Media Policy and Advocacy Groups
The media policy and advocacy groups below offer organizations and citizens the opportunity to become better informed about the media policy environment, both locally and nationally, especially as it relates to low-power radio. In addition, many of the groups offer the opportunity to take action to help promote increased localism in media as well as further support for low-power radio.
Also included in this page are recent articles and news headlines from the Benton Foundation’s Communications-Related Headlines service detailing policy developments in the low-power field.
Media Policy and Advocacy Groups
Prometheus Radio
This page on the Prometheus Radio web site includes tools to use that will help you contact Congress about low-power radio. Prometheus has also created Public Service Announcements to help get the word out about low-power radio.
Media Access Project
MAP is a nonprofit telecommunications law firm devoted to promoting the public interest obligations of electronic media. Working through the courts and the FCC, and by building coalitions of organizations, MAP seeks to represent the community members in electronic media and telecommunications issues.
The Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ, Inc.
OC, Inc. with a national coalition of organizations is working to pass legislation in Congress to expand low-power frequencies, enabling more community organizations to operate local LPFM stations.
Free Press
Free Press is a media advocacy organization working to help the public understand and act on issues of media policy. Its Action Center includes a section on low-power radio and links to FCC testimony on LPFM, a recent report from the Mitre Corporation disproving claims of interference from LPFM stations, and Congressional statements on LPFM.
Media Alliance
Media Alliance, a San Francisco-based nonprofit offers information, classes, and extensive resources on media excellence, diversity, accountability, and social responsibility. Current campaigns include San Francisco cable negotiations and California television and radio license renewals.
Future of Music Coalition
The Future of Music Coalition is a collaboration between members of the music, technology, public policy, and intellectual property law communities. Focusing on music and technology issues, the FMC provides an online repository of information, articles, and resources and hosts the yearly Future of Music Policy summit.
New Rules Project
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) proposes a set of new rules to build community by supporting humanly scaled politics and economics. Information and theories on localism and microradio are included on its web site.
Microradio Implementation Project
The Microradio Implementation Project hosts this list of media advocacy organizations geared toward low-power radio producers.
News
For up-to-date communications news and information, subscribe to the Benton Foundation’s Communications-Related Headlines, which features recent stories and policy updates about the low-power radio field and media policy issues in general. Examples of recent articles are found below.
LPFM: Prometheus Unbound – The Sound Salvation
In this interview, Pete Tridish from Prometheus Radio in Philadelphia discusses his experiences starting a pirate radio station and the ways he has begun to work inside the system to gain support for low-power radio.
Radio Grandma
A grandmother to eleven, Nancy Pekerek has created a program reading children’s books on air -- made possible by the low-power radio station in her community. From finding funding for the program, to choosing books to be read on air, Pekerek discusses the rewards of working in community radio.
FCC Considers Options for Expanding LPFM service
On March 17, 2005, the FCC adopted an Order and Notice of Proposed Rule Making modifying the rules governing low-power radio stations and seeking comment on ownership and technical issues. To read Prometheus Radio’s position on these issues, download this PDF.
Churches Big Winners in Grab for Micro Radio
Of the 344 applicants licensed by the FCC for low-power radio, roughly half have been granted to Christian organizations. In addition, low-power radio stations are concentrated in suburban rather than urban areas, hampering access to the airwaves for many.
The Ballistics of Radio
http://www.onthemedia.org/stream/ram.py?file=raotm/otm021105a.ra
http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/transcripts_021105_ballistics.html
John McCain has co-sponsored a bill recently to jump start low-power radio, eliminating constraints on frequency spacing, thereby allowing for more stations in urban areas. Previously both the National Association of Broadcasters and NPR testified to Congress that low-power radio would interfere with existing signals, challenging a study by the Mitre Corporation which proved there was no signal interference from low-power stations.
For more articles on low-power radio, search the Headlines archives.