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Congress Considering More Low Power FM Stations

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the low-power-to-the-people dept.

Skapare writes "According to this ReclaimTheMedia article, the Local Community Radio Act of 2007 (PDF) would remove the artificial restrictions imposed on LPFM by a 2000 law passed at the urging of corporate radio giants and NPR, claiming that small community stations would interfere with the signals of larger stations. If passed, this bill will pave the way for educational groups, nonprofits, unions, schools and local governments to launch new local radio stations across the country."

7 of 133 comments (clear)

  1. Love mine by DogDude · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm smart enough to live in a town cool enough to have our own local radio station, and I agree with the other posters. It's great. It's run by local people, often playing local music. The only other radio worth listening to is NPR.

    Fuck Clear Channel.

    --
    I don't respond to AC's.
  2. No reason why that has to be. by Kadin2048 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Seems like the solution to that is obvious -- don't allow repeaters.

    I think it could be a boon for colleges and small organizations that might be interested in having a radio station, but that can't afford one currently because it's so expensive to get spectrum.

    --
    "Ladies and gentlemen, my killbot features Lotus Notes and a machine gun. It is the finest available."
  3. Re:Radio? by mrraven · · Score: 2, Interesting

    4000!!!!??? I am sure if you go to that pirate radio site in Berkly you could get schematics for the same radio and parts for less than 400. I agree about the reaching people without computers.

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    Tired of all the isms, don't exploit people as an employer, or a government, mmmmK?
  4. Re:Great... by 42Penguins · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Can't they co-exist?
    I use an FM transmitter for a CD player in my car because I'm too cheap to buy a new stereo. Anyone who happens to be within its range, which is maybe 20 feet, is perfectly welcome to have a listen.

    I would like to see a little bit reserved for such non-licensed radios. I've gone through the presets on my transmitter, and the only interference-free setting in this town is 87.7MHz. When I travel, that changes. I know the only real way to get spectrum is to shell out, but it would be nice to have a small frequency range for low-power, low-range personal radios.

  5. One problem. by Conspiracy_Of_Doves · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Aren't all analog transmissions going to end in a couple years?

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    Technoli
    1. Re:One problem. by Detritus · · Score: 2, Interesting

      No. Any switch to 100% digital is many years away, if ever. Digital radio broadcasting is still in an early stage of development and deployment.

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      Mea navis aericumbens anguillis abundat
  6. Re:Radio? by aldousd666 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    You might be right, but all I need is one more local Christian 'holier than thou, we're all going to hell in a handbasket' radio station blotting out my daily dose of NPR on the way to work in the morning. Nothing more annoying than a niche station from ANOTHER STATE interfering with your daily news update.

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    Speak for yourself.