Page 1, 2

(Date)

(Your home address)

(Representative/Senator name/address)

Dear Representative/Senator (Name):

On January 20, 2000, the Federal Communications Commission made broadcast history. The Commission approved the creation of a low-power FM (LPFM) radio service, which has the potential to open up the public airwaves to thousands of new voices nationwide.

This is a much-needed service. Ever since the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the number of stations has increased, but the number of station owners has decreased. This is due to the massive consolidation that has taken place because of the Act's less-restrictive rules on ownership.

The radio industry has seen spectacular growth as a result of these changes; revenue and profits are at all-time highs. However, these gains have been made at the expense of the American listening public.

Thanks to the increasing consolidation of radio station ownership, national program syndication and total automation of station programming has quickly become the norm in the industry. Radio newsrooms have been gutted; locally-produced programming is either minimal (providing less than half of most stations' content per broadcast day) or non-existent; feedback from stations to concerned listeners is either extremely arrogant or sorely absent.

People are decrying the loss of their "hometown radio stations" because of a bottom-line mentality within the broadcast industry.

A strong case for the industry's abandonment of the interests of the communities in which they serve can be made. In fact, it already has - and it culminated with the FCC's action on January 20.

The FCC received the most public input on the LPFM service than it ever has before - on ANY other proposal in its history. Thousands of concerned individuals and coalitions took the time and effort to file official comments before the Commission on LPFM; the diversity of voices in favor of LPFM crossed all economic and demographic lines.

The radio broadcast industry brought its full weight to bear in an attempt to derail LPFM. It filed voluminous comments with the Commission, specifically denouncing LPFM as an interference threat to existing full-power stations and predicting massive problems with the industry's future transition to digital radio broadcasting.

However, the FCC did its own technical studies, and came to completely *opposite* conclusions on the viability of LPFM. At least one other study was filed with the Commission backing up those results.

Standing on solid technical ground, and faced with such massive public feedback, the FCC had no choice but to act accordingly.

However, there is a plan to thwart this progress.  Just before the close of the Congressional session in 1999, Rep. Michael Oxley (R-OH) introduced H.R. 3439, a bill designed to kill any low power radio proposal approved by the FCC. This bill would also prohibit the FCC from ever considering such a proposal again.

In the Senate, Senator Judd Gregg is expected to announce companion legislation to HR 3439. The broadcast lobby has been hard at work lining up supporters in both chambers; chances are, you yourself have been contacted by broadcast interests urging you to support this legislation.

However, I - as a constituent and taxpayer - strongly urge you to OPPOSE any legislation repealing the FCC's actions. What is happening now is an attempt by the broadcast lobby to usurp the will of the American public.  Broadcasters - both nationwide and in (your state) -want to kill LPFM NOT because of interference concerns; broadcasters are afraid of LPFM doing the job it *should* be doing, which is serving the communities of their license.

Unfortunately, public service is a word no longer in the commercial broadcaster's lexicon.  LPFM is a partial solution to a problem plaguing America's radio landscape, and while Congress may not be able to fully right the wrongs caused by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the FCC has taken a small step in the right direction.

Please have faith in the FCC's judgment and intelligence.  The Commission worked long and hard, under intense political pressure, to do what is right for the American people. Please do not let us down. Register yourself in OPPOSITION to HR 3439 and the pending Senate bill. Contact the sponsors of this misguided legislation and inform them of your intent; prevent this bill from becoming a "ride" on other legislation; and urge the rest of (your state)'s Congressional delegation to do the same.

The will of the people - YOUR people - has already spoken. Going against it is inadvisable and short-sighted. I trust you will make the proper and just decision.

Sincerely,

(Sign name here)

(Type name here)

(Your postal address/phone number/email address here)