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Halfway Dead (III)
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The Arguments The arguments on the House floor weren't very creative. It was clear which way the vote would go right away. Only 19 Representatives got up to make statements in more than two hours of debate. And only two those stood up and actually called for the outright defeat of the "Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act." Those vehemently opposed to the new LPFM service talked up the NAB-manufactured "interference concerns." Much was mentioned about LPFM's supposed threat to "reading services for the blind," which would be a big political taboo (if it were true, which it is not). As the leader of the charge to pass the bill, Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA), called the FCC a rogue agency out to destroy the listenability of the FM band with its proposal. Tauzin even suggested that the Department of Justice investigate the FCC for possible criminal activity in regards to the lobbying it did on Capitol Hill in support of LPFM. Others who backed the "Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act" cited fears of running small-market, "mom-and-pop" stations out of business with the increased competition. And in an attempt to blunt the claim by LPFM proponents about a lack of diversity on the airwaves, a letter from Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation (who owns 39 radio stations nationwide) was trotted out in opposition to the low power radio proposal. However, there was one attempt to amend the legislation on the House Floor by Rep. Tom Barrett (D-WI); the change would have given the FCC the final say next February on whether or not to further roll out the LPFM service. But that attempt at breathing some life back into the proposal was killed, by a 245-142 margin. Those who even weakly opposed the bill did so with common arguments, as well; they cited the increasing consolidation in the radio industry, and the decreased number of voices and perspectives listeners hear nowadays. They played up the opportunities LPFM stations would provide to schools, churches and community groups. Some even defended the FCC's technical studies in support of low-power radio, noting that the agency's been responsibly managing the FM band for decades already. A few even took shots at the NAB/NPR's massive months-long anti-LPFM lobbying effort, trying to speak up for the 'little guy' who hasn't been able to compete with the special interest persuasion and propaganda campaign that's been rolling through Washington. Their arguments, however, fell on (mostly) deaf ears. Next Page --> Vote Breakdown / Money's Influence --> Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |