating in communities across 
America--in communities like mine, which are too large to have any 
slots for new LPFM stations at fourth adjacent, but could fit several 
at third adjacent.
  Stations like Lightning Community Radio and WMKP's ``The Roar'' at 
Penn State's Greater Allegheny campus wanted to serve the McKeesport 
area in my district. The current law relegates them to Webcasting, but 
they want to simulcast on the air as well. We must pass this bill today 
to make sure that that can happen.
  My bill has undergone some changes from the full committee, and the 
National Association of Broadcasters, as well as National Public Radio, 
have removed their objections and do not oppose the bill. This bill has 
broad support, and I will be adding into the Record these letters from 
almost a dozen leaders from Catholic and Protestant faiths, like the 
United Church of Christ and the National Association of Evangelicals; a 
letter from two dozen national and local public interest, civil rights 
and local groups; another letter from the Leadership Conference on 
Civil Rights; and, finally, a letter from the National Federation of 
Community Broadcasters and the Prometheus Radio Project, all of whom 
strongly support the Local Community Radio Act.
  Mr. Speaker, the time has come for Congress to rewrite the law. The 
time has come to make the airwaves available to the people they serve. 
The time has come to bring low-power to the people. I ask my colleagues 
to support the Local Community Radio Act.
  My legislation makes a number of changes from the version reported 
out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Some of these changes 
clarified intent, others came at the request of large commercial 
broadcasters. Indeed, this version of the bill did not draw the 
opposition of the largest group of commercial broadcasters because they 
contributed several ideas that are included in this legislation. While 
I believe that the previous versions of the bill already provided 
strong protections for incumbent broadcasters, I accepted this 
compromise language because it will finally lay their objections to 
rest.
  In exchange for dropping their opposition to my bill, incumbent 
broadcasters received a significant new form of protection for their 
signals. This compromise requires LPFM stations to fix any instance of 
interference to full power stations on the third adjacent channel, even 
outside an incumbent station's legally protected coverage area, also 
known as their contour.
  I accepted this extremely unusual obligation to remediate 
interference outside of the broadcaster's legal coverage area, working 
with experts at the FCC, I know that harmful interference is extremely 
unlikely to occur in the real world.
  I would not have accepted them if I believed they harmed the Low-
Power FM radio service, and I will be sincerely disappointed if the 
Commission does so with mistaken interpretations.
  Among the several changes, I'd like to explain two of them, I 
accepted a request that the FCC complete a study looking into the low-
power FM radio service's financial impact on full-power commercial 
broadcasting. I know that the FCC has already looked into this issue 
and I understand that the Senate sponsor's intent is not to let this 
study delay implementation of the bill and licensing LPFM stations 
while this study is underway.
  Second, in Section 5, I added the word ``new'' to make clear that 
that section applies to new licensing. While this refers to licensing 
new stations, I do not believe that this language should discourage the 
FCC from readdressing the relationship between LPFMs and translators 
should it conclude that it is in the public interest.
  I have to thank the many people who have worked on this issue for 
over a decade. First, and foremost, this bill would not have happened 
without the work of Pete Tridish and Hannah Sassaman and Cory Fischer 
Hoffman of the Prometheus Radio Project, Cheryl Leanza now at the 
United Church of Christ, Office of Communications, Michael Bracy of the 
Future of Music Coalition, and Carol Pierson of the National Federation 
of Community Broadcasters.
  Additionally, I must also thank the dozens of dedicated people who 
have long cared about their community's ability to access their 
airwaves. That so many different groups support the bill is a testament 
to their dedication. Their hard work will hopefully reap true rewards. 
Thanks are due to Katherine Grincewich of the US Conference of Catholic 
Bishops, Amanda Huron, Diane Foglizzo, Sakura Saunders, Brandy Doyle, 
Jeanette Forman, Autumn Chacon, John Wenz, Sara Cederburg, Halimah 
Marcus, Ian Smith, Anthony Mazza, and Scott Pinkelman of the Prometheus 
Radio Project, artists Kendall Nordin and Nicole Atkins, and Amy Ray 
and Emily Saliers of The Indigo Girls, Gary Galloway, Director of the 
Newton County Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Tim Stone of 
Portsmouth Community Radio, Parul Desai, Kamilla Kovacs and Andy 
Schwartzman of the Media Access Project, Beth McConnell, Chance 
Williams and Hannah Miller of the Media and Democracy Coalition, 
Candace Clement, Ben Scott and Joe Torres at Free Press, Corrine Yu at 
the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and all others who have 
worked so hard to get the Local Community Radio Act so far.

  Low-Power FM Radio: Supporting Media Diversity 2009 Local Community 
                         Radio Act (H.R. 1147)

       Dear Colleague: We urge you to join us in support of media 
     diversity by supporting H.R. 1147, the Local Community Radio 
     Act of 2009. This bipartisan legislation will increase the 
     diversity of voices on our nation's radio airwaves by 
     creating hundreds of low-power, community radio stations in 
     cities, towns and suburbs across the United States.
       According to a report released by the non-partisan media 
     advocacy group Free Press, people of color own just 7.7 
     percent of all full-power AM and FM stations, yet they make 
     up 33 percent of the U.S. population. Currently, African 
     Americans own 3.4 percent; Latinos, 2.9 percent; Asian 
     Americans, 0.9 percent; and Native Americans, 0.3 percent of 
     all full-power stations. In addition, despite making up 51 
     percent of the U.S. population, women only own 6 percent of 
     all radio stations. The study found the more concentrated a 
     local market, the less likely there will be a minority or 
     female owner. In 2008, the Minority Media & 
     Telecommunications Council (MMTC) Road Map for 
     Telecommunications Policy found that minority employment at 
     non-minority owned, English language radio news operations is 
     about 0.4% or statistically zero, which is about where it 
     stood in 1950. As a uniquely local outlet, low-power FM 
     (LPFM) stations directly serve the needs of their communities 
     by making stations possible for churches, schools, civil 
     rights organizations and other community groups. LPFMs 
     provide a forum to discuss local issues and provide essential 
     emergency services during times of crisis. The following 
     LPFMs have shown their potential to bring vibrant, diverse 
     programming to the airwaves:
       On WSBL-LP (98.1), in South Bend, Indiana the local League 
     of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) chapter broadcasts 
     Spanish-language programming and music, public

[[Page H14906]]

     safety announcements, and English vocabulary lessons.
       In Sacramento, KDEE-LP (97.7), licensed to the California 
     Black Chamber of Commerce, broadcasts extensive local news 
     and community affairs, providing an opportunity for local 
     community leaders to get on the air.
       Marianne Knorzer, station manager at KRBS-LP in Oroville, 
     California coordinates 50 volunteers to offer local 
     programming to its rural community, including everything from 
     Hmong language programming to Reggae.
       KAPU-LP (104.7), in Watsonville, CA, prides itself on being 
     the only radio station on the U.S. mainland that broadcasts 
     Hawaiian music 24 hours a day.
       Additional examples include: Radio Sur Sangam, in Hayward, 
     CA south of Oakland, which broadcasts using shortwave radio 
     signals to South Asians. The community hoped for a LPFM but 
     Congress limited the service from densely populated areas 
     such as Hayward. The Society for the Preservation of Korean 
     Culture and Language wanted a LPFM in the Chicago area.
       LPFM offers an important alternative to the narrow terms of 
     public debate that are all too often promoted by large 
     broadcasters. Given these trends, LPFM is an important means 
     of transmitting the views of historically underrepresented 
     voices. A recent report by the Leadership Conference on Civil 
     Rights titled, Low Power Radio: Lost Opportunity or Success 
     on the Dial, concluded that LPFM ``represents the best 
     opportunity in years for diversity in radio broadcasting and 
     ownership.''
       In 2003, a congressionally authorized study by the FCC 
     determined that LPFM service could be expanded without 
     causing significant interference to full-power FM radio 
     stations. As a result, the FCC urged Congress to repeal the 
     restrictions it placed on licensing LPFM stations and 
     recently voted unanimously in support of this position.
       Supporters of H.R. 1147 include: the National Association 
     of Evangelicals; United Church of Christ; U.S. Conference of 
     Catholic Bishops; NAACP; National Hispanic Media Coalition; 
     National Bar Association; AFL-CIO; and emergency management 
     agency directors.
       We encourage you to support the Local Community Radio Act 
     (H.R. 1147) when it comes to the floor for a vote. By doing 
     so, you will support localism, choice, and diversity on the 
     radio. If you have any questions, please contact Kenneth 
     DeGraff with Rep. Mike Doyle at 5-2135 or Brad Schweer with 
     Rep. Lee Terry at 5-4155.
     Nydia M. Velazquez.
                                  ____

                                                 December 7, 2009.
       Dear Representative: The undersigned organizations urge you 
     to vote in support of H.R. 1147, the Local Community Radio 
     Act of 2009. H.R. 1147, introduced by Representatives Mike 
     Doyle and Lee Terry will help increase the number of Low 
     Power FM radio stations in our country. Passage of this bill 
     will result in the creation of hundreds--if not thousands--of 
     new local radio stations in towns and cities across the 
     country. We are particularly grateful for the strong 
     bipartisan support this measure has received in the House 
     Energy & Commerce Committee and we look forward to its 
     ultimate passage into law. We ask you to support the 
     compromise bill that will be on the floor on Tuesday, 
     December 15.
       Low Power FM (LPFM) stations are noncommercial stations 
     that operate at 100 watts or less--with a broadcast radius of 
     approximately three to five miles. As uniquely local outlets, 
     LPFM stations directly serve their communities.
       LPFM licenses are granted to high schools, churches, labor 
     unions, nonprofits and civic organizations--local 
     institutions that understand the needs of their communities. 
     LPFM stations give political, religious and civil rights 
     leaders a forum to discuss local issues. LPFM stations also 
     provide essential emergency services during times of crisis.
       The Federal Communications Commission created LPFM stations 
     in 2000 to serve the news and informational needs of local 
     communities. But Congress voted to limit the number of LPFM 
     stations after claims were made that these outlets might 
     interfere with the signals of full-power FM stations.
       In 2003, the FCC commissioned a $2 million taxpayer-funded 
     study that found LPFM stations cause no significant 
     interference with full-power stations. The FCC, in a 
     unanimous bi-partisan vote, called on Congress to lift the 
     restrictions it placed on licensing LPFM stations. But the 
     legislation has not yet become law.
       For this reason, we are calling on Congress to act quickly 
     to authorize the FCC to license more LPFM stations. We 
     respectfully ask you to support H.R. 1147 when it is 
     scheduled for a full floor vote.
           Thank you,
         American Association of People with Disabilities, (AAPD), 
           Access Humboldt, American Federation of Musicians, 
           Capitol Community TV--OR, CCTV--Vermont, Chicago Media 
           Action, Consumers Union, Free Press, Future of Music 
           Coalition, Industry Ears, Institute for Local Self-
           Reliance, Intercollegiate Broadcast System, and Media 
           Access Project.
         Media Alliance, Media Bridges, National Hispanic Media 
           Coalition, National Federation of Community 
           Broadcasters, National Organization for Women, Native 
           Public Media, New America Foundation, Prometheus Radio 
           Project, Public Knowledge, Reclaim the Media, Rainbow 
           PUSH, United Church of Christ, Office of Communication, 
           Inc., and U.S. PIRG.
                                  ____
                                  
                                                December 14, 2009.
       Dear Representatives: We, as leaders representing many 
     diverse religious traditions, urge you to vote in support of 
     H.R. 1147, the Local Community Radio Act of 2009. H.R. 1147, 
     introduced by Representatives Mike Doyle and Lee Terry will 
     help increase the number of Low Power FM radio stations in 
     our country. We are particularly grateful for the strong 
     bipartisan support this measure has received in the House 
     Energy & Commerce Committee and we look forward to its 
     ultimate passage into law. The compromise version of H.R. 
     1147 coming to the House floor this week is the one that 
     should be adopted by the House and ultimately passed into 
     law.
       Low power FM (LPFM) stations are uniquely local outlets 
     that directly serve their communities. LPFM licenses are 
     granted to churches, high schools, labor unions, non-profits, 
     and civic organizations that understand and serve the needs 
     of their local communities. LPFM stations give local leaders, 
     including politicians, clergy, community elders and young 
     people a uniquely local forum to discuss local issues. 
     Moreover, LPFM stations have a track record of providing 
     essential emergency services during times of crisis. Since 
     its inception in 2000, approximately 800 LPFM stations have 
     been authorized around the country. But the FCC requires 
     Congressional action to fully implement the program.
       People of faith are well-known for their strong 
     participation in civic society--playing an important role in 
     making our communities stronger and lifting up those who are 
     suffering or who need a little help to succeed. Churches and 
     communities of faith have taken significant advantage of low 
     power radio as part of this.mission--approximately half of 
     all low power radio stations are licensed to churches or 
     other houses of worship. In addition to allowing more 
     opportunities for people of faith operate a radio station, 
     low power radio will also add new voices to the radio dial. 
     It will allow for more equitable representation of people of 
     color and women, and at the same time preserve. 
     opportunities, for everyone--no matter their views--to be 
     heard.
       For this reason, we are calling on Congress to act quickly 
     to authorize the FCC to license more LPFM stations. We 
     respectfully ask you to support H.R. 1147 when it is 
     scheduled for a full floor vote.
           Sincerely,
         Kristi S. Bangert, Executive Director for Communication 
           Services, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; 
           Burton Buller, Director, Third Way Media; Galen Carey, 
           Director of Government Affairs, National Association of 
           Evangelicals; The Rev. J. Bennett Guess, Executive 
           Director, Office of Communication, Inc., United Church 
           of Christ; The Rev. Larry Hollan, General Secretary, 
           United Methodist Communications; Most Reverend Gabino 
           Zavala, Auxiliary Archbishop, Archdiocese of Los 
           Angeles, Chairman, Communications Committee of the 
           United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Wesley M. 
           Pattillo, Senior Program Director for Communication, 
           National Council of Churches; The Rev. Jerry L. Van 
           Marter, Presbyterian News Service, Chair, NCC 
           Communications Commission; Linda Walter, Director, The 
           AMS Agency, Seventh-day Adventist Church.
                                  ____
                                  
                                                December 14, 2009.
       Dear Representatives: The Prometheus Radio Project and the 
     National Federation of Community Broadcasters write to 
     endorse the version of the Local Community Radio Act, H.R. 
     1147, which will come to a floor vote in the House of 
     Representatives this week. The Local Community Radio Act will 
     allow for hundreds of new, low power noncommercial radio 
     stations nationwide, operated by churches, schools, non-
     profit organizations, and public safety agencies.
       Incumbent commercial broadcasters have agreed to drop their 
     opposition to the bill in exchange for a significant new form 
     of protection for their signals. This compromise fully 
     protects full power stations from interference by new low 
     power radio stations, even outside an incumbent station's 
     legally protected coverage area. As representatives of low 
     power radio broadcasters, we have accepted this extremely 
     unusual obligation to remediate interference because we know 
     that such interference is extremely unlikely to occur in the 
     real world. A Congressionally-mandated independent technical 
     study has shown that the low power radio stations authorized 
     by this legislation would not cause harmful interference, and 
     all five FCC Commissioners have reaffirmed the FCC's 
     longstanding confidence in this legislation as safe for the 
     existing FM service.
       While the latest changes are superfluous, since earlier 
     versions of the bill already provided appropriate protections 
     for incumbent broadcasters, we support this compromise 
     language because it will finally put to rest the objections 
     of the National Association of Broadcasters. The bill also 
     includes considerable changes made during the House 
     subcommittee markup to address the concerns of National 
     Public Radio. With the latest compromise, low power radio 
     advocates have addressed every remotely plausible issue

[[Page H14907]]

     raised by low power radio's former opponents.
       We would like to thank the offices of Representatives Mike 
     Doyle and Lee Terry, as well as Chairman Rick Boucher and 
     Chairman Henry Waxman, for their tireless work in bringing 
     both sides to a final version of the legislation that 
     everyone can accept.
       Communities across the country have been waiting for more 
     than a decade for the opportunity to apply for their 
     stations. The time for compromise and delay is over. We urge 
     support for the bill in the House and full passage--without 
     change--by the Senate.
           Sincerely,
     Pete Tridish,
       Executive Director, Prometheus Radio Project.
     Carol Pierson,
       President & CEO National Federation of Community 
     Broadcasters.
                                  ____
                                  
                                             Leadership Conference


                                              on Civil Rights,

                                Washington, DC, December 14, 2009.

     Re Support the Local Community Radio Act of 2009 (H.R. 1147)

       Dear Representative: On behalf of the Leadership Conference 
     on Civil Rights (LCCR), the nation's oldest, largest, and 
     most diverse civil and human rights coalition with nearly 200 
     member organizations, we urge you to support H.R. 1147, the 
     bipartisan Local Community Radio Act of 2009, when it comes 
     to the floor to a vote. The version being considered by the 
     House of Representatives should be adopted into law.
       H.R. 1147, introduced by Representatives Mike Doyle (D-PA) 
     and Lee Terry (R-NE), will help increase the number of Low 
     Power FM (LPFM) stations in our country by authorizing the 
     Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to license thousands 
     of LPFM radio stations in cities, towns, and suburbs across 
     the country. In an era of mass media consolidation, LCCR 
     believes that it is important to preserve this avenue through 
     which diverse viewpoints can be represented over the public 
     airwaves.
       LPFM refers to community-based, nonprofit radio stations 
     that operate at 100 watts or less and have a broadcast reach 
     of only a few miles. Since 2000, the FCC has awarded more 
     than 800 LPFM licenses to civil rights organizations, 
     schools, and church groups. By authorizing even more LPFM 
     licenses, H.R. 1147 will help ensure that all segments of 
     society have the opportunity to participate fully in the 
     broadcast communications environment in two important ways: 
     by enhancing diverse viewpoints and by enhancing diverse 
     ownership.
       LCCR has long regarded expanding minority and female 
     ownership in media as an important goal because of the 
     powerful role the media plays in the democratic process, as 
     well as in shaping perceptions about who we are as 
     individuals and as a nation. By providing community leaders 
     the opportunity to have a voice on the public airwaves where 
     no such opportunity previously existed, LPFM radio will help 
     promote greater diversity on the public airwaves.
       While Latino Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, 
     and Native Americans make up one-third of the U.S. 
     population, they own only 7.2 percent of all full-power radio 
     and TV stations. Women make up 51 percent of the U.S. 
     population, yet own less than 6 percent of full-power 
     commercial radio and TV stations. We believe there is a 
     direct connection between those who own these stations and 
     the content they produce.
       If you have any questions, please contact Corrine Yu, LCCR 
     Senior Counsel, or Nancy Zirkin regarding this or any issue.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Wade Henderson,
                                                  President & CEO.
                                                     Nancy Zirkin,
                                         Executive Vice President.

  Mr. TERRY. I appreciate your efforts, Mr. Doyle.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Doyle mentioned a variety of religious organizations 
that support this, and I found the same thing in my community.
  I want to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Wilson) who, in fact, wants to speak on that aspect of our low-power 
community radio.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 1147, the Local Community Radio Act of 2009.
  I appreciate the leadership of Congressman Lee Terry of Nebraska on 
this important issue.
  Passage of this bipartisan legislation is vital to expanding the 
availability of noncommercial, low-power--LPFM--radio stations to towns 
and cities across our country. This legislation repeals certain 
restrictions which limit broadcast capabilities for low-power FM 
stations. Expanding LPFM licenses will make owning a radio station 
possible for churches, synagogues, schools, emergency responders, and 
other community groups that best understand the needs of their local 
communities.
  These stations give civic, clergy, and community leaders a forum to 
discuss local issues and to provide essential emergency services during 
times of crisis. Hundreds of churches and ministries already rely on 
LPFM stations to get their messages out; but, unfortunately, service is 
currently limited only to rural areas and is frequently limited to 
property lines.
  I urge Members to pass H.R. 1147, which will move to expand low-power 
FM radio for churches, synagogues, schools, community groups, and 
emergency responders in the United States.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to support HR. 1147, the 
``Local Community Radio Act,'' a bipartisan measure to revitalize the 
local, public interest radio programming that is so important to 
communities nationwide.
  The broadcast spectrum, after all, belongs first and foremost to the 
American people. I continue to believe that public access to these 
resources and quality, local programming should be readily available to 
all. In the 106th Congress, we established the bipartisan Public 
Broadcasting Caucus to highlight the unique and invaluable 
contributions of public radio and television stations and programs. 
Public Broadcasters provide valuable commercial-free educational, 
informational, and cultural programming for communities all across the 
country, as well as emergency alerts.
  Complementing these efforts are our country's local, low-power FM 
radio stations. These stations, whose signals only operate in a three-
to-five mile radius, serve as vibrant community resources. These small 
operators include all manner of local politicians, clergy, civil 
rights, and community leaders. In times of crisis, like public radio 
stations, they may also provide essential emergency services. I am 
pleased Congress is acting to strengthen the ability of these stations 
to operate responsibly.
  This bill is the result of years of negotiations between commercial 
broadcasters, public broadcasters, and Congress. I appreciate the 
efforts of all, including National Public Radio (NPR) and the National 
Association of Broadcasters, NAB, to work together to craft this 
product. The result is a bill that balances the needs of incumbent 
stations to protect their signals with an opening up of the airwaves to 
smaller, more diverse operators.
  I look forward to moving this compromise forward, and to strengthened 
programming in our communities.
  Mr. TERRY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, so I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOUCHER. Mr. Speaker, we also have no further requests for 
speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Boucher) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1147, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BOUCHER. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________